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10/28/2007: "NSCN-IM blames Delhi - Outfit warns of showdown over factional killings OUR CORRESPONDENT The Teleraph"

NSCN-IM blames Delhi - Outfit warns of showdown over factional killings OUR CORRESPONDENT The Teleraph

Kohima, Oct. 27: The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim today laid the blame for the recent fratricidal killings in the state at Delhi’s door.
The latest in this series of attacks and counter-strikes occurred on Thursday at Dimapur and Medziphema, in which six NSCN activists, three from each faction, were killed.
The NSCN (I-M) warned of a showdown in the near future if the Centre fails to control the activists of the Khaplang faction.
The “ministry of information and publicity” of the NSCN (I-M) today said the crux of the issue that had put “Nagalim’s peace at stake” was the failure of the Indian security forces to restrain the NSCN (K) from moving around with criminal intentions and agendas.
“The NSCN’s blunt message to the government of India is to stop the Khaplang group from any anti-peace activities and anti-NSCN activities. The present scenario gives clear indications that the government of India has failed again to show its face of sincerity and commitment by feigning ignorance that appears to be more pretentious than anything else,” the communiqué said.
The outfit has been accusing the Centre of aiding and abetting the Khaplang faction of the NSCN to undermine the Naga political issue and create divisions in Naga society. The NSCN (K) is opposed to integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, though its chairman, S.S. Khaplang, is originally from Myanmar.
The NSCN (I-M) has been asking the Centre to control the Khaplang faction’s activists in Nagaland so as to facilitate a peaceful and congenial atmosphere for the ongoing Naga peace process with the Centre.
Referring to the peace initiative undertaken by gaon burhas (village chiefs) and dubashis (chiefs of Naga customary courts), the NSCN (I-M) iterated that peace has always been its priority.
In another development, the NSCN (K) has warned all owners and drivers that light vehicles in Dimapur carrying more than five persons would be shot at without warning. The outfit’s Dimapur “urban commander”, self-styled “Capt.” Atoshe Sema, told residents of Dimapur not to move about in groups of more than six persons after 6pm.
NSCN-K ridicules rivals’ warning The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 27 (MExN): On the reaction of the NSCN-IM following the Dimapur shootouts October 26, the NSCN-K today ridiculed its rival’s warning by asserting it is able to ‘withstand any threats.’
A note from Akato Chophy, deputy kilonser highlighted what was termed “the continued frenzy of exasperation” of the NSCN-IM. “In the continued frenzy of exasperation, Muivah gang has once again exposed its sinister connivance with external forces to contain NSCN. Urging the Government of India to rein NSCN clearly demonstrates collaborative mission of IM and GOI to crush NSCN both politically and militarily” the outfit maintained.
It observed that “proclaiming peace on one hand and disrupting the same on the other by means of double-standard policies is nothing but a mere deceptive tactic to garner fizzling support of the Nagas so as to ensure continuance of the despotic enslavement over the people in the guise of nationalism.”
The NSCN-K assured to continue to “reach out to the Nagas” across the Naga spectrum in reaffirmation of “national principle and shall never be deterred or subdued by threat from inimical and anti-social elements such as IM gang.”
The NSCN-K ridiculed its rival faction that warning of dire consequences “only exposes their fear and apprehension of self-destruction owing to their anti-Naga activities.” It asserted preparedness to withstand any threats either within or outside and “uphold the Naga cause from being bartered or betrayed by elements such as Muivah-led IM gang.”
In a separate note, the “urban commander” of Kohima, one “capt” Vitoi, took strong exception to the “anti-NSCN activities by several business establishments in and around Kohima, by providing information to the IM gang against the people’s army.”
The note issued a “final notice” that in the event of such activities, the NSCN-K will initiate “capital punishment without trial.” The note also warned of action against the kith and kin of “Umesh Bihari, Hilal, Halim” if they are found to be residing in Kohima after this notice. The note claimed they are “IM’s informers.”
NSCN(K) counters IM group, warns Newmai News Network
Kohima, Oct 27: “In the continued frenzy of exasperation, Muivah gang has once again exposed its sinister connivance with external forces to contain NSCN-K,” stated the Khaplang faction of the NSCN today. A release issued by Akato Chophi, Deputy Kilonser (minister) , Ministry of Defence, NSCN-K, said that the rival faction urging the Government of India (GoI) to rein in NSCN-K clearly demonstrated collaborative mission of NSCN-IM and GOI to crush NSCN-K both politically and militarily. It alleged that “proclaiming peace on one hand and disrupting the same on the other by means of double-standard policies is nothing but a mere deceptive tactic to garner fizzling support of the Nagas so as to ensure continuance of the despotic enslavement over the people in the guise of nationalism”.
Akato also declared that the NSCN-K would continue to reach out to the Nagas across the length and breadth in reaffirmation of national principle and shall never be deterred or subdued by threat from inimical and anti-social elements such as “IM gang”.
Cautioning NSCN-K of dire consequences only ex-poses their (NSCN-IM) fear and apprehension of self-destruction “owing to their anti-Naga activities”, he said adding that the NSCN-K is always prepared to with-stand any threats either with- in or outside and uphold the Naga cause from being bartered or betrayed by elements such as “Muivah-led IM gang”.
Meanwhile, the Urban Command Kohima, People’s Army of NSCN-K taking strong exception to “anti-NSCN-K activities of several business establishments” in and around Kohima, by providing information to “the IM gang against the people’s army” warned that in the event of any such repeated activities, the “people’s army” shall initiate capital punishment without trial.
A release issued by Capt Vitoi, Urban Commander, Kohima People’s Army, NSCN-K notified that action would be initiated against even the kith and kin of “IM’s informers” Umesh Bihari, Hilal, Halim if they are found to be residing in Kohima after this notice. He justified that the trio has been defiantly working against the NSCN-K in collaboration with “ IM group”.
NSCN (IM) collaborating with GoI to crush NSCN (K): Akato Nagaland Page

Dimapur, October 27: The NSCN (K) today said that NSCN (IM) urging the Government of India to rein NSCN clearly demonstrates collaborative mission of the NSCN (IM) and GoI to crush NSCN (K) both physically and militarily.
Deputy Kilonser, Ministry of Defence, NSCN (K), Akato Chophi in a release issued here stated that in the continued frenzy of exasperation, "Muivah gang" has once again exposed its sinister connivance with external forces to contain NSCN.
"Proclaiming peace on one hand and disrupting the same on the other by means of double-standard policies is nothing but a mere deceptive tactic to garner fizzling support of the Nagas so as to ensure continuance of the despotic enslavement over the people in the guise of nationalism," he stated adding the NSCN shall continue to reach out to the Nagas across the length and breath in reaffirmation of national principle and shall never be deterred or subdued by threat from inimical and anti-social elements such as IM gang.
He further said cautioning NSCN (K) of dire consequences only exposes their fear and apprehension of self-destruction owing to their anti-Naga activities.
"The NSCN is always prepared to withstand any threats either within or outside and uphold the Naga cause from being bartered or betrayed by elements such as Muivah-led IM gang," the release stated. (Page News Service)

NSCN (IM) denies involvement in ambush Newmai News Network
Dimapur NSCN-IM has denied its involvement in the recent Arunachal Pradesh ambush incident. The outfit expressed “shock and surprise” when its name was linked to the ambush in Pangchau village in Tirap district where 3 Assam Rifles personnel and a civilian were killed.
The Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN stated that under the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process “the NSCN-IM will never go to the extent of stooping that low to target security forces by resorting to ambush”. The statement of the NSCN-IM issued today said that the outfit is serious about the “successful conclusion of the peace process and shall never go for any mischief to make a mockery of its image, despite the desperateness of others to drag NSCN’s name into any such controversy to smear the name as anti-peace”. While dismissing the allegation hurled against the outfit, the statement said that “it is unbecoming for NSCN at this stage of the peace process”. “It may be recollected for public awareness that NSCN signed the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment not to use Anti-Personnel (AP) mines on October 17, 2007. If the Pangchau ambush is to be brought within this Anti-personnel mine, NSCN’s hand remains as clean and shall honour the Geneva Call Deed in spirit and in action,” affirmed the NSCN-IM today in Dimapur. The NSCN-IM then expresses “sympathy” to the victims of the ambush and request the “government agencies and new agencies” to track down or pin point the real culprits.
NSCN (K) warns businessmen Nagaland Post
Dimapur, Oct 27 (NPN): Taking strong exception to the activities of some businessmen in and around Kohima, the NSCN (K) Saturday warned that capital punishment would be awarded to anyone if found working as the informers of rival NSCN (I-M).
The faction also served a “final” quit notice against three businessmen – Umesh Bihari, Hilal and Halim – who were allegedly working as the informers of the rival faction.
The notice issued by NSCN (K) Urban Commander Kohima, “Capt” Vitoi, warned that action would be initiated even against the “kith and kin” of Umesh Bihari, Hilal and Halim if the trio were found in Kohima after this notice. “Capt” Vitoi alleged the trio had been working against the NSCN (K) in collaboration with the NSCN (I-M).
ANSAM condemns killing The Morung Express
Senapati, October 27(NNN): Strongly condemning the killing of L. Shelle Poumai, a college student in Imphal, the All Naga Student Association, Manipur (ANSAM) today urged the concerned authorities to book the culprits at the earliest. While terming the killing as evilism, the ANSAM rued that inspite of the incident occurred days back the government was unable to come out with any clue on the killing of the student.
ANSAM also suggested the government to take up security measures for the safety of the innocent public and to look into the worsening law and order situation in the state. The statement of ANSAM narrated that the deceased L. Shelle Poumai "fallen into the hands of the enemies was murdered on October 24".
It also cited that the he went to Shillong some days back to attend one Bible Camp. On his return, he landed at BOC/North AOC in Imphal. However, before reaching home on October 24, the following day the news received that his dead body was found at Canchipur area under West district, added the ANSAM.
Border tension needs peoples’ dialogue Morung Express News
Dimapur The tension, and occasional violent upheavals, in the border shared by Assam and Nagaland are the handiwork of political parties harnessing the vote bank illegal immigrants offer. This new angle to the Assam-Nagaland border issue was highlighted today at the consultative interactions between Nagaland’s and Assam’s civil society, in Merapani.
Political parties in the borders engage in exploiting sensitive sentiments of the area people and illegal immigrants, to gain political mileage. Their activities are aimed at harnessing the huge vote bank the illegal immigrants offer, said Lachit Bordoloi. Bordoloi is the chief convener of Peoples’ Committee for Peace Initiative of Assam (PCPIA). The Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and the Naga Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) interacted with Assam’s civil society under the aegis of PCPIA, in Merapani. People from both sides of the border attended the public interactions.
According to Bordoloi, the pulse of the people of Assam is peace and resolution of the tenacious border issue, with Nagaland. Notwithstanding the peace efforts, political parties are exploiting sensitive sentiments of the locals, and of course, illegal immigrants and settlers to gain a political foothold. Terming these detrimental elements as “the third force” Bordoloi also accused the Center of sponsoring some of these “third force” sections for electoral benefits.
Bordoloi told The Morung Express that this required a peoples-to-peoples’ dialogue where differences can be laid out and settled. He emphasized on peaceful initiatives to diffusing the border differences and tension between the two neighbors. “We believe that only through peoples’ dialogue the tension will be eased and differences solved” he reminded. Also, he held opinion that issues such as the border claims can be solved by ‘traditional’ means. Bordoloi highlighted village councils (in Nagaland) and Panchayats (In Assam). These local entities hold much influence in decision-making and can play relevant and crucial role in impacting peaceful settlement of the issue, he said.
In the same vein, Secretary General of NPMHR Dr. Venuh said the ‘traditional’ angle was highlighted at the public meeting in Merapani. He observed the pulse of people of Assam, like Nagaland’s, is for early resolution of the issue. While no specific or decided further step was undertaken, it is understood that the state governments and the Center as well, be met. The NPMHR leader informed that the interactions highlighted the need for settlement/course of action toward resolution, to be people-based.
Dr. Venuh also acknowledged that the reception and response of the Assam’s people was ‘good.’ He also highlighted the issue of illegal immigrants as being a detrimental force eating into the border issue between the two neighbors. He also termed them the “third force.” To check this divisive element, the need for trust and understanding between Assam and Nagaland’s people was stressed at the public meetings, he said.
Busride turns nightmare BIJOY SHARMA The telegraph

Mangal Munda. Picture by Eastern Projections
Dhubri, Oct. 27: As the Assam State Transport Corporation bus hurtled beyond Chagolia checkgate without police escorts, Mangal Munda began to worry. The 22-year-old tea garden worker was on his way back to North Lakhimpur with his family after a Puja vacation at a relative’s place at Beltola tea garden in Alipurduar, West Bengal.
Narrating the horror that unfolded minutes later, Munda said, “I am not in favour of moving out during bandhs as I am aware that vehicles are often attacked at such times. But this blockade was for 30 days and I could not wait that long. The plucking season has begun and I had to get back to work. So I decided to take the risk”. He had heard that buses were plying on the route with police escorts and thought the journey would be safe.
Sitting next to a window, Munda’s anxious eyes were fixed on the road ahead. After the bus had travelled a few kilometres, he could see an an object placed on the road, blocking the way.
“I saw everything. Some 20 boys encircled the bus and started hurling bombs (petrol bombs) at it. Even before we realised what was happening, the whole bus was on fire. I somehow gathered my four family members and brought them out of the bus,” Munda said, grateful at having come out alive.
The attackers had even sprayed petrol on the tyres. “A few passengers who were not sleeping somehow managed to extricate themselves. But those who were sleeping could not move out as fast,” he said.
Munda is so traumatised by the incident that he has decided to go back to Alipurduar. Ram Kumar Barman, a passenger from Mathabhanga in Coochbehar district, recalled: “I was jolted out of my slumber by a terrible heat, a burning sensation. As I woke up, I found my body was burning… I tried to come out of the bus, but the door was jammed from outside.”
A resident of the nearby Uttar Raipur village, Ajoy Roy, said he heard a sound of tyres bursting and rushed to the spot. “By the time we reached, the bus was already on fire. Somehow we managed to bring out some of the passengers trapped inside,” he said.
Parliamentary panel to visit PSUs, banks The Hindu
New Delhi (PTI): A Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes will be visiting leading Public Sector Undertakings, banks and oil companies in Kolkata, Tripura, Nagaland and Guwahati to address grievances of SC/ST workers in the organisations.
The week-long tour of the committee would focus on "addressing grievances related to promotions, filling up of reserved category vacancies and any other harassment or torture" being faced by the workers, chairperson of the committee Ratilal Kalidas Verma said.
On the list of the committee are the UCO Bank in Agartala, LIC and Hindustan Copper Limited in Kolkata, Oil India Limited in Guwahati and the Oriental Insurance Company in Kohima.
"We will meet representatives of SC/ST associations in these organisations and enquire about their professional grievances and any other problems being faced by them, following which we will approach the management and ask them to take immediate action," Verma said.
In case the management is not able to solve the problem immediately, it will be asked to submit an action taken report to the committee within a given span of time," he added. Apart from this, the committee will also look into whether there is adequate representation of SC/ST candidates in those organisations. Tracking the career graphs of SC/ST candidates would also be on the agenda, Verma said. The Committee members would also meet the Chief Secretary and officials of the Government of Nagaland regarding socio-economic condition of Scheduled Tribes in the state. The Committee would then present its report in the next Parliament session.
Nothing in a name Ngathingkhui Jagoi The Tanghkul

Very often, my friends used to tease me that the Tangkhuls have English names like, Joyson, Loveson, Graceson, Livingson and suffix sons, sons, etc., etc. True, the Tangkhuls have all the English names. Many Tangkhul parents love to christen their children foreign names. By naming a child Luckson, parents believe that their son will be lucky. If parents hope on a son – Hopeson, if they want the son to free his people – Freeson and so on. A neighbour of mine in my village loves to hear people call him Kishore, the name of the famous Hindi singer Kishore Kumar though he can’t sing at all. He christened his sons – Premkumar and Joykumar. Infact, Kishore has an obsession for Kumar title. His daughter is called Waterlily but she never has the beauty of a lily in her looks. With a hope to make his third son a good Christian and perhaps a missionary, Kishore named him Christianson. Nevertheless, he later became a good driver.

Whether you like to believe or not, I knew a man name Ek Do Tin Jajo from Lamlai village. I learnt that his father named him so because the child was born on the day when he saw a Hindi Movie called ‘Ek-do-tin’.

Another wonderful name that I know is Soreiso Jawaiyam Nungterkhui Kuki Second Civil War Khamrang. A very long name and too long a name perhaps. According to his father, the boy was born in the year Jawai villagers (a Tangkhul village) fled and Nungter village (a Kuki village) was captured during the second Kuki-Naga civil war. “Why not write a history about the civil war and call your son by the whole book?” I made a belated suggestion to the father. Known as Soreiso to his friends, today he does not even memorise his long name. Poor soul.

During my college days in Patkai, I had a friend name Goodingson. He was named so because his parents wanted him to be a good man when he grows up. Now its been more than 15 years that we have not met. I can’t say how he is doing now. But, honestly speaking, he was not that good guy when I knew him then. He drinks, smokes and he was a kind of man who could not get along with his friends, which I considered, was not what his parents expected of him.

Many parents give biblical names to their children at least with a hope that their children take after the given names. However, I have come across many goon Pauls, Joshuas, Abrahams, Jacobs, etc., who never live up to their given names. My non-Tangkhul friends find my name difficult to pronounce. Some call me Nothingkhui instead of Ngathingkhui. Once I retorted a Khashi friend that I want to be Somethingkhui rather than Nothingkhui. Some people who find my name too mouthful calls me Akhui, Athing or Jagoi.

For instance, Terolo in Lotha, is a name given to petite girl child. But some even grew up very big in size. Many Naga sons and daughters of royal families with very great names are today found as domestic helpers in many homes of those people with hopeless names. This is ridiculous if people really take after names. There are numerous educational institutions even in Dimapur with Saint prefixes. However, some of the schools are even run by non-Christians and rarely these institutions produce saints or kings. Peeping at the Naga issue, there are already four names in all in the fray; each claiming to be the sole authority that represents the Nagas. However, the sad reality is – it has shattered and divided the Nagas. Nagas had fought for a distinct identity for the last 60 years. Today it has acquired itself four distinct names (factions). A name denotes a distinct identity. However, in the context of the Naga issue, names are only vicious agents that creates disunity and crisis. These names have only become the best weapon in the hands of its enemies to divide the Nagas and weaken its struggle for a separate identity. Name? for the Nagas, is to give a dog a good name.

Folks, then what is in a name? Nothing. The world has plunged into deep crisis because everybody/race is after a distinct name (identity). It’s a fools’ world with so many names and still hating one another for the names. The world will be at peace if there were no names or if there were only a single race. However, since that is only a pipedream, it is good if one tries to prove oneself worth its name without pulling another’s leg. For that is the true spirit of competition in a cutthroat competitive world. “Hello! (hic) I’m Nothing. What is your name?”
Why India courts Myanmar's military junta Nagarealm.com
India's continuing policy of 'constructive engagement' with Myanmar, even after the brutal crackdown on protesting Buddhist monks and despite pressures from the US and the UN to adopt a tougher line against the military junta, is driven exclusively by its strategic and economic interests.

Opposed to Myanmar's military administration after it seized power in 1989 and a firm supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi and her movement to restore democracy, India performed a swift U-turn in 2000 to blunt nuclear rivals China's and Pakistan's burgeoning defence and strategic links in that country. India is also looking at Myanmar's vast oil and gas reserves to meet its galloping energy needs, expected to double over the next decade. "India has long ignored China and Pakistan's growing influence with Burma's military government at its peril and is now anxious to neutralise it," a senior Indian military official said. China and its military and nuclear ally Pakistan, the official added, were amongst the handful of countries that had disregarded international opinion and forged close military ties with Rangoon's State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) - renamed the State Peace and Development Council - cleverly complementing their strategy of encircling India.

China is helping Myanmar modernise its naval bases at Hainggyi, the Coco's islands, Akyab and Mergui by building radar, refit and refuel facilities capable of supporting Chinese submarine operations in the region. The Chinese are also believed to be establishing a Signals Intelligence facility on the Coco's islands, not very far from the Andaman islands, reportedly to monitor Indian missile tests off the Orissa coast. China is also reportedly training Myanmar naval intelligence officials and helping the country execute surveys of its coastline contiguous to India. Indian fears over Beijing's ambitions in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) gained credence in 1994 after the Coast Guard detained three Chinese trawlers with Myanmar flags. The trawlers were equipped with sophisticated tracking and surveying equipment. The crew was arrested on charges of spying. Despite the navy's protests, bolstered by the security agencies, the crew was released by the government a few months later under pressure from Beijing, ahead of the annual meeting of the symbolic Sino-Indian Joint Working Group to work out the long standing unresolved territorial dispute between the two neighbours.

Chinese ambitions in the IOR also led to India raising the military's first joint command on the Andamans with headquarters at Port Blair in 2001. "Till now China has been a land neighbour, but through Burma it may soon become our maritime neighbour," a naval officer said. Such moves by Beijing of encircling India merit serious attention, the officer said. Pakistan, for its part, has for over a decade been fostering military ties with Myanmar by quietly supplying it several shiploads of ordnance and other military hardware like 106 mm M 40 recoilless rifles and various small arms.

It also regularly trains Burmese soldiers to operate a slew of Chinese equipment like tanks, fighter aircraft, howitzers and tanks. Myanmar military officers regularly attend Pakistan's Military Staff College at Quetta. Others are reportedly undergoing training to operate 155 mm howitzers and a range of tanks such as T 69, T 63 and T 53. Myanmar has acquired all these tanks from China. Pakistan is also believed to be training Myanmar Air Force (MAF) officers to operate the two-seater Karakoram 8 or K 8 jet trainers which can double as ground attack aircraft. MAF has acquired 14 such trainers since 1998.

While the K 8s are built in China, Islamabad has a 25 percent interest in the project, thereby complementing Pakistan's level of involvement in Myanmar's overall defence establishment. The MAF also has a proliferating fleet of Chinese F 7 interceptors and A 5 ground attack craft that Pakistan too operates. Myanmar naval officers are also reportedly undergoing training at Pakistani naval establishments. Intelligence sources said Pakistani military cooperation with Myanmar began in January 1989, shortly after SLORC took power.

Senior Pakistani military officials then arrived in Yangoon, hawking a range of weaponry. Later, Myanmar defence officials led by MAF chief Major General Tin Tun visited Islamabad and reportedly bought machine guns, 50,000 rounds of ammunition and 5,000 120mm mortars. Shipments to Myanmar of rocket launchers, assault rifles and ammunition worth around $20 million followed. This was mainly thanks to diversion by the Pakistani intelligence from the arms the US gave to the mujahideen fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Weapon sales to Myanmar are believed to have ceased briefly under then prime minister Benazir Bhutto's administration. They resumed under her successor Nawaz Sharif and the military government thereafter. After 9/11, two Pakistani nuclear weapon scientists, anticipating arrest and questioning by US officials about their alleged links with the Taliban, are believed to have taken sanctuary in Myanmar at the request of Islamabad soon after the Washington-led assault on Afghanistan in October 2001. Western intelligence sources said that Suleiman Assad and Mohammad Mukhtar, both in their late 50s, arrived in Yangon in late November 2001 and were "secreted" by the military administration in Sagaing, a Mandalay suburb in central Myanmar. Assad and Mukhtar left Pakistan when the US was investigating two other Pakistani nuclear scientists for their links with the Taliban and possible help they may have provided it to build a "dirty bomb" or crude radiological weapon capable of being detonated conventionally by explosives. They are believed to have made their way to China from Myanmar after which their whereabouts are unknown. Meanwhile, to countervail this burgeoning military cooperation, the Indian Navy is in the process of transferring two British-built Islander maritime surveillance aircraft to Myanmar, an add-on to the pair it supplied the military junta in August 2006.

Like the earlier two, these Islanders would be stripped of all armaments and deployed exclusively on relief and humanitarian missions. The Indian Navy is also training Myanmar pilots to operate the Islanaders as well as to establish a domestic naval aviation training facility for the military regime. India has also agreed to supply Myanmar varied military hardware like T 55 tanks, artillery guns, radar, assault rifles, light machine guns and ordnance.

In exchange, New Delhi is seeking to jointly conduct military operations against Indian separatist groups waging insurgency for decades from inside Myanmar in the contiguous northeastern states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur across the 1,600-km long common border. Alongside, India is building and upgrading Myanmar's roads, modernising its ports, setting up a hydroelectric station, a satellite communication centre and an elaborate IT project as an element of its broader 'Look East' policy of forging commercial and trade ties with Southeast Asian states. [Rahul Bedi, IANS]
Immortalizing vanishing tribes Nagaland Page
HYDERABAD: Indian scientists have been trying to preserve the genetic lines of the country’s fast vanishing ethnic tribes in the hope that even if the tribes get wiped out their unique genetic material could still be available as human heritage to search for medical cures. But the scientists seem to have hit a real roadblock and are unable to get blood samples from the hunter-gatherer tribes of the Andaman islands.
India is home to over 500 tribes, of which 70 are classed as primitive. But none of them are as endangered as the Jarawas, the Onges and the Sentinelese, known to be the world’s oldest inhabitants after humans migrated from Africa. In the Andaman islands, the Jarawas number only 200, living north of Port Blair. The Onges are down to double digit figures and the Sentinelese, who resist any contact with outsiders, are believed to number only 250.
These tribes could soon be extinct as their homes are slowly being encroached upon by today’s civilization. But modern day biology has a way of immortalizing them.
Dr Lalji Singh, who pioneered DNA finger printing in India, and helped crack the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case wants to save this unique human heritage. His laboratory has blood samples of over 100 tribes and 11,000 individuals preserved for posterity. He wants access to the vanishing tribes to collect their blood samples but red tape is holding him back. “We are desperately trying through the Government of India to provide us permission to collect the blood samples in such a manner that the day we collect the sample we arrange its transportation by air to CCMB where we have fully established the procedure to develop transformed cell lines and we can immortalize them for sure. “Since last 2 years we are waiting for permission from the government and have the money sanctioned for making the film but have not got permission from local authorities to collect blood samples,’’ said Dr Lalji Singh, Director, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology. In mainland India where tribes have faced a similar fate science has come to their rescue. By collecting blood samples and processing them scientists have created immortal cell lines. Even if the tribals get extinct, at least their hereditary material is safe. (ndtv)
ULFA’s support base at its nadir: CRPF By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Oct 27: The number of insurgents in the North-east has been declining fast, and the support base of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and other rebel groups of the region is at its nadir, said Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) IG (North-east) Dr Mehboob Alam today. The paramilitary force is going to celebrate its anniversary on October 29. Talking to newsmen at the CRPF camp at Eighth Mile in the city today, Alam said: “The ULFA has links with the Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islam (HuJI) of Bangladesh, but both the ULFA and the HuJI have been kept under control by the CRPF and the BSF. The CRPF is committed to fighting for the security and safety of the north-eastern States.”
According to Alam, the CRPF, the world’s largest paramilitary force, came into existence as the Crown Representative’s Police on July 27, 1939 at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh, but the name was changed to CRPF after the country’s independence. He said the demand of the force from States and Union Territories has substantially increased. Raised initially with two battalions, the force has as many as 200 battalions at present.
“The CRPF is the only specialized force that has been trained for counter-insurgency operations. Keeping pace with the changing face of time and insurgency, the force is equipped with all state-of-the-art weaponry such as AGL, CGRL, MMG, 81mm mortar, rocket launcher, global positioning system (GPS), and equipment like light-weight bullet-proof jacket, night vision devices (NVDs) and the like. The troops of this elite force are specially trained for counter-insurgency operations at Counter-Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) School, Silchar to combat insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the north-eastern States and Left wing extremist-active States where the force is mostly deployed,” the IG said.