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11/05/2007: "NSCN hits YouTube with American ‘ambassador’ NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph"



NSCN hits YouTube with American ‘ambassador’ NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph

A grab from the YouTube clip
New Delhi, Nov. 4: The NSCN (Isak-Muivah)’s well-oiled publicity machine has flooded the video-sharing Internet site YouTube with pro-Nagalim propaganda, including a two-part interview with an American sympathiser who is introduced to viewers as the “honorary ambassador to Nagalim”.
The video clippings show the interviewer, representing an organisation that calls itself Conflict Solutions International (CIS) Inc, asking Grace Collins about the Naga community’s struggle for “independence” from India. “Nagalim is a Christian nation founded by American Christians in the Northeast region of India,” says Collins in the first clip.
Collins has visited Nagaland at least twice and is believed to be an “agent” for the NSCN(I-M) in the US. Her brief is to highlight the outfit’s demands at the international level.
A website describes Collins as a “cultural diplomat” who graduated in fine arts from Boston College in 1985, went on to do her MBA from the University of Durham, UK, in 1989 and is partially through a second masters in education and museum studies from Columbia Teachers’ College in New York. This is not the first time that the NSCN(I-M) has gone beyond the boundaries of the northeastern states to promote its cause.
It started its own website — nscnonline.org — a few years ago and found willing friends in the Netherlands.The Naga International Support Centre (NISC) supports the outfit’s demands and organises programmes across Europe to spread awareness about the Naga cause. The same group allegedly created a website recently for the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) to spread awareness about Bodo culture.
Collins quotes no less a person than Mahatma Gandhi to justify the Naga community’s desire to be independent of India. “Mahatma Gandhi said if you don’t want to join the Indian Union, you need not,” she says, eager to drive home the point that Nagalim is a “separate nation”.
There are also other clips posted either by the outfit or by its sympathisers on YouTube. A song in the Tangkhul Naga dialect by a choir comprising members of the outfit drips patriotism for Nagalim, which the NSCN(I-M) has envisioned as a homeland inclusive of all Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast. Collins, in her interview, takes pains to explain that Nagalim is on the eastern border of India and includes parts of Myanmar, too. Nagalim is shown in blue, almost the same colour as the NSCN(I-M) flag with a rainbow and the Star of David shown in other clips.
The NSCN(I-M) has “diplomatic offices” in more than 10 countries. It reportedly maintains contact with China and its chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, resides in the Thai capital of Bangkok.
NSCN-IM smells rat in ‘encounter’ - Rule flout slur on army OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Nov. 4: The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) today charged 5 Bihar regiment with the killing of Imkongtemsu Ao, brother-in-law of the NSCN (I-M) tatar (parliamentarian), Akato Sumi, in a “fake encounter” on October 31 inside Dimapur in violation of ceasefire ground rules. The outfit said the encounter was conducted in connivance with Khatkhati police on the Assam-Nagaland border, led by its officer in-charge.
Condemning the killing and describing it as “unprovoked”, the Naga outfit, through its publicity wing, today said following an investigation it had discovered that informer Tamang Nepali, who was employed in a garage at 5th Mile, Dimapur, had played a role in the “fake encounter”.
The outfit said Akato and Imkongtemsu had reached the spot as planned by Tamang. Later, Tamang passed on the information to the personnel of 5 Bihar regiment, who, dressed in civvies, arrived at the scene and picked up an argument with Akato. The NSCN (I-M) maintained that Akato was shot in the hand and Imkongtemsu was killed without any provocation. Akato had even produced his identity card issued by the Ceasefire Monitoring Group chairman, Lt Gen. (retd) R.V. Kulkarni, and the outfit’s ceasefire monitoring cell convenor, “Brig.” Phunghting Shimrang. The investigation by the NSCN (I-M) showed Tamang had disappeared from the scene and was led away by the army personnel. It said investigations also revealed that the duo were not the first ones to fire.
The incident is just another sinister gameplan designed by the Indian security forces to mock the truce ground rules by killing the outfit’s men on Naga soil, the group said.
The NSCN (I-M) said 5 Bihar Regiment put on their army fatigues soon after the incident and took control of the situation by not allowing even the police to enter the area. The outfit said the Nagaland government also confirmed on investigation that contrary to the army’s claim the “encounter” took place in Burma Camp, United North Block-B, Dimapur.
Dimapur district administration has strongly refuted the claim made by the security forces that the incident had taken place in Assam. Dimapur deputy commissioner Abhijit Sinha said the incident took place “very much inside Nagaland”. The deputy commissioner said the place of incident was Burma Camp, Lotha Colony, Dimapur.
Dismissing the claim of the army and quoting the findings of the state government, the faction said the place of the firing was not Bokajan as claimed by the army. Dimapur police have registered a suo moto case at East Police Station, Dimapur, and investigation is on, Sinha said. But the spokesman for the army here said the incident took place inside Assam and that the members of the NSCN (I-M) were involved in arms smuggling and trafficking. Public relations officer (defence) Lt Col Nirupam Bhargava said the incident could not be termed as a violation of the ceasefire by the army, since the two were moving with weapons outside designated camps, which goes against truce ground rules. Col Bhargava said the army also seized arms from them.
NPMHR condemns AR, demands compensation Newmai News Network
Senapati, Nov 4: The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR-South Sector) has accused the 1st Assam Rifles of using the innocent unarmed Sor-bung villagers as human shield while clearing the undergrowth bushes at the ambush site of which the result being that three school going children got serious injuries due to the bomb blast at the place on Friday in Ukhrul district. A militant group KYKL had carried out an ambush on the Assam Rifles at Sorbung under Ukhrul district few days ago killing three Assam Rifles personnel including a Major while injuring seven security personnel.
“The Assam Rifles—Friends of the hill people have done it again,” exclaim-ed the Naga rights movement sarcastically.
Terming the use of the Sorbung villagers for the jungle clearance task by the Assam Rifles as forced labour the NPMHR-South Sector strongly condemned the “brute and inhuman acts of forced labour and using more than 140 unarmed innocent villagers of Sorbung including women and children as human shield.
“The cleansing exercised was carried out after the Sorbung village Authority headman and secretary were picked up from their respective homes and given a threat order for cleansing the road-sides bushes using unarmed and untrained innocent villagers with an intention to clear any un-exploded bomb leftover or landmine planted along the road sides in the aftermath of the ambush reportedly launched by one proscribed armed group,” narrated the Naga rights movement and termed the act of the Assam Rifles using the villagers for the work as “human shield which was without any wage for their labours, in total violation to the international and nation-al guidance to all armed groups operating in the conflict areas”.
NPMHR-South Convenor S Phamhring said, “To utter surprise, the Assam Riffles, self style Friends of the Hill People refused to extend their help to take the three injured identified as Ngathingpam Mangkung, aged 17, s/o M Jessie, class IX student of Junior Academy, Yuivah Sarang aged 15, s/o (Late) Rainang Sarang, class VI student of St. George Don Bosco, Hung -dung who were profusingly bleeding all over their body parts and Mahai Mangkung, aged 18, s/o Raingang, for medical treatment at Imphal. The helpless villagers were refused vehicle for transportation, instead Assam Riffles personnel asked to borrow 20 litres of diesel to be repaid back within 10 days”.
NPMHR further alleged that the district administration is left at the hand of paramilitary forces “who subjugates and unleaashes the reign of terror” to the innocent villagers. NPMHR demanded that a appropriate and concrete measures be taken up to ensure the rule of laws “with full respect for the fundamental freedom and human rights principles” and to book all the guilty security personnel and guaranty to prevent recurrence of such incident. NPMHR further demanded for adequate rehabilitation including medical treatments and compensation to the all the injured victims, payment of due and legitimate wages to all the victims of the forced labour.
IM men involved in abduction bid held By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Nov 4: Two cadres of the NSCN (IM) including a 2nd Lieutenant were nabbed by Sekmai Police at about 11 am today from Kanglatongbi when the UG cadres were trying to abduct a helper of a truck.
The truck bearing registration number MN01/6969 was transporting cement from Dimapur to Imphal for BK Steels, Thangal Bazar. It is reported that the NSCN (IM) demanded Rs 1 lakhs from BK Steels.
The NSCN (IM) men kept back helper Tonjam Naobi (17) s/o Tondon of Pangei Bazar at Kanglatongbi while driver Thokchom Brajamani (24) of Thoubal Kshetri Leikai was allowed to proceed with the vehicle. Speeding up his vehicle, Brajamani reported about the abduction at Sekmai police station. Soon a police team led by the OC of Sekmai PS including Brajamani headed towards Kanglatongbi. On the road, the police team came across the NSCN (IM) men riding a motor cycle (Pulsar, MN01M/9020). Acting swiftly, the police team over powered the UG cadres. From the disclosure made by the duo, the police team rescued the helper from a Kanglatongbi area where he was held captive. The two NSCN (IM) cadres are identified as 2nd Lt Lohar Mao alias Ashok (28) of Karong, Senapati and Ata-ngpao Newmai (27) of Tamei Bazar. The duo disclosed that they were planning to take Naobi to an NSCN (IM) camp located at Makhan where more than 40 armed cadres of the outfit are putting up presently.
Naga women in politics- Nagaland Post Patricia Mukhim
At least three states of the North East are headed for the Assembly polls in early 2008. While elections in themselves have become meaningless or been made redundant by the very inefficacy of the people elected, adult franchise is the very basis upon which liberal democracy is founded. Democracy envisages an informed, enlightened citizenry that can put a government on the mat for its acts of omission and commission. But that is precisely what we do not have in India. Ours is a confused blend of forced nation-building out of incompatible elements, on a framework borrowed from the advanced west. Often, this attempt to forcefully make us wear shoes that are several sizes too big is what creates disorder.
When the Indian Constitution, whose preamble reads like a collective oath taking ceremony, was adopted, we in the region were still in the deep dark recesses of our tribal milieu. We had not evolved enough to have joined the bandwagon of those enlightened species of the elite durbar of India, many of them western educated elite, who consciously agreed to adopt the tenets of a liberal, western democratic framework upon which to launch our destinies. No wonder democracy suffers from severe maladjustments.
Democracy is premised on the idea of enjoyment of basic fundamental rights and exercise of responsibilities by individual citizens. It has no mechanism to deal with collective or community rights which is what defines the tribal milieu. Yet our democratic system has had to grapple with these dichotomies and only occasionally stumble upon answers. But, by and large, democracy continues to be an existential dilemma especially in states where tribal sentiments and community loyalty supercedes the rationale of hard core democratic codes.
Conflict in the region is largely because of these predicaments. It is difficult enough to transition from a society with no script and no written history into one where your histories are scripted by a foreign power with a peripheral understanding of the nuances of individual cultural legacies. Often the portrayal has been pejorative. Now that many of us have imbibed an educational system founded on the western world view we feel compelled to re-script our histories but without the rigidity of research and scholarship which are essential components of empiricism. From a past that completely blanked out our traditional values we now come to a present that is highly glorified. The need to project our exclusive identities to the world and also for the purpose of cornering the resources of democracy has resulted in the emergence of new ethnic communities with new challenges. Indian democracy does not know how to handle this continuous dilemma.
With all these inherent predicaments we have added our own experiences to the enrichment of democracy. The Indian state has gradually begun to understand and appreciate the 'tribal genius' that Nehru articulated at a time when the Indian masses were hardly aware of our existence. Over the years intelligent discourses by the academia and intelligentsia from the region, coupled with native wisdom from the field have become subjects of great interest for academics across the country and the world. Yet we are also part of the larger democratic sheet anchor that continues to guide our political destinies across stormy seas.
It is against this background that one looks at the forthcoming elections to the state legislatures and the role of emerging actors. Women have played very marginal roles in the legislature. Yet they have been the most pro-active campaigners, polling agents and proxy votes for male candidates. This was very succinctly stated by women themselves at the recently concluded seminar organized by the Nagaland State Commission for Women at Kohima. Now that women recognize they have been used as effective tools for vote-gathering, even while their own statuses remain unchanged, it would be fair to say that they are now ready for 'real' political mobilization.
For decades the people of Nagaland have voted, but for what? There is no infrastructure worth its name. Not a single institution stands out as a centre of excellence. Education is in the doldrums thus forcing out youngsters to seek for opportunities elsewhere. A huge percentage of the GDP of Nagaland leaks out of the State annually to meet the needs of its student population in the metros. Yet there is a distinct lack of interest in the Government to stem this exodus of the best and the brightest. Those who have experienced a fairly liberal lifestyle outside Nagaland wonder why they should come back to a State whose capital city goes to sleep at dusk and where social mores are dictated by gun-toting outfits. Last week three people were shot dead in the busiest section of Kohima town but there was not a whimper. This tells us that life is cheap and therefore expendable.
For years together Nagaland has been run like a patriarchal empire first by one tribe and then another. But there are no visible signs of progress. If roads are the indicators of development then Nagaland and its rulers have given it a new definition. Dilapidated roads, that are especially threatening for pregnant women as one severe jolt on an unsuspecting crater could lead to a miscarriage, have been, and continue to be an eyesore. Yet women have silently borne this rubbish that passes off as development and for which crores of rupees have been poured in by the Indian State. This reminds us of the song, 'where have all the flowers gone?' except that in this case 'flowers' is substituted by 'money'. But we know where the money has gone, don't we? It has gone into building sophisticated mansions, buying swanky cars, investments in personal businesses of ministers and their privileged 'sons' who think they have a natural right to all government contracts. How can this pilferage be allowed to continue?
So will women do better as legislators and will they bring about substantive changes? We will not know until we see them in action. What we do know is that women form half of the population of Nagaland and therefore have every right to play a role in its politics not merely as campaigners but by directly contesting the elections. History tells us that no organized political party will ever allocate space for women. Their leaders, all male will always find ways to deprive women of their legitimate space. Some of these male aspiring candidates will use women to defile and defame other women who intend to contest the polls. But we are not looking at a church post here where candidates are expected to be pure as driven snow. Do we have anyone who is perfect in the first place? Since perfection is only possible in the after-life, women need to unshackle the patriarchal conditioning and the slavery of sexual division of labour and come together to elect women to represent them in the next elections. It is time to form a separate women's political party and for all women to rise above tribe and clan and work for the collective success of this party.
Nagaland deserves a change and women are capable of bringing to the political corpus their vast, yet untapped experiences. Can Naga women rise to the occasion and claim their space in politics to show the way to a better more equitable future? Of course this means hard work but it is worth the struggle.
Towards unity and reconciliation The Morung Express Perspective
“Unity and Reconciliation”; a much needed essence to Naga freedom movement. However, to me it suits well with, “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity”. Whatever may be the head or tail, for me, it’s all the same as long as it leads to the aspired destination. But the concern of the people now is the shortest, safest and the best available route to the destination but how? Formation of a committee to spearhead a holistic mission of “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity” founded on people based meticulous planning may go a long way. This historic step may be most appropriately initiated by Naga Hoho, which will convene a meeting of all the tribal Hohos on “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity”. The followings may be significant for deliberation and subsequent resolution:
1. Formation of Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
2. Judicious representation of the Committee by people from across the length and breadth of Naga Homeland.
3. Endorsement of the Committee by all the Tribal Hohos to work for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
4. Authorization of the Committee to dictate over anyone or any organization if necessary for the welcoming of Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in Naga Homeland.
5. Preparation of working principles for the Committee.
After the formation of the Committee, it should prepare people based detail Road Map for the success of the mission. Enough time should be given in drawing the Road Map. Every wisdom should be employed to make sure that the adopted Road Map is the best available from every perspective. Once the Road Map is drawn, the Committee must be sincerely prepared for the launching of the mission focused, determined and undeterred. “Have great hopes and dares to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe them” – Norman Vincent Peale.
“Peace; peace is the tranquil state of human mind. Peace is love; it is the state of human heart. Peace is harmony; it is an essence of a beautiful world. It is the source of all the good things in a man’s life. Let’s give peace a chance.” “Peace” is must. “You cannot separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom” as Malcolm X says. The Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity must declare “Peace” in Naga Homeland as a beginning of its holistic mission for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. The message must be clear, deep and widespread. It must reach every strata of Naga society; it must reach all the churches, associations, organizations, and especially, it must reach all the Naga Revolutionary Organizations. Once Peace is reinstated, atmosphere conducive to work for Reconciliation and Unity will dawn.
Post Ceasefire (between Government of India and NSCN) killings are all factional, fratricidal, a killing amongst brothers. It is most unfortunate at the same time ridiculous top up with absurdity that this Ceasefire with Government of India (GoI) ironically has sparked a killing spree among factions. Why not a ceasefire is signed among factions in order to stop these factional killings? Why not and how? It’s all games the GoI plays with the Nagas. Are Naga leaders surely ignorant why and how? I don’t think so. Let every Naga leaders realize the futility of divided house; let the Naga leaders realize the wisdom of reconciliation. Sooner the better, else it will be too late that repairing will be too costly; it may even cost the issue itself. What is the profit if infighting has to cost our issue at any circumstances? Lo! If this issue dies, where do the Nagas stand? Nagas will die along with this issue.
A catalytic Ceasefire to Peace must be signed among factions as a responsive gesture to the call for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in the best interest of the Nagas as a whole. This means coming together and sitting across tables. The Committee for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity must be the instrument to make this happen. No faction should object to this initiative for “Peace”. When all the factions can sign ceasefire with Government of India (that has been forcibly denying the Nagas rights), what on earth is the difficulty for the Naga Revolutionary Organizations in signing Ceasefire amongst them? Ceasefire agreement should be signed. Once Ceasefire is signed among factions, literally there will be no more killings among brothers. Whichever organization fails to accept this clarion call for Peace should be branded as anti-Peace, anti-Naga.
The Committee also needs to educate general public in line with the mission. The following points may be considered to be careful imparted to the public:
1. Accept that “Peace, Reconciliation and Unity” will accelerate solution to the protracted Indo-Naga Political problem. This is very important because, united we stand, divided we fall. As long as the Naga family is divided, freedom will continue to elude from us.
2. Pledge to partake in this mission. Naga issue is yours and mine. Accept that we are part of Naga National movement; nothing more, nothing less than any national worker or in that matter nothing more or less than Sir Isaac Chishi Swu or S.S. Khaplang or Kitovi or Th. Muivah. We must pledge that we are party to this issue. It also will certainly strengthen ones responsibility as a revolutionary. If we failed to do this, our sincerity over the issue is questionable. We are factor to Mission possible and vice versa. We cannot fail at any cost.
3. Control situation. Practices of wrong allegation must be stopped impromptu. Everyone must restrain/refrain from fomenting situation. We must be optimistic rather than pessimistic. Suspicious mind must be replaced with faith/confidence/optimism.
4. Restrains over-reaction. Knowing that the issue is sensitive, one must be very careful while reacting especially to news articles. We must not forget that our prime role in this mission is to facilitate peace. We are Peace Maker; we must avail every opportunity to take over anger with compassion and understanding. At any point of time we must restrain from overreacting.
The need for Reconciliation is our creation. This could have been avoided had we been careful, selfless, faithful and sincere to our cause. However, our own creation or other’s, problem is problem; it must be solved. Reconciliation amongst factions will be one big achievement for the Nagas because it is tantamount to demolition of a huge wall that has been long dividing the Nagas. It is a victory over folly; it is a victory over eccentricity. Most of all, it is a victory over enemies within.
Once Peace is reinstated, atmosphere conducive for working on Reconciliation will dawn. The Committee, taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere will then start working on Reconciliation amongst the factions. Bulldozing differences among the factions may be a prerequisite hence the following points can be considered to bring them down to logical parity to effect Reconciliation:
1. All the factions must accept that Reconciliation amongst factions will hasten ultimate solution to the protracted Indo-Naga Political problem.
2. All the faction must declare readiness for Reconciliation.
3. Leaders of all the factions need to educate/counsel cadres on subject matters related with Reconciliation. Cadres need to be educated, disciplined and counseled to refrain/restrain from doing anything that will foment/worsen situation.
4. All the factions should accept commitment of crimes against each other. Therefore, forgive and forget.
5. Factions should not deviate from their principle of Naga National movement. Therefore, all the factions need to review their respective activities/stands vis-à-vis Naga National principle.
The followings are also terms, which are being interpreted and understood by different section of the society in different spectrum. These terms need to be interpreted and understood together in the same wavelength.
1. Integration: For Nations in the making like the Nagas, political integration of lands is prerequisite for a recognized Nation. Integration of Naga homeland is every Nagas wishes and aspiration. We cannot forget that a Country is bounded by international boundary line concretizing its jurisdiction and reaches and limits of its authority and administration. Therefore, it must be clear to all the Nagas that an attempt to integrate fragmented Naga homelands should not be at any cost misconstrued and/or opposed. The NSCN (K) leaders need to reconsider its stand opposing integration of fragmented Naga homeland. This move may have been strongly initiated by the NSCN (IM), but I am sure NSCN (K) leaders will agree to its genuineness irrespective of having many differences in many areas. Integration of Naga homeland is aspiration of our forefather, aspiration of every Naga yesterday, today and tomorrow. No matter how wide is the gap and how different is their ideology, as a true Naga National worker, the aspiration for a united family cannot be removed from their heart.
2. Federal Relationship: Understanding of a section of Naga society on the proposed Federal Relationship between GoI and the Naga Nation as a means of honorable solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political problem is a proposal for solution within Indian Constitution; therefore, is an absolute sellout and cannot be accepted at any cost. This doubt or confusion needs urgent clarification from the Collective Leadership, GPRN/NSCN (IM) before it’s too late because it stands tall and strong against Reconciliation. Keeping in abeyance the core concept and meaning of the relationship, what comes to the mind of the section of the general public is that it is a new aspiration away from sovereignty, the aspiration of the Nagas in the past, the present and the future. Whatever, the Naga people want sovereignty and sovereignty only. Nothing doing as long as the solution falls short of sovereignty. But who cannot accept better option? If the proposed Federal Relationship is being found consonant with time and situation, peace loving Nagas have no reason why it should not be regarded. Therefore, the Collective Leadership of the GPRN/NSCN (IM) must explain what Federal Relationship is, how is it going to be like, what is the limit of the relationship, why Federal Relationship, etcetera.
3. Meaning of sovereignty vis-à-vis Naga Freedom Movement: Sovereignty literally means freedom, self-governance, authority, autonomy, etc. However, it has been found interpreted by different people in different ways and terms. It is indeed a vague term, which is open to varied interpretation. As far as I could understand and belief, for the GPRN/NSCN (IM), there is no Nation that is totally or 100% sovereign. Even super powers like the USA are not 100% sovereign. No person is 100% sovereign or free except God the almighty. Interdependence is must and is the mantra of survival and security in the modern world; no one can escape from this truth. The so-called Sovereign Nations are all interdependent in one way or the other. Therefore, talking about absolute Sovereignty carries no meaning and holds no water. I believe that this is the basis on which the NSCN (IM) came in term with the GoI on join administration in some areas acceptable to both Nations like Border defense, External Affairs, Currency, etc. while maintaining a status of a free Nation having its own Government, Constitution, Citizenship, etc. Accepting the meaning of sovereignty in the same wavelength by the Naga people and also by the revolutionary organizations is very important because of the fact that the Naga revolutionary movement circles around Sovereignty of Naga people.
At last but not the least, I am sure Reconciliation will take place very soon. Our leaders irrespective of groups or factions will come together and will be sharing their differences. That day, it will be crystal clear that their differences are found being hinged on miscommunication, selfishness and ego. They will all accept the folly of their egoism and regret for it because this folly is the reason for the dead of thousands of promising and young cadres; this folly is the reason for the broken down families. However, it will stand as a milestone of a new beginning in the history of Naga National Movement. From there, at last the Nagas will see the Promised Land. No one can anymore stop the Nagas from reaching its destination thence.
After having reconciled in letter and spirit, Unity will be a spontaneous incentive to the Nagas. May God be the Glory. May He take charge over the Naga National Movement and bring solution to Indo-Naga political problem in our time. KUKNALIM.
Romeo Maring Signal Bosti, Dimapur Contact: raal_man@rediffmail.com
Heart of Naga hospitality Nagaland Page
Weather-wise, the best of Nagaland has just begun. We would no doubt soon get another ‘shower of blessings’ to really usher in the cold, nay spine-tingling chill, that would paradoxically give glowing warmth to the festive season but all that would only better the best. So, not surprisingly tourists, never mind the volume, would slowly pour into our beautiful state, not only to bask in our salubrious winter but also to experience the joys of our week-long Hornbill Festival, which begins every year on December 1, coinciding with our State Day. It is to the credit of our state Governments that over the years the Hornbill Festival has gained an equal amount of fame and notoriety, which has aroused the curiosity of people across India, as also across the globe. Yes, there is a huge amount of interest in our Hornbill Festival but the question always is “where would we stay?” A question that is not easy to answer for we all know the inadequacy of our public and private hospitality sectors. Now, because tourism, as an income-generating activity, is very crucial for our over-all economic growth however humble, this problem requires urgent attention and it is hoped that our state Government would form a committee (at which it has shown remarkable talent), a kind of public-private participation and endeavour, to work out alternative ways of housing and lodging tourists, who desire to experience the famed Naga hospitality during the festive season. Our Churches have fully utilized private homes for housing and lodging invitees from across the country and abroad during mammoth Church programmes, perhaps our state Government could pick a leaf out of the Church’s book? Close interaction with people from outside Nagaland would also go a long way in opening our people’s hearts and minds to how others live and love, friendships would be forged and we would get miles closer to the rest of the world. The other aspect of particularly our government/public hospitality sector, well it is time to polish its act before tourists make serious inroads into Nagaland. We have only two 3-star category hotels, namely Hotel Japfu at Kohima and Hotel Saramati at Dimapur, owned by the state Government and the dire need of the day is the polishing up of these two Hotels’ act. They are run more as some badly-neglected Government enterprise than the heart of Naga hospitality. It is not so much the infrastructure and facilities that count, although they need to be upgraded, but the service provided. It is most unwelcoming to go to these Hotels and see the bored look of the staff and experience their untrained ways, much reflected in the hygienic status of the Hotels. And their Managers or General Managers are hardly seen, especially during national and state conferences and other important events. It is also pointless to advertise conference facilities, when there is not much on offer. Perhaps some of our Circuit Houses are run better than these 3-star category Hotels. The point is we need properly trained personnel in hospitality sector/services for tourists to revisit Nagaland over and over again. Our Hotel personnel must understand that they are the reflection of the famed Naga hospitality. Secondly, even in the government hospitality sector, the principle of hiring and firing should be adopted and strictly adhered to. Hotels go to seed when their personnel become too confident and secure about their jobs. So right from the top to the bottom, Hotel personnel should be made to understand that their job depends solely on their performance. Moreover, our state Government must screen Government employees assigned to these Hotels because not all have the necessary attitude and aptitude to cater to the needs of the hospitality sector and services although they may be the nicest guys/gals in town. Manning a Government office and manning a hotel, public or private, are two totally different ball games and it would greatly benefit our tourism sector if the state Government paid more focused attention towards this end. The tourism season has just begun and this is the best time to serve the best of Nagaland to our tourists, in a warm and inviting way — the hallmark of Naga hospitality.
Assam ULFA’s Rising Anxieties Wasbir Hussain South Asian Terrorism Portal
Member, National Security Advisory Board, India; Associate Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi
In the ongoing battles to win the ‘war’ between the separatist United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the security forces in Northeast India’s Assam State, the Government seems to have registered a distinct advantage. There is a growing impression that the ULFA — among the region’s most potent insurgent groups — has been hit by a possible ‘conflict fatigue’, resulting in its cadres surrendering to the authorities by the dozens. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has disclosed that between September 24, 2006 — when a temporary truce between the authorities and the ULFA ended — and October 31, 2007, a total of 655 ULFA militants have surrendered to the authorities across the State.
The latest mass surrender took place on November 1, 2007, when 64 ULFA militants, including Ujjwal Gohain, ‘finance secretary’ of the group’s crack Myanmar-headquartered fighting unit called the ‘28th battalion’, gave up before Police, Army and civil administration officials at an Assam Police base in Guwahati. A week earlier, on October 23, 2007, 31 ULFA rebels had surrendered in a function at an Army brigade headquarters near Guwahati. Fourteen militants each from the ULFA had surrendered on two earlier occasions — at the Army’s 2nd Mountain Division headquarters in eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh District on October 29, 2007, and before the Assam Police in Guwahati on September 6, 2007.
The ULFA may prefer to dismiss these surrenders as nothing but ‘dramas’ stage managed by the Government, but the rebel group cannot ignore the fact that it is fast losing its cadre strength. In addition to the surrenders, quite a large number of ULFA militants have either been killed by security forces or arrested. In just a year, starting September 2006, in the three eastern Districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar, under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Mountain Division (and not in the whole of Assam), Army troopers on the ULFA trail killed 51 militants from the group and captured 95 others. The police and the paramilitary have also neutralized a number of ULFA militants in independent operations. It must be noted that more than 90 per cent of the militants neutralized over this period belong to the ‘28th battalion,’ which has staging areas across the international border in Myanmar, according to Army sources.
"You must take note of the fact that ULFA rebels are surrendering despite the peace efforts breaking down," Chief Minister Gogoi told this writer. The Government is evidently suggesting that the ULFA rank-and-file are tiring out with no end in sight to the insurrection for an independent homeland that is already 28 year old. Strategists within the Government and its security agencies would like to believe that the ULFA is cracking up because the authorities have given out enough indications that they are not in any hurry to resume the peace process with the rebel group. Fresh appeals to the Government by groups and individuals known to be pro-ULFA have, so far, been ignored both by the central and the State governments. Peace efforts, which began in September 2005 with the ULFA appointing an 11-member negotiation panel called the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), broke down a year later, after three rounds of talks, with both sides putting up conditions and counter-conditions.
A complex of factors is believed to have triggered the present spate of surrenders, including:
• An apparent disconnect between the group’s topmost leaders, based outside Assam, and local commanders;
• The apparent failure to hold the ULFA’s ‘general council’ meeting since 1998, and the failure to reassure Assam-based leaders through telephonic contacts with ‘general council’ members;
• The absence of safe sanctuaries, after the ULFA’s expulsion from Bhutan following the Royal Bhutan Army blitzkrieg in December 2003;
• The inability to consolidate ULFA bases in Myanmar because of improving ties between New Delhi and Yangon;
• The unpredictable response of the new Army-backed dispensation in Bangladesh, making long-term operational plans from sanctuaries in that country difficult;
• The attraction of the Government’s new rehabilitation policy, in place since April 2005, which provides each surrendered rebel a monthly stipend of INR 2,000 for a period of three years, training in a vocational skill of choice, and a fixed deposit of INR 150,000 for each surrendered militant, under the care of security agencies, to be made available at the end of the three year period.
The cumulative reverses faced by the ULFA are expected to impact on the organization in a number of ways. Security agencies are of the opinion that the rebel group has already been ‘outsourcing’ risky jobs like planting explosive devices to prevent its cadres from being killed or captured. The group could also be forced to recruit cadres who may not be ideologically motivated to be a part of its operations, and who may, consequently, quit at any time. Moreover, reports of surrenders at regular intervals have the potential to give out signals that could make even the ULFA’s unflinching over-ground supporters lose faith in the organization, and force the leadership to engage in a measure of introspection.
In any analysis of the ULFA’s strengths and weaknesses, it is important to arrive at a figure of the number of cadres in the group. Some reports, quoting Army sources, had put the number of ULFA rebels at 3,000 at one stage, while others reports have put the number at anything between 4,000 and 6,000. By contrast, however, official Assam Police figures (obtained by former State Home Commissioner T.L. Baruah under the Right to Information Act) claim that between 1998 and 2005, a total of 3,324 ULFA militants had surrendered to the authorities. Adding to these the number of ULFA militants who surrendered between September 2006 and October 31, 2007 (655, as stated by the Chief Minister), the total comes close to 4,000. In this simple arithmetic, militants who may have surrendered between January and September 2006 have not been taken into account, nor have the numbers of militant captured been included. Further, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal database, a total of 1,950 militants were killed over the 1998-2007 period (till October 31, 2007), a large majority of them belonging to the ULFA. Clearly, with a constantly shrinking recruitment base, this scale of attritional losses will bring unbearable pressure to bear on the organization and its capacities to sustain the insurgency.
Evidently, the ULFA will have to orchestrate some ‘drama’ of its own if it is to survive. The probabilities of high intensity strikes, even if these involve ‘stealth bombings’ on soft targets to demonstrate its strike potential, would, consequently, increase in the proximate future. There may also be a vigorous demand for resumption of the peace process by certain groups across Assam. There is an obvious uncertainty regarding what will follow, though it is clear that the continuing reverses do not spell a necessary beginning of the end for the ULFA insurgency in Assam. That is principally because the issues behind the rise of the ULFA, ever since its formation on April 7, 1979, still remain to be tackled. And the group’s slogan of the ‘political’ and ‘economic’ independence of Assam can only be met or addressed politically. Had a purely military solution been possible, the ULFA militancy should have been dead and gone after 17 years of a sustained counter-insurgency offensive under a Unified Headquarters of the Army, Police and Paramilitary Forces. Nevertheless, the Government now appears to be in a position of dominance, and it remains to be seen if this can be translated into a final resolution of the problem, or will prove to be just one of the transient dips in the trajectory of insurgency in the State.
Manipuris yearn for peace Nagaland Post
IMPHAL, NOV 4 (ANI): People in Manipur yearn for an end to insurgency. The younger generation has been more vocal against the rebels in the State. Extortion, killings and kidnappings affect normal life in the State. The youth want to explore the opportunities that the globalised world has to offer them.
"It's very hard for us to carry on our day-to-day life. We can't go to college regularly or do anything else because there are anti-social elements, which always give us a fear, even of our life," said Z V Ngayan, a student. The parallel government run by militant groups in the State is a major area of concern for the security forces and the locals. These groups extort money or levy 'taxes' on people, government officials and businessmen. L T Rangsanamei, a student, said: "Manipur has multi-government because many armed organisations are running a parallel government. In this condition the Manipur government is unworkable and inefficient."
Similarly other sections of the society are complaining against the insurgency. Professionals and government servants remain on an edge due to extortion demands and harassment by the rebel groups. They want the government to act fast and tough against the insurgents. W Robindro Singh, a government employee, said: "Under these circumstances, I don't feel there can be any progress. On the contrary we are moving backward. Peace is a pre-requisite for the progress."
Manipuris feel that the government should hold talks with the insurgents to find a solution to the problem. T H Manitombi Devi, a shopkeeper, said: "The government should try and hold talks with the insurgents to find a solution to the problem. I feel in this way all will be happy." Manipuris wish to be part of the India's march to progress and that is possible only when peace and harmony prevails in the State.
Cadres disillusioned with top leaders’ activities R Dutta Choudhury Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Nov 4 – More than 13,000 militants have laid down arms since the formal surrender of militants started in 1991, and though the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) suffered severe setbacks because of surrender of its members, the outfit still has the striking power to create disturbance. Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune today that the process of surrender of militants started way back towards the end of 1991 and it gained momentum in 1992 when several key members of the outfit laid down arms. The figure of the surrendered militants included about 2,600 militants belonging to the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), who laid down arms following the signing of the ceasefire pact with the Government of India. A few outfits including the Bengali Tiger Force and the Rabha Security Force no longer exist after the arrests and surrender of the senior members of the outfits.

Police said that the process of surrender of militants started gaining momentum after the peace process to bring the ULFA to the negotiating table ended in a deadlock last year. Sources said that when the peace process was on, only 44 militants laid down arms in 13 months and in the last three months, more than 150 militants surrendered before the police and security forces. Sources pointed out that majority of the ULFA members are in favour of talks for political solution of the problems and that is why the process of surrender gathered momentum after the peace process ended in a deadlock. Sources said that the ULFA members, who laid down arms recently, are disillusioned with the activities of the top leaders of the outfit.

Sources pointed out that the surrenders not only result in loss of manpower to the militant groups, but also have a demoralizing effect on the members of the outfits. Sources pointed out that the surrenders are also beneficial for the police and security forces as they can gather important information about the militant groups from those who came out. Police also claimed that quite a few other militants might surrender in the days to come as some of them including key members of the ULFA are in touch with the police and security forces expressing their willingness to come over ground.

Giving details of the policy adopted by the Government for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants, sources said that earlier, the surrendered militants were given a monthly stipend of Rs 2000 but only those who stayed in the rehabilitation training camps got the stipend and many others who returned home were deprived of the same. But from April, 2005, the policy has been changed to make it more attractive for the militants to come overground. Now the Government spends an amount of Rs 2000 per month against each militant for food and lodging expenses and they are given training on various subjects so that they can earn their livelihood. Sources said that the surrendered militants are now being given vocational training by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, SIRD and different government departments like Veterinary, Fisheries, etc. Sources revealed that the Assam Police is in touch with the Assam Agricultural University for imparting training on establishment of small tea gardens. As per the new policy, an amount of Rs 1.50 lakh is kept aside against each surrendered militant and the amount is given to them only after a period of three years if their conduct during the period is found satisfactory.

Though more than a thousand surrendered BLT cadres have been inducted into the BSF and CRPF, no such scheme has been launched for the rehabilitation of the surrendered ULFA men. However, the surrendered militants are free to apply for such jobs and a few also got jobs on merit. The surrendered militants are also free to apply for posts in the Police department.

Police, however, admitted that despite the surrenders of a number of militants over the years, the ULFA still has the striking capability. Sources pointed out that of late, the ULFA has changed its tactics and instead of engaging the security forces in gunbattle, the militants have started planting explosives. Sources also admitted that a few boys from different parts of the State are still joining the ULFA and “most of them have joined the outfit not because of any ideology but because of frustration.”
Sources further said that despite the best efforts of the police and security forces, the routes used by the militants to bring in weapons and explosives from Bangladesh could not be plugged completely. However, because of pressure mounted by the forces, the ULFA militants were forced to change the routes frequently and they were nabbed when on their way from Bangladesh with explosives on quite a number of occasions in recent times.
Time for Ibobi to go, says Rishang Keishing By : Thingbaijam Dhamen/IFP
IMPHAL, Nov 4: Adding fuel to the reported move by several dissident ministers and MLAs of the Congress to oust O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership, ex-chief minister and sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Manipur Rishang Keishing has said, “There is need for change in the leadership of the Congress led SPF government.”
The chief minister O Ibobi Singh and his supporters in the Congress are, meanwhile, feeling the pressure since dissident Congress MLAs are camping in New Delhi to pressurize the AICC top leadership, including its president Sonia Gandhi, to remove O Ibobi Singh as the Congress legislature party leader. Though Congress MLAs in Imphal denied media reports of any move to oust Ibobi from chief ministership and the camping of dissident MLAs in the national capital, the veteran Congress MP’s statement hint at the situation being otherwise.
The revolt of the MLAs is apparently based on the excuse of the deteriorating law and order in the state where a spate of killings, shootings and abductions have taken place raising the death toll within the month of October to 79. At least four engineers of different engineering departments were kidnapped by militants in this month. Amidst all this militants have also been nabbed regularly from the MLAs quarters despite the government taking many measures to keep the area free from underground cadres. Speaking to the media today, Rishang said that during the five year tenure of the O Ibobi Singh government the law and order situation had worsened but the present chief minister had somehow completed his five year term.
“The same situation is continuing and now the people want to replace him,” the veteran Congressman who was chief minister several times said cautioning that if such a situation continues further it will affect the integrity of the state. O Ibobi Singh, the only chief minister who has ruled the state for a full five-year term has been facing a revolt against him since the day he was sworn in as chief minister for a second term on March 2 this year.
The hopes of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaikhangam were shattered the day Ibobi was re-chosen as leader of the Congress legislature party paving his way to a second term as chief minister. The rift was evident as on the day of the expansion the Congress-CPI coalition SPF government, Gaikhangam showed his unhappiness when he objected to his serial number during the swearing in. Ibobi’s ministry formation which he could not announce before the Yaosang festival in the first week of March was a crucial test for him. He took time for expansion till showing his strength on the floor of the Assembly on March 16. The chief minister took a long time till June to expand his ministry for a second time. Another notable event was the resignation of the MPCC chief Gaikhangam before the expansion of the ministry. Gaikhangam, at that time had given the reason for his resignation as giving chance to other MLAs for a stable government as the number of ministers was limited to 12. After the expansion got over Ibobi still faced a undercurrent of protest from the MLAs who could not get ministerial berths and faced as many as three internal revolts.
HPC(D) hand suspected in NC Hills killing Gogoi to visit NC Hills today
By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Nov 4: The Black Widow has today denied its hands in yesterday’s killing of four persons, including a Congress candidate for the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) polls at Retzol, 20 km from Haflong, yesterday. Earlier, the rebel group owned the responsibility of the killing of seven CRPF personnel in the hill district on November 2.
Talking to The Sentinel, Black Widow publicity-cum-finance secretary Pheirang said: “We have no hand in the killing of Congress candidate for Lower Khartong constituency of NCHAC Darbiekthom Hmar, his PSOs Kumud Boro and Lalramthang Hmar, and driver John Hmar at Retzol in NC Hills yesterday.”
According to State Government sources, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will leave for NC Hills tomorrow to review the situation there. Chief Secretary PC Sarma has reviewed the situation today.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s killing and the killing of seven CRPF personnel the day before in the hill district have created a sensation among the political parties and candidates for the Council polls to be held on November 26 and December 1. The residents of Haflong literally observed a bandh today as the hill town wore a deserted look though no organizations gave any bandh call against the killings in the past two consecutive days.
Sources, however, said that the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC-D) was involved in the killing of the Congress leader, his PSOs and the diver. “The HPC-D earlier demanded Rs 5 lakh from Darbiekthom Hmar who was killed while going to strike the deal with the rebel group,” sources said.
While the Army operation is going on in the Retzol area in the hill district, Deputy Commissioner Anil Kumar Baruah, DIG YK Goutom and the Superintendent of Police held a meeting with the zonal officers of the Council polls today. The meeting was followed by another meeting with the political parties and poll candidates wherein the DC told the candidates that they would be provided more PSOs, and if possible, escorts. The meeting was attended by candidates and leaders of the ASDC-BJP combine and the Congress. While condemning yesterday’s killing, ASDC secretary Mohet Hojai said: “Since nobody has claimed the responsibility of yesterday’s killing as yet, there is every possibility of involvement of a third force. Whoever might be the killer, the intention is to halt the NCHAC polls. Only a CBI probe can unearth the truth.”
It may be mentioned here that militants had killed the NCHAC’s Chief Executive Member and Executive Member on June 4 leading to the postponement of the Council polls. On October 18, the arrest of DHD (Jewel) ‘area commander’ Daku Singh led to the recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including ten AK-56 rifles, from different parts of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills.
Fortunes uncertain for both rival SPF camps; Gaikhangam joins rebels, Ibobi regroups The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Nov 4: The battlelines in the ongoing leadership crisis in the SPF government have been drawn with Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaikhangam reportedly joining the dissident MLAs at their camp in New Delhi today. Chief minister O Ibobi also reached Delhi today, and was reportedly closeted with his supporters at the Delhi Manipur Bhavan to draw up strategies to counter the dissidents’ move. There is now a race between the two sides to meet AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and the Congress top leadership and put their cases before the latter first.
The dissident MLAs, contacted by IFP at New Delhi, in the meantime disclosed that they submitted a memorandum to the AICC leadership justifying their demand for removing Ibobi from chief ministership.

MPCC chief Gaikhangam, who many political observers see as the mastermind behind the ongoing move against Ibobi, flew to New Delhi today, and as per reports from the dissident MLAs, held a meeting with them at their camp this late afternoon to chalk out their future line of action. He is expected to use his influence as MPCC chief to secure a meeting for the dissidents with the top AICC leadership, possibly by tomorrow, one of the dissident MLAs told IFP over the telephone. The MLA also disclosed that they have submitted a memorandum addressed to the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and AICC secretary in charge of the NE, Prithviraj Chauhan, making various charges against chief minister O Ibobi Singh, including his failure to maintain law and order, amassing of excessive personal wealth, and maladministration and encouraging corrupt practices in recruitment and appointment processes. The memorandum was signed by 15 MLAs, including two ministers. The source however refused to disclose the names of the ministers. On the other hand, the chief minister’s emissaries, N Biren Singh and K Ranjit Singh have made no headway in efforts to reconciliate the dissident MLAs as repeated requests to meet with the latter have been rebuffed.
After the arrival of chief minister Ibobi in New Delhi this morning, the two ministers reportedly joined him for a strategic meeting at the Manipur Bhavan, New Delhi. Sources said in this connection the CM and his loyalists are planning to meet Sonia Gandhi by tomorrow evening. The CM, it may be mentioned, is scheduled to participate in an international conference on federalism being held in New Delhi tomorrow.
In the meantime, the family of MLA E Kunjeshwor, who was named as one of the dissident MLAs in several media reports have clarified that he is in Delhi for medical reasons, and does not belong to either camp.
Junta threatens political activists in Arakan State Mizzima News
November 5, 2007 - Opposition political activists in Taungup town of Arakan state recently released from detention in western Burma were openly threatened on Sunday by junta authorities. They were asked to stay calm or they would invite harsher punishment, said a political worker. Than Pe, vice chairman of the Taungup Township National League for Democracy, told Mizzima that the authorities on Sunday summoned several activists, who had recently been released after being arrested in connection with the September protests, to the town's golf course, nearly half a mile from the town. "We were told to remain calm or face fresh arrest and severe punishment if we plan or carry out any kind of movement or protests," said Than Pe, who following the September protests has been summoned several times and detained briefly. Meanwhile, authorities have reportedly interrogated the wife of an NLD member Nyi Pu Lay, whose body was recovered from the Gwa River on October 17. "Local police took her away for interrogation on November 3, but we cannot ask her what they questioned her about as she seems to be too scared and dare not speak," a local resident told Mizzima.
While five of the six NLD members arrested from Taungup Township have been released authorities continue to detain Min Aung, secretary of the Taungup NLD, colleagues said.
"We think he continues to be detained because of his involvement with the International Labour Organization," said a colleague. Min Aung's work as a volunteer with the ILO since 2004, has reportedly led authorities to blacklist him, added the colleague.
Monks continue protests on streets of Burma Mizzima News
November 5, 2007 - In the second such instance after the September protests in Burma, over 50 monks marched peacefully in Mogok town in upper Burma. A protesting monk told the BBC Burmese service that, "the peaceful walk is because so far the government has not complied with the demands of the Burmese Monk Alliance made in September. We are not afraid because we are not destabilizing the state and not resorting to violence".
"In the future, if they (junta) move towards democracy, they will have to accept and welcome these peaceful protests. We will not have to care about action being taken by means of unfair laws and so we will protest," the monk added. On Wednesday, around 100 monks in Pakokku in central Burma held a peaceful protest march, in the first of such instance after the junta's brutal crackdown on protesters in September, and ahead of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's trip to Burma. Coinciding with the Pakokku protest, the junta shut off the internet on Thursday. The next day following the monks' rally the intranet was available. In Sittwe, the townspeople had tried to protest on October 28, but the demonstration did not take place because of heightened security. "Although the planned protest did not take place, the protests will go on. Here people are dissatisfied," U Mg Mg, a businessman in Sittwe, the capital of the Arakan state, told Mizzima. During the night of October 29, students from Sittwe pasted many cartoon posters which said "Buddhaan Tranan Dai Dai (Kill all Buddha)," "Danman Tranan Dai Dai (Kill all Dhamma)" and "Thinga Tharanan Dai Dai (Kill all Monks)" at the entrances of temples and monasteries throughout Arakan State capital, reported Bangladesh based Narinjara News Agency. Meanwhile, authorities are reportedly imparting riot trainings to police and civil servants in Sagaing, Rangoon, Mandalay, Pegu and Moulmein towns and parts of Arakan state.
India's foreign policy pragmatism Indo Burma News
November 5, 2007: (BBC News) Just as thousands of saffron-clad Buddhist monks hit the streets of Rangoon to protest against the military junta, India's oil minister was in the Burmese capital negotiating greater involvement for Indian gas companies. For days the Indian foreign office maintained a studious silence as violence escalated in its neighbour.
Pressure on the Indian government from US and European countries did not deter Delhi from its now well-established policy - that economic and security interests dictate foreign policy. Earlier this year Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Burma and was questioned on India's growing economic and military ties with the authorities there. "India is a democracy and it wants democracy to flourish everywhere. But we are not interested in exporting our own ideology," he said. The remarks reflect the new pragmatism that dictates India's foreign policy.
Flexibility On a number of recent issues India has refused to react, delayed its response or just said it is an internal matter for the countries concerned. Israel's invasion of Lebanon last year, the Israeli blockade of Gaza, the actions of Sudan's military authorities, Iran's nuclear stand-off with the US and the recent crackdown in Burma are all examples of this new approach.
India has had little to say about violent events in the Middle East At least 100 Indian companies have invested more than $2.5bn in Sudan, led by the public oil company, ONGC Videsh, which recently built a 700km pipeline project in the country. It did so while flouting international guidelines on investment in Sudan compiled by the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan.
Following the Indian government's decision to look for new areas of investment in Sudan, power generation companies, tractor, construction and real estate companies have made a bee-line for the country. The automobile giants, Tata and Maruti Suzuki are also scouting for opportunities.
In Iran, ONGC Videsh has sought a 20% participating interest in the Yadavaran oil fields with an estimated capacity to yield 60,000 barrels of crude daily. Linked to this is the liquefied natural gas deal that India signed with Iran in 2005. Syria, another country that the US has named as a sponsor of terrorism, has also generated strong interest in Indian oil companies. ONGC Videsh has inked a contract to explore over 3,800 sq km in central eastern Syria for oil.
India and Iran are earnestly talking about oil Such investments in the last few years are reflective of the "flexibility" that has come to dictate India's foreign policy. An important development in the 1990s triggered a change in outlook towards Burma. For years India had championed the cause of pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. In 1993, India awarded the Nehru Peace prize to her in recognition of her contribution to world peace.
The decision to do so provoked Burma, which lost no time in releasing anti-India rebels it had arrested at Delhi's request. This presented a warning to the Indian political establishment. The Congress government decided to steer away from what had been an avowed policy to support pro-democracy movements all over the world, to make foreign policy decisions based on its interests. Today, India sees Burma as its strategic gateway to East Asian countries.
Booming economy G Parthasarthy was India's ambassador in Rangoon when the policy turnaround took place. He says India's perception gradually changed after the end of Cold War and apartheid. Mr Mukherjee believes foreign policy should reflect practical realities
Mr Parthasarthy points out that Burma shares a long border with India and its sensitive north-eastern states where many separatist groups are active. "We need friendly neighbours and Burma has been a good one," he says. But it has only been good for some.
Insurgent groups who for decades used Burmese soil to launch attacks into India have been largely controlled. In return India has refused to comment on Burma's internal affairs. Today the world recognises that India is the only country which might be able to influence the Burmese junta, apart from China. A booming economy coupled with a growing energy demand has led Indian policymakers to look at various options. India has a 20% stake in the huge Shwe gas field in Burma. Comparatively late to invest in Burma, India is now building roads across the country that will connect the rest of India with its north-eastern states.
Delhi is now treading a difficult path Sittwe Port - which will connect the state of Mizoram with the rest of India through river transport - is nearing completion. In the past, India did not engage with military dictatorships. But in these days of globalisation all that changed. Delhi wanted to check China's growing influence, while looking beyond mere political interests.
It was felt that there was a need to focus on India's economic and energy security as well. And many Indian politicians and academics point to Western hypocrisy over their selective criticisms of India's Burma policy. They argue that China and Vietnam are also one-party states, but the West has no scruples about dealing with them.

Neither have the US and others been reluctant to intervene in Iraq, influence the government of Pakistan or support the Taleban before 9/11, they say. "India cannot afford the luxury of being selective. We are not in the business of selective sermonising," says Mr Parthasarthy.
All this also vividly illustrates another recent geo-political development: the weakening of the Non-Alignment Movement which Delhi championed in earlier decades. India is now treading a different path, where building bilateral relationships is considered to be a better way of engaging and influencing countries.



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