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11/09/2007: "NSCN (K) cadres assault village heads The Morung Express"

NSCN (K) cadres assault village heads The Morung Express

MON, NOVEMBER 8 (MExN): In a most brazen incident of violation of human rights and disrespect towards Naga tradition, NSCN (K) cadres, led by one “colonel” Peyong Konyak assaulted the village council chairman, VEC chairman, GB and four other village leaders of Wanching village in Mon district yesterday. The seven village leaders who were bound and beaten with gun butts and bayonets are presently hospitalized at Mon, Civil Hospital and being treated for injuries. According to witnesses from the village, the group of underground cadres entered Wanching village on Wednesday evening at around 4 PM and demanded a 50 Kg bag of rice and 10 chickens for themselves. In the absence of any ration shop in the village, the assistant Head GB is said to have gone to each house collecting the 50 Kgs of rice demanded by the cadres and since no chicken could be found at night, 10 ducks were brought to them. However, angered by the delay since one of their cadres was sick and hungry, the “colonel” reportedly hit the GB with a local kitchen seat. The said GB has broken a tooth as a result of the assault.
The NSCN (K) then summoned the chairmen of VEC and VC, GB and other village leaders and physically assaulted them after tying their hands. The only grievance of the cadres was that the village leaders had not been present when they arrived in the village. Moreover, the cadres are said to have sent the GB to procure some opium, due to which the GB had been late as the substance is not easily available in the villages of the Lower Konyak. Doctors from Mon hospital said that the village council chairman had marks obtained from the butt of a gun on his right arm and cut from bayonet on his left chest. Meanwhile, the Konyak public have strongly condemned the assault and demanded the NSCN (K) authorities for immediate action on the erring cadres. In absence of any action from the authorities, the public warned that they would not be responsible for any eventuality arising out of public anger.
Bus looting spree discomfits NSCN (IM) The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 8 (MExN): The increasing incidences of looting of trevelers have become a case of serious concern and a source of discomfort to the NSCN authorities and to the Nagas as a whole. The circumstantial situation of the involvement of ‘some Naga people’ in the guise of national workers is never ruled out, stated a press note issued by the MIP, NSCN (IM).
It lamented that “behind the façade of a group professing to be fighting for a Naga national cause many such Nagas have turn themselves as lawless people vulnerable to any pressure in order to stay alive or put their heads up as national workers”. The NSCN (IM) pointed out that this “is the level of the so-called pseudo-national workers willing to stoop to survive themselves after failing to justify the meaning of their existence before the Nagas”.
It stated that given the present scenario where it had become a matter of great shame for the whole Nagas and that this was ‘nothing different from the Bihar and UP culture.’
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“The incident of looting of a bus (NL-11-1269) at a place between Lanyi function and Losami in Phek District of Wednesday is very unfortunate”, the NSCN (IM) stated and suggested that intelligence sharing was one way to track down such miscreants and that all civil societies must stay alert to collect information of the movement of all anti social elements in the area to eventually hit upon the culprits. “This recurrence of social crime with infections ramifications has to be stopped at all cost and by any means. But to execute this job which is of no small task the NSCN requested the public to cooperate and help by way of intelligence gathering”, it stated.
Pointing out that Nagas can no longer live in isolation in this age of information transformation but the need to “expose ourselves through such negative reverberations is self defeating” and that “such malfeasance bringing social insecurity was never the culture of the Nagas”. The NSCN (IM) also stated that the “moral turpitude is going the way of an alien culture”.
On Muivah’s interview- Nagaland Post
It is a matter of regret and consternation that the New Delhi based news agencies have misquoted National Socialist Council of Nagalim General Secretary Th. Muivah alleging that NSCN is not seeking independence from Indian, and Nagas sovereignty had been compromised. But at no point of time, Muivah's interview with ANI goes towards indicating NSCN going astray from this infallible stance. In the last ten (10) years of Indo-Naga peace talks, NSCN have pressed for an honourable solution. The fact that NSCN wants special type of federal relationship is based on NSCN's uncompromising stand on two entities and not something within India. Any misinterpretation or attempt to interpret outside the purview of the historically well defined Naga People's aspiration is a matter of propensity to undermine the Naga Political Issue.
No matter what is generated behind the scene to downgrade the Naga Political issue the NSCN cannot falter on the inalienable rights of the Nagas to defend their political right. As much as India recognizes the unique history of the Nagas the logical demand of the Nagas is to give unique solution to the Indo-Naga Political issue. Significantly, the speech of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the 4th International Conference on Federalism in New Delhi leaves much to hope for the Nagas. The concept of federalism as pointed out by Prime Minister cannot remain static. This concept of flexibility therefore shall be watched with much curiosity and seriousness by the Nagas as the Indo-Naga talk moves to the next round soon.
MIP, GPRN NSCN (IM)
Mokokchung protests rapes, murders Correspondent Nagaland Post MOKOKCHUNG, NOV 8 (NPN): The Watsu Mungdang, the apex body of the Ao Women, Thursday protested against rapes and murders by staging a rally here that started at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex and converged at Police Point, where a meeting was held.
Along the way, the women protestors shouted slogans and waved placards, some of which read “Where are you Police?” “Wake up administrators,” “Uphold the dignity of women,” “Respect women’s rights,” “Women are partners, not toys” and “Preserve Ao Naga tradition of respect for women.”
The women were protesting the recent rape of one Narokala of Kangtsung village on October 15 at Tuli, and the rape and murder of another Tajennaro of Mokokchung village at Kabayong sector, on the outskirts of Mokokchung town on October 30.
In the meeting at Police Point, the rallyists vented their anger and resentment over the abuses heaped on women and strongly condemned crimes against women.
Among those who spoke at the rally were Watsü Mungdang’s first president Temsusola, Ao Baptist Tetsür Mungdang secretary Temsula Lemdor and Sosangmeren, president Aoer Telongjem Mokokchung Town.
Later, the Watsu Mungdang submitted a memorandum to DC Mokokchung demanding arrest of one Nukshiyanger, the accused in the October 15 rape case, within ten days from the submission of the memorandum and also speedy trial of the accused Watilemba arrested in the October 30 rape and murder case. The Mundang warned that it would take “appropriate course of action” if the administration failed to meet the deadline set by the women.The Mundang further demanded “maximum quantum of punishment” to both the accused.
Meanwhile, Mokok-chung police have issued a ‘Wanted’ notice against Nukshiyanger, aged around 32, son of I Nungkum of Kangtsung village, PS Tuli, in connection with the October 15 rape case, who is reportedly absconding. SP Mokokchung in a press release requested persons having any information about the whereabouts of Nukshiyanger to contact the following police officers: SP Mokokchung: 0369-2226207 (O)/ 2226206 (R), SDPO Mokokchung: 0369-2226220, SDPO Tuli: 03697-267283 (R)/ 9436439840 (M), OC Tuli PS: 03697-267278.
Oust-Ibobi parade in Delhi OUR BUREAU The telegraph
New Delhi/Imphal, Nov. 8: Embattled Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s day began with a false alarm in Imphal and ended with a real scare in New Delhi.
A group of 14 legislators, including two ministers, put up a show of strength this evening at the residence of Union minister of state Prithviraj Chauhan — he is in charge of Manipur affairs in the AICC — and conveyed to him their lack of confidence in Ibobi Singh’s leadership.
Earlier in the day, a rumour in Imphal about Congress workers switching allegiance to the legislators plotting Ibobi Singh’s ouster in New Delhi sent the chief minister’s aides scurrying to the party’s head office to quell the “revolt”. A cavalcade of VIP cars zipped past the gate to Congress Bhavan around noon, leaving the party workers who had assembled there wondering what the fuss was all about. It turned out to be a case of jumping the gun.
There was, however, no ambiguity in what the dissidents camping in the capital told Chauhan — that the chief minister must be replaced for his failure to arrest the deterioration of law and order, if not for anything. They pointed out that one militant group has had the gall to even ban Diwali celebrations. Of the 30 Congress legislators in Manipur, at least 16 are now against Ibobi Singh. They claim that two more legislators will join them in the capital by the end of the week.
PCC chief Gaikhangam, who is believed to be the arch dissident, did not go to meet Chauhan, though he was the one who met the minister yesterday and set the stage for the show of strength.
Forest minister Debendra Singh is the dissidents’ choice as Ibobi Singh’s replacement.

The spokesman for the anti-Ibobi Singh camp, Y. Surchandra, said rampant corruption had given rise to government-funded militancy.
On whether that was an apt case for recommending President’s rule, Surchandra said a change in the political leadership would suffice. “We cannot be ruled by the undergrounds (undergrounds),” he said.
At present, this is a government “of the undergrounds, by the undergrounds and for the undergrounds”, he added.
For Ibobi Singh’s loyalists, it was a hectic afternoon after word spread about dissidence percolating to the grassroots.
Party sources said irrigation and flood control minister N. Biren Singh, public health engineering minister T.N. Haokip, education minister L. Jayanta Singh and rural development minister Md. Alauddin Khan went to Congress Bhavan anticipating a repeat of the game of intrigue being played out by over 15 dissident legislators in New Delhi.
The ministers were, however, relieved to know that the gathering was only of Mahila Congress workers. Their leader, M. Priyomala Devi, clarified to the media later that the meeting had been convened only to discuss the grievances of party workers and had nothing to do with the oust-Ibobi Singh campaign.
ANSAM sees threat in Forest Act Newmai News Network
Senapati, Nov 8: The indigenous tribal in the North East region is confronting a threat to its existence under various unhealthy poli -cies.
This was stated by the ANSAM while adding that the Naga students body “as a watchdog” of the society is resenting the dishonourable laws on Forest Conservation Act, 1980 promoted by the Govt of India and the State agencies ‘to exploit and deprive the inherent ownership right to land’.
It alleged that the craftily designed Forest Policy of India without taking into consi -deration the customary and conventional land ownership practices is a detrimen- tal strategy. “Any policy matter relating to the indigenous tribal community on land and resources requires appropriate consultation and incorporating the consent is indispensable for safeguarding the community control on its land, people and resources”, asserted the ANSAM.
ANSAM then cautioned that the “systematic and meticulous expansion of harmful policy” will invite provo- cation and alienation of the tribal people.
The students’ body also alleged that “forcibly venturing to determine the tradition -al land of the indigenous people as ‘reserved forest’, ‘unclassified forest’ and ‘classed forest’ and extracting loyalty taxes by the state is undermining the ownership right to land which is a crime against humanity”.
It explained that in every tribal settled areas or regions, the vast landscape has its community and indivi-dual owners. The term ‘Khas land’ commonly known in India is never heard and never existed among the indigenous tribal people. This is one feature which distinguish the Indian and the Indigenous tribal people in the region, said ANSAM.
“The tribal people are capable to manage and utilize the vast land they inherited from their forefathers,” it further explained while adding, “the ANSAM in uphol- ding its directive principles, suggest the Govt of India and the State Agencies to respect ‘community control of forest land and resources’ of the indigenous people in the re- gion, and urges them to respect their rights ”.
It then warned that failing to accredit the indigenous right to ownership of land, the campaign and exercise of ‘Forest Policy’ shall only act as a mechanism to awaken an organized wide scale ‘peoples protest’.
Suu Kyi meets junta Sentinel
YANGON, Nov 9: Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi today met members of her Opposition party for the first time since 2004, as she pledged to cooperate with the regime that has kept her under house arrest for years. The pro-democracy leader also met with a junta official appointed to liaise with her, a Myanmar official said, amid hopes of a thaw in relations with the generals who crushed street protests against their rule in September.
Aung San Suu Kyi spoke with members of her National League for Democracy at a Government guest house in Yangon, an NLD source told AFP.
Party source said he believed the three central executive committee members held a joint meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi and Labour Minister Aung Kyi, whom the junta has appointed as a go-between with the Opposition leader.
Witnesses said the Nobel peace prize winner spent around two-and-a-half hours in the building. The meetings follow UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari’s six- day mission to Asia, which he said had led to progress towards establishing a dialogue between the junta and the country’s pro-democracy movement. Aung San Suu Kyi, in a statement read out by Gambari in Singapore, said she was willing to cooperate with the junta, which has ruled Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, for the past 45 years.
“In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the Government in order to make this process of dialogue a success,” she said.
It was the first such pledge since she was last put under house arrest in 2003.
“Daw Suu’s statement was an important one for the benefit of the people and the country. We are also satisfied with it,” NLD spokesman Nyan Win told AFP.
KYKL `bans` use of Bengali script in primary classes The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Nov 7: The proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL, under its Operation New Kangleipak campaign, has announced a `ban` on use of Bengali-script textbooks in classrooms at the junior primary stage (classes I to IV) in the valley districts from next year.

A statement issued by the commander, special task force, ONK of the KYKL said the measure is being taken in view of negligence in, and extremely uneven implementation of, the introduction of Meetei Mayek in classes I to III to which the Manipur government had committed itself. The statement charged that despite its own commitment, and campaigns by civil society organisations, the Manipur government has been extremely lackadaisical in implementation of Meetei Mayek, and has only been interested in creating dissension among Mayek proponents, the statement charged. It also observed that in government schools, neither were the regular school teachers teaching the Meetei Mayek themselves, nor are Mayek instructors being engaged to do the teaching. On the other hand confusion is being created among school children who are being taught Meetei Mayek and Bengali script together, it said.

The statement said that in view of this, the KYKL has decided to ban use of all textbooks written in Bengali script in classes I to IV in all schools in the valley districts from the next academic session. For the hill districts, as before, there is no compulsory imposition of Meetei Mayek, it said. The statement further said that those students studying in classes I to III at present should not be taught in the Bengali script at any stage in the future, up to the master stage. Publication of textbooks in Bengali script for these classes, including by the BSEM, CHSEM and private presses is also banned, said the statement.

It further said if any schools are found to be Bengali-script textbooks for these classes, or neglecting the teaching of Meetei Mayek, various forms of punitive measures, including closure of schools, de-recognition, and punishment for the headmasters/headmistresses concerned would be taken up.

Non-availability of Meetei Mayek teachers will not be accepted as a valid excuse, it further stated, adding that individual schools must make the effort to implement Mayek teaching by any means without waiting for the government. The statement went on to say that being a puppet government, the Manipur government cannot be expected to be enthusiastic about the implementation of the Meetei Mayek, since New Delhi is against the development of the indigenous script. It added that the fate of the future generation of students cannot be left to the government, since it is ruled solely by self-interest and least concerned about development. The statement also sought public support for the KYKL`s measures to end the teaching of Bengali-script textbooks in schools in the state.
Daw Suu to cooperate with junta on dialogue Mungpi Mizzima News
November 9, 2007 - In a softened stand, Burma's detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she has decided to cooperate with the ruling Burmese military junta and begin a dialogue during a brief meeting with her party – National League for Democracy – leaders today, the first such interaction in three years. U Lwin, spokesperson of the NLD, who was among the four party central executive committee members who met Suu Kyi, said they had a detailed discussion on the current developments before deciding to kick start the dialogue.
"She [Suu Kyi] said her decision was driven by her consideration for ethnic nationalities," U Liwn said. "She [Suu Kyi] said leaders of ethnic nationalities had conveyed to her to represent them. So she said it is a responsibility that she has to take up," U Lwin added. NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe, CEC members U Lwin, U Nyunt Wai and U Nyan Win this afternoon met the detained party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the 'Seinle Kantha' government guest house. The meeting was a three cornered one, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD CEC and junta's Liaison Minister Aung Kyi, U Lwin said.
"Aung Kyi greeted us on arrival and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi introduced us to him. But he did not stay long and left us to discuss party matters," U Lwin said. The NLD leaders during talks, which lasted over an hour, discussed the recent developments and what lay ahead for a dialogue with the ruling junta. The meeting, which is the first in over three years, is significant and was on a progression mode to solidify the process of dialogue, U Lwin said.
Suu Kyi, who has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years, for the first time met Aung Kyi, the junta's Liaison Minister who is liaising between Suu Kyi and military chief Than Shwe.
Her decision to cooperate with the ruling junta for a reconciliation process has been highlighted in her statement made on Thursday by the visiting UN special envoy Gambari.
Text of Aung San Suu Kyi's Statement Indo Burma News
November 8, 2007: (AP) Following is the text of the statement by Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, released Thursday by U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
"I wish to thank all those who have stood by my side all this time, both inside and outside my country. I am also grateful to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for his unwavering support for the cause of national reconciliation, democracy and human rights in my country.
"I welcome the appointment on 8 October of Minister Aung Kyi as minister for relations. Our first meeting on 25 October was constructive and I look forward to further regular discussions. I expect that this phase of preliminary consultations will conclude soon so that a meaningful and time bound dialogue with the SPDC leadership can start as early as possible.
"In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order to make this process of dialogue a success and welcome the necessary good offices role of the United Nations to help facilitate our efforts in this regard.
"In full awareness of the essential role of political parties in democratic societies, in deep appreciation of the sacrifices of the members of my party and in my position as General Secretary, I will be guided by the policies and wishes of the National League for Democracy. However, in this time of vital need for democratic solidarity and national unity, it is my duty to give constant and serious considerations to the interests and opinions of as broad a range of political organizations and forces as possible, in particular those of our ethnic nationality races.
"To that end, I am committed to pursue the path of dialogue constructively and invite the government and all relevant parties to join me in this spirit.
"I believe that stability, prosperity and democracy for my country, living at peace with itself and with full respect for human rights, offers the best prospect for my country to fully contribute to the development and stability of the region in close partnership with its neighbors and fellow ASEAN members, and to play a positive role as a respected member of the international community."