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11/15/2007: "Centre and NSCN-IM next round of peace talks today Nagarealm.com"

Centre and NSCN-IM next round of peace talks today Nagarealm.com

KOHIMA, NOV14 [ANI] : During the meeting, the discussions will be held on several issues including the agreed cease-fire ground rules, inter-factional clashes and arson committed by the outfit in Nagaland. According to sources, the outfit will also raise the issue of implementation of cease-fire ground rules.

The meeting is being held for the first time after both the Centre and the NSCN-IM had extended the ongoing ceasefire indefinitely with effect from August 1, 2007. Naga leaders have been holding talks with the Central Government since 1997 when the ceasefire came into existence. The ceasefire was first declared in Nagaland in 1997. The truce has been extended every 12 months since then, except in 2005, when it was renewed for just six months at the insistence of the rebels and further extended by another six months in February 2006.

Rebel Naga groups have been demanding unification of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur to form a Greater Nagalim. Despite the continuing cease-fire between the Government and the militant outfits, Nagaland continues to witness factional violence. Unabated clashes continue between the two warring factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) — Isak-Muivah and Khaplang.

According to the Institute for Conflict Management, over 250 people, including civilians, security personnel and militants, have been killed in violence in the State between 2001 and 2005. However, the cease-fire, beginning August 1997, has led to a significant reduction in insurgency-related fatalities in Nagaland, with 103 fatalities in 2001 and 40 in 2005.
Naga support to Myanmar rebels Thai Indian News
Myanmar has seen a large number of Buddhist monks protesting in the country for the last few weeks, calling for democracy and an end to the military government.
The rally, called by the ‘Nagaland People’s Association for Human Rights’ saw the participation of hundreds of people protesting against the killing of monks in Myanmar.
Several protestors took part in the protest on Wednesday.
The Secretary General of the Nagaland People’s Association for Human Rights accused the military of torturing people who went against the Government . He wanted the world to support the people of the country who want to live in peace.
India shares a 1,645-km border on its east with Myanmar and relations between the two countries go back centuries, to the time Buddhism was born in the sub-continent and spread across the region.
New Delhi initially supported Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. It, however, had to maintain cordial relationship with the military regime in the 1990s and later.
Around 3,000 people are reported to have been killed since the crack-down by the military 19 years ago.
The current protests in Yangon were sparked off against the fuel price rises, but developed into a mass uprising against 45 years of military rule, led by monks considered the moral core of the Buddhist nation. (ANI)
Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim
Ministry of Information & Publicity

Press Release

The immaturity and revolutionary bankruptcy of ULFA is coming to the fore when it started playing communal card. It is matter of regret that ULFA dragged the name of “Tanghkuls” into the issue at Tizit. This is politically naïve and therefore unwarranted. Beyond this, the childish manner of ULFA being used by Khaplang Group is demeaning for a group of ULFA stature. But for ULFA it matters to speak in the Voice of Khaplang. It is a question of their operational survival to establish such link with the Nagas. The hitch is the choice of ally. The ULFA who are known to issue high sounding demands to the Government of India when it comes to the question of having talks is making a strange bed follows with Khaplang Group who is used by the Indian Intelligence Agencies to counter weight the NSCN.

The strategically placed difficulty of ULFA is guide understandable. But when is stoop too low it has a lot to do with its credibility. But at times situational compulsion forces them to forego their ideological differences. This is ULFA and Khaplang Group today. This is the irony of the revolutionary movement in North-East with such groups losing grip of their political commitment.

Issued By:-
Ministry of Information & Publicity




Graft charges to be framed against ex-union minister Zee News

New Delhi, Nov 14: A CBI court here has ordered framing of charges against former Union Minister P K Thungan and three others for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of Rs 30 lakh meant for an irrigation project in Nagaland.

"At this stage, in view of the material gathered, there is prima facie sufficient material to frame charges against all the accused for offences (pertaining to corruption, cheating and forgery)," special Judge I K Kochhar said in an order yesterday.

Besides Thungan, who was also the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, others against whom the charges were ordered to be framed in the over a decade old case are, contractors Tali Ao, C Sangit and Businessman Mahesh Maheshwari.

According to the CBI, former Union Minister of State for Urban Affairs and Employment Thungan had connived with a few officials of the department of irrigation and flood control, Nagaland, in placing a bogus order for buying sausage wire for a project during 1993-94. Investigations revealed that no wire was supplied to the department but payments were made against bogus delivery, the CBI alleged.

Thungan alleged that there was no specific allegations against him and the links in the chain of events to establish his guilt were also missing.

Citing a number of Supreme Court judgements, the court, however, noted that charges could be framed against him and others in accordance with the law as there were materials showing "possibility" of commission of the crime against "certainty".
NSCN (IM) charge ULFA of using communal card The Morung Express
Dimapur, November 14 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has responded to the ULFA by stating that the outfit was showing its “immaturity and revolutionary bankruptcy” when it started playing the communal card. “It is matter of regret that ULFA dragged the name of “Tanghkuls” into the issue at Tizit. This is politically naïve and therefore unwarranted. Beyond this, the childish manner of ULFA being used by Khaplang group is demeaning for a group of ULFA stature”, stated a press note issued by the MIP.
The NSCN (IM) stated that for the ULFA “it matters to speak in the voice of Khaplang” pointing out that it was “a question of their operational survival to establish such link with the Nagas”.
“The hitch is the choice of ally. The ULFA who are known to issue high sounding demands to the Government of India when it comes to the question of having talks is making a strange bed follows with Khaplang group who is used by the Indian Intelligence Agencies to counter weight the NSCN”, the MIP stated.
The NSCN (IM) pointed out that the “strategically placed difficulty of ULFA” was quite “understandable”. “But when it stoops too low it has a lot to do with its credibility. But at times situational compulsion forces them to forego their ideological differences. This is ULFA and Khaplang group today”, the NSCN (IM) stated adding that this was the “the irony of the revolutionary movement in North-East with such groups losing grip of their political commitment”.

Book launched: out of Isolation - Exploring a Forgotten World Launched Nagarealm.com

The launching of the book “Out of Isolation: Exploring a Forgotten World” by Ms.R.S.Mayori on behalf of Mr.Frans Welman at Vasant Vihar on 9th of November 2007 was a success with many orders pouring in from an eager readers.

This book is unique on many counts; firstly the author was denied a visa by the Government of India. Thus he was not able to make it for the released of his book. Secondly, the book achieved a major sale breakthrough when 244 copies were sold off before it got printed. The book is an interesting documentation on Nagas with a variety of topics. The book was written with a great respect for Naga culture. It is a must read for every Naga. It is priced at Rupees 550 for India and $20 for other countries.

An extract from the book (Page 10) prelude:

“You put them (European) in mass graves, people are used as cannon fodder. Those were warriors? What honor is in that? We (Nagas) hold slain people in high regard. You and I know there is no victor without an enemy to win from.”
On page 15, it mention about the beauty of log drum, Morung, shaman and hunters. An extract from it “It makes you feel like you are one with the land, nature, one with your village and tribe and really one with universe. To feel that thoroughly you do have to be part of it and for that Nagas go through initiations rites. That way Nagas can show their worth to their village and tribe.”

Mr. Welman is a Photojournalist, writer and documentary filmmaker based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He has work for the rights of the Indigenous people for a long time in Asia, Africa and South America. Frans Welman first work on the Naga Peoples “The Forbidden Land” was published in United States of America. He recently published a thriller novel here in Delhi called ‘Beyond Twilight which is based on the political drop back of Nagas movement
.
Mr. Welman has a long record in supporting the rights of the Indigenous people in Asia, Africa and South America and he is also the secretary of the Naga International Support Center.

Mr. Welman would have loved to be present at this unique launching for interviews, exposure of photographic works, elucidation of the project and of projects to come, but he cannot. Due to the fact that his visa application has been under process for more than two years now, he is not officially but practically denied entry into the Indian Union. He would however like you to know that he is available for interviews, by phone or email, at any time on request.
The book can be ordered from info@nagalim.co.uk or info@tangkhul.com.



Statement of Mr.Frans Welman:

Statement of Mr. Welman concerning the inability to come to Delhi for the launching of his publication: Out of Isolation, exploring a Forgotten World – Uncovering a Culture in Conflict

I would have like to attend the launching of the book in Delhi but unfortunately on application I have not been issued a visa. Though I asked the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands to enable me to go to India several times, the answer steadfastedly was that my visa application has to be approved by the Home Ministry. I have been waiting for some three years now. Consequently I regret that I am not available for interviews or for handing out press copies to review this work which in detail explores the cultures of the Nagas, the political deadlock they are in and the history placed in a wider context.

The section called ‘wandering among the Nagas’ shows how Nagas themselves feel about the conflict, how they endured it and what motivates them to unwaveringly continue their struggle for self determination. Please do not let my absence from India deter you from reviewing and criticizing my work or to interview me on any topic you fancy.

Frans Welman fimapur@yahoo.com or f.welman@chello.nl Netherlands
NISC condemns Wanching incident

Says NSCN (K) is much more than a bunch of 'criminals'
Kohima, November 14: The Naga International Support Centre has condemned the brutal assault of 7 elders of Wanching village under Mon by the cadres of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) on November 9 last.
The Amsterdam based NISC said such atrocious acts which are not yet officially or unofficially denied, taken distance from or flatly condemned by NSCN (K) leaders like Kughalu Mulatonu.
Mulatonu is also one of the top ranks in the Khaplang faction, dead against the rival groups, as well as Naga support groups.
The assaulted villagers are undergoing treatment at Mon Civil Hospital. While several organizations have come out demanding befitting punishment against the cadres.
A press statement received here today from Amsterdam said, "This is particularly remarkable because less than a week ago this leader strongly indicated that it should be the Naga International Support Center and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization who should initiate reconciliation talks between the NSCN-K (Khaplang) and NSCN-IM (Isak-Muivah)".
Under the circumstances the NISC said the Khaplang Group terrorizes its own people for nothing but "money and goods did not disown the culprits" and that the NISC cannot but conclude that the NSCN (K) is not much more than a bunch of 'criminals'. "And Mr. Mulatonu, the Naga international Support Center does not honor the wishes of criminals and human rights abusers to negotiate reconciliation towards peace and respect for each other which you so blatantly have broken time and again," the NISC said.
The Centre said until and unless the Khaplang Group does come to its senses and will commence to work for the rights of all Nagas and hence has sovereignty on the basis of the Right to Self Determination in its policies for the Naga People, it strongly condemned NSCN (K)'s actions and cannot trust it to sincerely come forward to achieve reconciliation for all concerned. "The Khaplang Group makes a mockery of the right to self determination and cannot be a credible partner until it mends its ways," it added.
"How low can you go, how deep can you sink to think that those who are not for you are against you? How utterly despaired must you be to stoop so low as to take it out on your own fellow Nagas and beat them black and blue when they cannot defend themselves? Stand up like real men of conviction and justify yourselves on the basis of what is right, not on the basis of your might," the NISC statement said.
The centre said NISC has been set up to focus attention on a very real but forgotten conflict. A conflict that resulted in a raging war on the frontiers of North East India and Myanmar, between the Naga peoples, India and Myanmar.
It said landlocked and inaccessible to outsiders, because of India's travel restrictions, Nagalim, homeland of the Nagas, has been practically isolated from the outside world. This being the main reason why the international community knows little about a war that has taken the lives of approximately 200.000 people.
"The peace process needs support. The mouse Nagaland can hardly take on the giant India. The Naga International Support Center, a human rights organization, launches a publicity campaign, introduces the struggle of the Naga Peoples. NISC wants to make it known that the human suffering in Nagalim and the rest of North East India should stop" the centre said.
The NISC is being headed by Dr. Frans Welman, Secretary and Dr. Jacques de Kort as its chairman. (Page News Service)
AFSPA protest in Delhi—Nov 19‘No more army rule’ Newmai News Network
New Delhi A joint protest will be held on November 19 against the Armed Forces Powers Act (AFSPA) outside Peary Lal Bhavan (ITO), New Delhi between 2 and 4 pm organised by Manipuri Students Association, Delhi (MSAD), Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR).
The organisers said people have protested against the infamous and draconian Act time and again. “Irom Sharmila's heroic resistance in the form of hunger fast since 2000 is very well known. But why haven't successive governments paid heed to these protests? Simply, because no government has genuinely engaged with the question of people's aspirations. Moreover, all governments believe in the rule of the strong state. Therefore, by leaving the need of opposing AFSPA to only those who are affected by it, we will aid the present government in believing that there's nothing wrong in using this draconian law.”
The organizers also stated that "there is only one-way out: a united protest by all against AFSPA – for its unconditional repeal". They gave a clarion call and said, "Observe 19th November as nation wide protest against continuation of AFSPA; oppose military rule in Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh and support people's struggles against military regimes."
The organisers of the proposed November 19 event asked, “Why is it that nearly 40 million people in North East and Kashmir live under army rule? Why is it that in some parts, this army rule has continued unabated for nearly 60 years? How can a country which boasts itself as the largest democracy justify army rule and continue to suppress its citizens?"
Beginning in 1958 when it was enacted, today the Act covers most of North East and Jammu and Kashmir, stated the organisers of the protest. It also stated that both the enactment and its long duration have been justified on the grounds that North East and Kashmir are disturbed areas and therefore need a strong law to tackle militancy and insurgency. “But consider for a moment the following: Should peoples' aspiration be dealt with militarily? More importantly, should the Indian state, or for that matter, any democratic state, demand subjection and loyalty at the point of a gun? Occupational rule is never just or desirable.
Manipur rebels collect dues from MLAs Correspondent Nagaland post
Imphal, Nov 13: A Programme Officer in the Department of Social Welfare in Manipur, who was arrested by police on the charge of deducting funds from contractors, admitted that the militant outfits normally collect their dues from the official quarters of MLAs at Babupara here.
Earlier, police arrested as many as 11 militants of different groups from the official residences of MLAs and former MLAs located in the heavily-guarded Babapara.
The Programme Officer – Samjenshabam Angou Singh (54) of Kangjabi Leirak Imphal –was arrested on November 10 for allegedly deducting money from contractors engaged in construction of Angwadi Centres under the Sarba Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). He has been remanded into police custody till November 17 for further investigation into the matter, official sources said here on Tuesday.
Police arrested the Programme Officer following directives issued by the State Chief Secretary to arrest officials, contractors and suppliers who were facilitating such extortions.
It may be mentioned the Manipur government recently warned of stern action against lawmakers if they were found hobnobbing with the militants. The warning followed the series of police raids on official residences of the legislators and arrests of hardcore militants sheltered by politicians.
The government had warned that it would immediately withdraw personal security guards from the house of any MLA found providing shelter to militants. Legal action would also be initiated against anybody found aiding or abetting militancy.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
Shield search for hottest chilli Scientists research on chemical properties to apply for patent Nagarealm.com

Guwahati, NOV13 [TI] : One of the most enduring memories of one’s childhood is that of Captain Haddock screaming his lungs out — “Fire, fire” — having tasted fiery red chillies laid out to dry on a Kathmandu street.

What would he have done had he tasted the bhut jolokia, the popular name for Naga chilli, tagged the hottest pimento on Earth by the Guinness Book of World Records a few months ago? Having bagged the hottest title, scientists now are doing research on the exact chemical properties of the chilli, which will enable Assam to apply for a patent.

L.K. Paswan, head of the department of the horticultural department of the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), told The Telegraph: “We have collected samples of seven varieties of locally grown Naga chillies. The research will establish that Naga chilli is Assam's produce. It is the first step towards the patent.” He said the Guinness tag has pushed up the chilli variety’s stock and popularity by several notches and enquiries from abroad has increased.

“We fear that some other countries might try to grow the chilli, as such we are gearing up to apply for a patent for the red hot chilli,” Paswan said. The university has rejected several requests from other states for the chilli seeds. Bhut jolokia —so named because it is thought to be hot enough to scare even the spirits away — measures 1,001,304 Scoville unit, a scale used to measure the hotness of a chilli, named after its inventor Wilbur Scoville.

The AAU, Paswan said, has collected almost seven varieties of the chillies from different parts of the state and embarked on a thorough research. Scientists of the Tinsukia-based Citreous Research Station under the AAU have been working on the project. The chairman of Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board, Debeswar Bora, said his department was in touch with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) to export bhut jolokia in a big way. Apeda exports ginger from Assam. Bora said they were in touch with the agriculture department so that production of bhut jolokia could be taken up in an organised manner. [PULLOCK DUTTA]

Stage set for Assam rural polls A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, Nov. 13: Gauhati High Court today gave the state election commission the go-ahead to notify the date for the much awaited panchayat elections on November 16.
The court also asked the poll panel to hold the elections within a timeframe it has stipulated. As a result, the formal notification will be out on Friday.
According to the schedule drawn up by the state poll panel, elections will be held in three phases.
The dates are December 31 for Upper Assam, January 4 for the central districts of the state and January 9 for Lower Assam. Sources said the process has to be completed within January 12.
Advocate B.J. Talukdar, who assisted advocate-general A.K. Phookan during the hearing, said the state government had supported the contention of the state election commission.
“Though the poll panel had submitted the entire schedule, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Jasti Chelameswar gave the go-ahead only for the notification,” he said.
On May 25, the high court had asked Dispur to conduct the gaon panchayat polls by October 31. In September, Dispur had pleaded its inability to do so.
All cases pertaining to panchayat polls now stand disposed following today’s go-ahead to the state poll panel. Leaders of the ruling Congress went into a huddle this evening as soon as the court issued its order.
Blame game on delayed NDFB talks A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, Nov. 14: The government today played pass-the-buck when badgered by the Opposition to explain why two-and-a-half years of ceasefire with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) had not led to talks.
The leader of the Opposition, Chandra Mohan Patowary, accused Dispur of not being keen on a dialogue with the NDFB because of its old enmity with the Congress’s political ally, the Bodo People’s Progressive Front.
Refuting the allegation, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said nobody but the NDFB leadership was to blame for the impasse. He said the outfit would have compiled a list of demands and placed it before the government had it been serious about a dialogue.
“We have even said that we will call off the ceasefire if the demands are not submitted,” the chief minister added.
The BPPF was born out of the disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers, which never saw eye to eye with the NDFB despite pursuing the common goal of “Bodoland”.
Gogoi said the Hagrama Mohilary faction of the BPPF, which is in charge of the Bodoland Territorial Council and has two ministers in the government, had never objected to the peace process with the NDFB and that his government was keen to commence a dialogue with the group.
One of the BPPF legislators, Kamal Singh Narzary, said Patowary’s remark about his party influencing the Congress not to sit for talks with the NDFB was without basis. He pointed out that the BPPF even adopted a resolution urging the government to start a dialogue with the militant group immediately.
Formed in 1986, the NDFB declared a unilateral ceasefire in October 2004 in response to appeals by Bodo organisations to opt for a negotiated settlement. A formal ceasefire agreement with Delhi and Dispur took effect on June 1 the next year.
When it first came up for extension, the ceasefire was stretched by a year. However, allegations about the militant group violating the truce prompted the government to later opt for extensions only by six months at a time. The rules governing the ceasefire agreement require NDFB members to be confined to government-sanctioned camps until a settlement is reached.
The chief minister also clarified that the government had little to do with Ulfa not coming to the negotiating table. “I am appealing to it again to come forward for talks if it is really interested in the progress of the state,” he said.