11/16/2007: "Govt apathy impeding Naga talks: Muivah"

Govt apathy impeding Naga talks: Muivah

GUWAHATI, Nov 15 – The NSCN-IM has said lack of sincerity on the part of the Centre has cast a shadow on the ongoing peace talks to resolve the decades-long insurgency problem in Nagaland, reports PTI. NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said the ongoing talks with the Centre will not serve any purpose if New Delhi did not appreciate the group’s attitude.

“If New Delhi cannot appreciate our attitude, there is no meeting point. They want us to accept their terms in toto which we can’t,” Muivah told a local TV channel.

Hardening its key demand on unification of Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur to form a Greater Nagalim, he said Nagas “want back the land which belonged to them”.

“It’s not the question of greater Nagaland or smaller Nagaland. We need the land which belongs to us. Nothing much and nothing less,” said Muivah, who has been camping in Dimapur ever since his return to India from Europe last December.

Muivah said better understanding between the Centre and NSCN-IM was required to resolve the vexed problem. He also called upon the government to understand problems of the North East to bring peace to the region.

“Suppression is not going to solve any problem. The Centre must understand the problems of the region,” he said. The Centre on July 31 extended the ceasefire with the NSCN-IM for an indefinite period to pave the way for a negotiated settlement. In October, both the sides resolved to expedite their negotiations to find out a peaceful and honourable solution to the problem.

GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM
National Socialist Women Organisation of Nagalim

Press Release
16th Nov. 2007

The NSWON after reacting with much concern over the rape incidents in Mokokchung District is relief to learn of the arrest of the absconding rapist Nukshiyanger by the Mokokchung Police. The trail of justice must be made to see the light of the day at the earliest. To begin with, bail should not be granted to Nukshiyanger under any circumstances lest that send a wrong signal to the many would-be Nukshiyangers. Given the prime facia evidence against him there should be very little legal room for the case to get prolonged. A trail of speedy justice should be set in motion and the rapist be given the maximum level of punishment permissible within the parameter of the existing law. But anything short of serving as a deterrence will be tantamount to breach of public confidence on the justice delivery system that concern inhuman violation of Women’s honour and her right as a human being. Our Women’s honour must not be put a stake by processing the trail in the manner that applies to ordinary crimes.

This is a case of urgency and the trail itself mist be made to reflect a stern warning that no rapist would be allowed to go Scot-free.

Issued By:-National Socialist Women Organisation of Nagalim (NSWON)
Wanching Village refutes NSCN (K)’s justification The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 15 (MExN): The Wanching Village Council and the Wanching Union, Dimapur, have refuted NSCN (K)’s justification on the November 7 incident, wherein the village leaders were physically assaulted by the cades of the faction terming it as baseless. The press release from the Chairman and secretary of the Council, K. Nyoiwang and L. Chingtick and Chairman and Secretary of the union, Leamang and Leangnyei, asserted that there were no NSCN (IM) cadres in the village and demanded to know the name and community of the NSCN (IM) who, the villagers are alleged to have helped escape.
Therefore the village Council and the public of Wanching village asked the NSCN (K) to refrain from attempting the cheap propaganda and stated that the authority should rather yield to their ultimatum which has been submitted to them.
Wangching VC reacts to report Nagaland Post
Dimapur, Nov 15 (NPN): Reacting to a report, the Wangching Village Council, Mon, Thursday, dismissed an allegation of the NSCN (K) that the faction had punished some of the villagers for giving misleading information over the presence of rival NSCN (I-M) activists.
A statement signed jointly by village council chairman K. Nyoiwang K and secretary L. Chingtick K contested allegation that the “villagers tried to mislead the personnel of PAN by hiding and facilitating the escape of NSCN (I-M) activists but the truth was established when the PAN spotted two fleeing members of the rival faction and killed one of them after a chase”.
Describing the allegation as “baseless”, the signatories said there were no NSCN (I-M) activists in the village. They said contrary to the report, personnel of the PAN had demanded ten chickens, 50 kgs of rice, opium and Rs.20,000 “being the common expenditure”.
The signatories said the villagers wondered as to how the national workers tried to mislead the general public by making false allegations and “wanted to know the name and community of the NSCN-IM if did so”.
The village council and the general public of Wangching asked the NSCN (K) to refrain from “attempting for cheap political propaganda which in any case will not succeed” and instead respond to the ultimatum served earlier, the signatories added.
State rejects ONGC MoU Morung Express News
Dimapur | The Nagaland government has rejected the “new” proposal-Memorandum of Understanding of the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The “new MoU” had been lobbied for the government’s approval by the oil giant to partnering in oil-production activities in the state, with particular reference to Champang.
Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner Lalthara, IAS disclosed that the ONGC has been ‘bringing’ a “new” MoU for quite some time now. Informing that the corporation and the state government have been in meeting for several times, Lalthara said it was rejected. It is understood that the corporation has been lobbying for the state’s appending the proposal for months ever since Canadian company Canoro Resources Ltd took to undertaking oil exploration activities in the Champang belt early this year.
The reason the state government refused the MoU, Lalthara informed, was because of opposition from Lotha frontals like the Lotha Hoho and Lotha Students’ Union. Also, the sentiments of the people must be considered. “We don’t want to trample upon the sentiments of the people” he said.
However, a policy-determining factor was also another reason the ONGC’s proposal was rejected: “The (Lotha frontals) must make clear their position on the issue (of oil explorations).” Referring to the “awareness campaign” on oil production activities organized by the LSU yesterday in Wokha, the ACS said no concrete resolutions were taken, with the exception of discussions and inviting ‘suggestions.’
Lalthara also said that the ONGC’s proposed MoU contained points on undertaking oil production activities alongside people-SOPs like undertaking developmental activities, concentration of contract works to the local populace and ‘building up socio-economic works.’
In a related matter, Lalthara said the state government’s order for cancellation of the permits issued by the Champang Village Council has been implemented. He was responding to a query on reports that the NSCN-IM was pressurizing the Wokha Deputy Commissioner’s office not to implement the said order.
Meanwhile, the Lotha Students’ Union has taken strong cognizance of ‘certain vested individuals’ manipulating the local media for vested interests in Champang village. LSU president Nzanthung K Yanthan referred to reports that media persons were entertained in Champang today and made to go about interviewing people and writing about the issue. Yanthan said such activities should not go about without the knowledge of the Lotha Hoho or the LSU. He implied that various companies and sections of the landowners themselves have been bringing in media people, “dividing the people.” “Press people taken to ONGC are being made to go around interviewing the people. We will not allow such activities” he said. The LSU chief implied that each group with vested interest seem to be bringing in the media to highlight the oil issue according to own perspective. The motive should be to highlight the credibility of an honorable, beneficial and acceptable resolution to the problem and not toward feeding vested interests. “They (those responsible for employing media services) should not do it in such a way that divides the people” Yanthan said. The union said the reports are being enquired about and inputs are awaited.
Naga Hoho backs NSF demand Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, NOV 15 (NPN): Expressing concern at the alarming rise in the number of educated unemployed youth in the state, the Naga Hoho has said the demand of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) for fixing 33 years as length of service and 35 years as upper age limit for entry into government services, was “quite justifiable and it has valid reasons.”
The Hoho also felt that in the event of failure to bring out any tangible solution, the state government should maintain status quo by fixing 57 years as superannuation age considering the plight of the thousands of students and unemployed youth in the state.
Naga Hoho president I. Bendangmangyang Jamir in a press release said the 50,000 unemployed youth as shown in the live Register of Employment in Nagaland had become a serious problem in Nagaland, inviting concerted effort from every section of the people towards bringing solution to the problem.
The hoho also pointed out that in a state like Nagaland where there was no corporate sector, white-collar jobs was the only avenue for educated unemployed youth and under such circumstances, the hoho said the government had to play a vital role towards creating employment avenues and to provide jobs through open competition.
Naga Hoho on superannuation age The Morung Express
Dimapur, November 15 (MExN): The Naga Hoho has pointed out that the 50,000 unemployed youth as shown in the live Register of Employment in Nagaland has become a serious problem in Nagaland which invites concerted effort from every section of the people towards bringing solution to the problem, although it stated that there was no formula to completely wipe out unemployment problem even in the first world countries. Naga Hoho President I. Bendangmangyang Jamir in a press note pointed out that in such a given situation particularly in Nagaland, white-collar jobs is the only answer where there is no corporate sector for absorbing educated unemployed youth in the state.
“Under such circumstances, Government has to play a vital role towards creating employment avenues and to provide Govt jobs through open competition”, the President stated adding that the imbroglio between the state employees and the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) over the raising of Retirement Age has become a matter of all concern.
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“In this regard, the proposal/ demand of the NSF for setting up of 33 years as length of service and 35 years as upper age limit for entry into Govt. services is quite justifiable and it has valid reasons”, the Naga Hoho stated pointing out that this may be able to maintain balance and uniformity among the Govt. employees.
The Naga Hoho also felt that in the event of failure to bring out any tangible solution to the crux of the impending tussle, the State Government may continue status quo by maintaining 57 years as superannuation age considering the plight of the thousands of students and unemployed youth in the state.
CCeasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) meet held Naganation.com
Dimapur, Nov 13: A closed-door meeting of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG), held at the Circuit House here on Tuesday, discussed at length issues pertaining to the ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
Emerging from the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary * Commissioner TN Mannen said the meeting discussed the ground rules and other issues pertaining to the ceasefire monitoring mechanism. The Convenor of Ceasefire Monitoring Cell, “Brig” Phungthing Shimrang, said the meeting held discussion on coordinating with each other.
Apart from Mannen and “Brig” Phungthing, the meeting was also attended by two senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) AK Goel and Naveen Verma, IGAR (N) Maj. Gen. KS Sethi and DGP Nagaland J Changkija.
The Chairman of CFMG and CFSB, Lt. Gen. (Retd) RV Kulkarni could not attend the meeting as he was out of station on leave. Later, the two representatives of the MHA held an informal discussion with the Joint Forum of GBs and DBs. NPN
Factional rivalry reaches Delhi Nagarealm.com

New Delhi, NOV14 [Agencies] : Rivalry between three outlawed ethnic groups in Manipur has touched the national capital as the gruesome killing of a top Kuki leader here Monday showed, police officials say.

K. Hang Shing, 'commander-in-chief' of Manipur's Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), was found murdered in his brother's Srinivaspuri home in south Delhi in the early hours Monday. "Initial investigation clearly points out that K. Hang Shing was bludgeoned to death by some members belonging to another outlawed outfit based in Manipur," a senior Delhi Police official told IANS. "The assailants, six in number, were aware of Shing's whereabouts in the city. It seems that they hatched the conspiracy to settle personal scores," he added.

Police are also probing the role of some of Shing's own group members who could have connived with rival outfits. Shing, 35, had come to the city some 20 days ago for medical treatment. The KRA, which is part of a faction of Kuki outfits called United People's Front, is said to be responsible for the kidnapping of a number of bureaucrats in Manipur. Shing's younger brother Satminthang had told police that around eight or nine people with pistols barged into their house while he and his brother were watching television with their three friends. "They tied our hands and feet and asked us to lie on the floor, facing the floor. They took Shing to the adjoining room. The assailants then increased the television volume to its maximum and killed him," Satminthang told police adding that he somehow managed to untie his legs and asked their landlord on the second floor for help. Shing was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where he was declared brought dead.

Satminthang, a second year BA (Hons) student at PGDAV College in south Delhi, told police that the assailants claimed to be from the Manipuri 'Combined Commando Force'. The police official said they were asking their colleagues in Manipur, "but so far we have no knowledge about the existence of such a group". "It is the first time that a prominent member of an ethnic group has been killed in the capital by rivals. Their fighting had always remained confined to the northeastern states till now," he said. The rivalry among the ethnic groups -- Meiteis, Nagas and Kukis -- in Manipur is not new. The Meitei insurgents' prime objective is to free their pre-British territorial boundary from "Indian occupation", while the Naga insurgents support the demand for a sovereign 'Nagalim' (Greater Nagaland).

The Kukis, who live side by side with the Nagas, have often demanded a separate Kukiland, with support from the Kuki National Organisation and Kuki National Army, insurgent groups in Myanmar across the Manipur border. Meanwhile, the United Peoples Front — a joint front of various tribal militant groups of Manipur — has condemned the killing and urged the Centre to hold an inquiry into the incident. The KRA is a constituent member of the front. In a statement, the information secretary of the front, T. Samuel, said the Centre and its intelligence agencies should conduct an inquiry into the killing of the KRA leader. Stating that the front would also hold a separate inquiry to find out the culprits and their motive behind the attack, it demanded that those responsible for the killing should come into the open and clarify their action. The statement described Hang Sing as a true leader who tried to bring the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi ethnic groups together. The front also sent condolences to the family members of the deceased.

Litmus test awaits Manipur CM - Union minister to visit state to assess Ibobi’s support base OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, Nov. 15: Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants to give Okram Ibobi Singh a fair chance before she takes a decision on the demand raised by a section of Congress members for the chief minister’s ouster. She is sending Union minister of state in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office, Prithviraj Chauhan, to Manipur sometime next month to discuss the issue with Congress legislators and workers of the state.The high command reportedly wants to ascertain whether Ibobi Singh still commands the support of the majority — a report Chuahan must be equipped with when he returns to Delhi.
A group of rebel Congress MLAs is camping in Delhi for nearly a month, lobbying with AICC leaders for Ibobi Singh’s ouster. The legislators met Sonia on Diwali and are waiting for an appointment with the high command after she asked them to wait for a few more days for another round of meeting to hear their grievances. The AICC is meeting on Saturday, but the session is unlikely to discuss the development in Manipur. A Congress source here said the session would not discuss the dissidence within the Manipur Congress Legislature Party. The rebel legislators now camping in Delhi are claiming the support of at least 18 legislators out of 31 Congress members in the 60-member state Assembly. Sources said the high command will take a decision only after receiving a report from Chauhan after his Manipur visit. The dissidents have been accusing Ibobi Singh of failing to maintain law and order, of being corrupt and indulging in financial mismanagement.
The killing of child development project officer Y. Raseshwori Devi by militants of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) yesterday in Bishenpur district provided the dissidents with another opportunity to lambast Ibobi Singh.
Spokesman for the dissident group, Y. Surchandra Singh, said from Delhi that the killing of a government official vindicated their claim that the government had not only failed to protect the lives of the common people but also failed to protect its own officials. Ibobi Singh should step down immediately on moral grounds in the wake of the killing of the official, Surchandra Singh added.
Six political prisoners, 75 others freed after UN rights expert leaves Burma Ko Dee Mizzima News
November 16, 2007 - In what seems to be a sign of slowly relenting to the onslaught of the United Nations and the international community, the Burmese military junta on Thursday released 75 detainees including six political activists. The release comes in the wake of the departure of UN rights envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro after a five-day probe into the junta's repressive handling of the protests by monks and the people.
The six activists – Tun Lin Kyaw, Thet Naung, Phone Aung, Ma Yi Yi Win, Thein Naing Oo, and a sixth who is still unidentified – were freed along with 69 other detainees on Thursday afternoon, after the Human Rights expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro concluded his trip to Burma. Tun Lin Kyaw, one of the activists freed from the notorious Insein prison in Rangoon, told Mizzima, "We were released at about 11 a.m. Among those freed were 60 men and 15 women including six of us, who are active politically."
"The situation in the prison affected my health," added Tun Lin Kyaw, who was arrested on September 17, 2007 for staging a solo protest in front of the Rangoon City Hall. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. He was afflicted with a lung disease in the prison confines. Thein Naing Oo, a youth member of the National League for Democracy who was among those freed on Thursday said that jail authorities in Insein gave them unhygienic food and water. No proper medical attention was provided causing the health of several prisoners to deteriorate.
"Half my body is paralyzed. Since the left side of my body was paralyzed, I demanded treatment but it was denied to me. Because of lack of treatment and proper care, my health worsened," said Thein Naing Oo. Thein Naing Oo was arrested June 14, 2003 and sentenced to a seven year prison term, for denouncing the brutal attack on Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's motorcade in Depayin town on May 30, 2007. And for continuously sending appeal letters and trying to stage protests.
The activists released on Thursday were arrested in 2003 and 2004 and were forced to sign a bond saying that they would not be involved in politics in future, sources said. However, another activist, Kyaw Kyaw, who refused to sign the pledge, was taken back to prison, the source, who is close to the activists, said.
"I think I was freed because my health condition became critical and it would be dangerous to continue to keep me in prison. It seems they did not want to keep me in prison anymore because they feared I might die in custody," added Tun Lin Kyaw. Meanwhile, the UN rights expert, Pinheiro, on Thursday wound up his five-day visit after meeting several junta officials and other organisations, including the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (the State Governing Body of the Buddhist Clergy), the junta backed Union Solidarity Development and Association (USDA) and also several monasteries including Ngwe Kyar Yan and Kaba Aye. The rights experts, who also visited Burma's notorious Insein prison and other detention camps, however, did not make any statement on his findings

Nagalim.NL News

11/16/2007: "Govt apathy impeding Naga talks: Muivah"