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11/17/2007: "NSWON demands speedy justice over rape case The Morung Express"
NSWON demands speedy justice over rape case The Morung Express
Dimapur, November 16 (MExN): Expressing deep relief over the arrest of Nukshiyanger, who has been accused of raping a woman in Kangtsung village recently, the National Socialist Women Organisation of Nagalim, the women wing of the NSCN (IM) demanded the case not to be tried like other ordinary crimes by initiate speedy justice and award befitting punishment to the rapist.
A press statement received here from the NSWON said that the trail of justice must be made to see the light of the day at the earliest and added that bail should not be granted to the accused under any circumstances lest it would send a wrong signal to other would be rapist.
“Our Women’s honour must not be put a stake by processing the trail in the manner that applies to ordinary crimes,” said the release.
The NSWON, demanding strong punishment, said that 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
“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,” the NSWON asserted and added that prima-facie evidence against the accused leaves little legal room for the case to get prolonged.
“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,” the release declared.
Mkg Cong for revoking ‘Draconian Act’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, November 16 (MExN): Strongly reacting to the resolution passed by the Changki Village Council and the CAASM which barred the entry of Opposition Leader and the Emremchangki clan from entering Changki village, the Mokokchung DCC today demanded the immediate revocation of the resolution and termed it as a ‘Draconian Act’ and a punishment of the Congress party as a whole.
A press release issued by the Mokokchung District Congress Committee (DCC) President, I Nungsang Jamir and General Secretary (Press) Tia Longkumer flayed the resolution relating to the policy of closing village gates during the forthcoming election.
“It is an unprecedented resolution and undemocratic and such action is preventing from humanitarian grounds,” the DCC opined and therefore asked that Changki villagers to differentiate the ancestral issues with that of political issues. “The decision of the VCC & so-called CAASM on 9th November is shocking, because the world and the nation as well as States are advancing with modern mindset for (uplift) of modern societies, where as Changki citizens are confused with ancestral and political issues, being a village of ‘Man of Peace’ awardee,” the DCC stated.
In this connection, the Mokokchung DCC asserted that the resolution, which debars the entry of State Opposition Leader, I Imkong to his native village as ‘indirectly punishment of INC as a whole’ and therefore termed it as a “Draconian Act”. The DCC therefore strongly demanded the immediate revocation of the resolution of the ‘VCC and so-called CAASM’.
NSF rejects Cabinet decision Nagaland Post Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOV 16 (NPN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) Friday rejected the November 15 State Cabinet decision to raise the retirement age of state government employees from 57 to 60 years and served a 14-day ultimatum to state government to maintain status quo in regard to the length of service. Addressing a press conference, NSF president Imchatoba Imchen said the state government should maintain status quo by fixing 57 years as superannuation age and 33 years as length of service in government services.
Terming the Cabinet’s decision as “fatal exercise” and one that would have serious ramification in future, Imchen said decision was also “totally anti-Naga students” and had hurt the sentiments of the Nagas. He also said the Federation would chalk-out its future course of action if the government failed to accede to NSF’s demand. It may be mentioned the state Cabinet had on November 15 taken the decision to increase the age of retirement of state government employees from 57 years to 60 years, effective from November 15.
Korean team to join Hornbill Festivities Our Correspondent The Morung Express
Kohima | In what can be termed as adding flavor to this year Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, a team from Korea will too join the celebration, which will start from December 1 to 7 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama. Briefing the media persons here today, Commissioner and Secretary, Tourism, KK Sema, disclosed that the Korean would take part in the festival in the form of food and music festival. Further, they will also perform and display their rich culture and its artifact. Announcing that their participation has already been confirmed, Sema said that Korean TV channel Arirang will too cover the programme.
Other additional attraction of the festival included; performance of dare devil acrobatic motorbike display, Army/Assam Rifles band display, Bhandra dance, National Motor Rally. The festival will also figure Night Bazaar from MLA Hostel Junction to Razhu point, Kohima where shops will keep open for the visitors to do shopping and enjoy fast food joint.
The Music Task Force will also make a makeshift from that location where talented singers will avail an opportunity to perform with the tourists. Viewing the general complaint that shops in Kohima generally close down their establishments early, the Commissioner said that effort will be made to feature musical activities and fast food joint during evening time in all important hotels like Hotel Japfu, Tourist Lodge etc.
Besides other normal yearly events, cultural troupes from all seven sister states will perform their rich cultures and traditions throughout the festival. The Hornbill National Rock Contest will now be held this time at Kisama itself. Admitting that the Hornbill Festival was gaining momentum over the years, he claimed that the Ministry of Tourism has recognized the festival as national event. The Commissioner said that at least 400 to 500 foreign tourists are expecting from different parts of the country. Also stating that the overall picture of this year festival is at the bright side, he called for active participation from everyone.
10-day blockade in Manipur Nagarealm.com
Imphal, NOV16 [TI] : Barely a month after the Okram Ibobi Singh Cabinet took the decision to book sponsors of any kind of bandh or blockade, the state Senapati District Students’ Association imposed a 10-day blockade along the Imphal-Kohima highway from today.
Supported by the North Imphal United Clubs and meira paibis of Imphal East and West districts, the students imposed the bandh in protest against the state government’s failure to improve the condition of the Imphal-Kohima highway, the main supply route for Manipur. The students are also demanding completion of a water supply scheme taken up at the Senapati district headquarters with funds from the central pool of non-lapsable resources.
Transporters plying along National Highway 39 also extended support to the bandh. Transporters said the condition of the highway is so bad that travelling along this route poses a serious threat to life and limb. Following the Cabinet decision to book sponsors of bandhs and blockades, chief secretary Jarnail Singh had directed the state police to book sponsors of bandhs and blockades. An official source said police were trying to round up leaders of the students’ association and supporters of the bandh. But no arrests have been made so far.
A bandh along the Imphal-Kohima highway, supported by transporters and a conglomerate of local organisations in Imphal, entails choking the supply of essential commodities to the state for 10 days. Superintendent of police of Senapati district Nishit Kumar Ujwal said police patrolling along the highway had been intensified and police teams deployed at vulnerable places. But the All Manipur Transporters and Drivers Union today announced that they would suspend services during the bandh.
The police official confirmed that no vehicle, including transport services, left Senapati towards Dimapur or no transport service entered the district from Nagaland. N. Boy Singh, a leader of the Imphal conglomerate, said the bandh was justified as the government had turned a blind eye to the deplorable condition of the road.
ULFA’s ‘adamant attitude’ blamed By A Staff Reporter Assam tribune
GUWAHATI, Nov 16 – The State Government today blamed the “adamant attitude” of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for the derailment of the peace process following three rounds of talks with the PCG. In reply to a short notice question by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (AGP-P) in the State Assembly, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, who was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, said that time and again, the Government appealed to all the militant groups to abjure violence and come to the negotiation table to solve their problems through talks. He said that though the ULFA was adopting an adamant attitude, the Government was still hoping that the outfit would abjure violence and come forward for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India.
Hussain also informed the House that with effect from June 22, 2004, the Government has been paying ex-gratia grant of Rs three lakh to the next of kin of each of the persons killed by militants. He said that the money is paid after receiving reports from the concerned Deputy Commissioners.
Rehabilitation: The Centre released an amount of Rs 21.67 crore to the State Government for the rehabilitation of 5496 militants who returned to the mainstream during the period from 2001-02 to 2006-07, said Hussain in reply to a separate question by Mahanta.
Hussain said that the Government of India first launched a scheme for the benefit of the surrendered militants in 1998. Under that scheme, the surrendered militants, who stayed in the rehabilitation training camps were given a monthly stipend of Rs 2000 each. But, following requests by the State Government, the Centre formulated a fresh policy -surrender cum rehabilitation scheme for militants of NE region in 2005. Under the new scheme, the surrendered militants are given a monthly stipend for three years and Rs 1.50 lakh is kept in fixed deposit against each surrendered militant. The money will be released to the surrendered militants after three years of their surrender.
The Minister said that the surrendered militants are also encouraged to establish cooperative societies for creation of self-employment avenues and more than 150 such cooperatives were formed in different parts of the State. He said that so far 847 militants, who returned to the mainstream, were appointed in the central paramilitary forces. Hussain also admitted that the State Government, on its own, does not have any scheme for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants and it is implementing the Central scheme.
NSCN groups not to target tourists Nagaland page
Kohima, November 16: Both the factions of NSCN have agreed not to target any tourist in the state. This was disclosed by the Commissioner and Secretary Tourism, Khekiye Sumi Friday evening.
Khekiye said the state Government had met both the groups and got their assurances that the cadres would not target tourists. Sumi said meeting with the Naga underground groups was necessitated to facilitate easy flow of tourists in the state, especially during the Hornbill Festival from December 1 to 7 at Kisama.
Sumi, however, pointed out that unlike any other underground outfit, Naga outfits never targeted outsiders. He said only because of the bad projection of Nagaland by some media people, toursits are hesitant to come to the state.
"Nagaland is safe like any other place," he said. The festival, organized at an estimated cost of Rs 60 lacs, is expected to receive over 400 tourists. Sumi said this year the festival would be quite different with several new items. (Page News Service)
Buy’ ploy to break NDFB OUR BUREAU The Telegraph
Nov. 16: The government is ready with a “buyout” plan to “finish off” the National Democratic Front of Boroland if the outfit does not come for talks. The plan envisages getting the secessionist group’s cadre to cross over in return for “compensation”.
Expressing optimism about the success of the plan, highly placed sources said it would not be difficult since the NDFB was no longer a large group. The plan was worked out after the government got wind of the NDFB leadersh-ip’s alleged reluctance to start a dialogue for peace. “The outfit’s members are edgy over nothing happening and having to stay idle. A buyout becomes that much easier in such a scenario,” a source said.
He said efforts would be made to reconcile these members with those of the disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers so that they can exist “peacefully and gainfully”.
“We have had preliminary informal discussions with former BLT militants and BPPF (Bodo People’s Progressive Front) leaders and they appeared open to the idea. They told us that as long as the others (NDFB members) do not create trouble for them, the idea could be implemented,” the source added. The BPPF was born out of the BLT and is a partner in the Congress-led government. The source said the government was convinced that the NDFB’s top leaders, particularly Ranjan Daimary, were buying time and not interested in a dialogue any time soon.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said on Wednesday that his government had warned the NDFB that the ceasefire would be called off if the outfit did not come for talks.
Formed in 1986 to campaign for a separate Bodo homeland, the NDFB declared a unilateral ceasefire in October 2004 in response to appeals from various organisations representing the community. 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 source said Daimary and his aides were not sure about their role and relevance in a post-accord scenario, which is why they were dithering on a dialogue with the government. “You see, for people like him (the NDFB chief), it is not gainful employment that matters but power. And therein lies the problem. With the former BLT leaders now occupying positions of power, there is not much left to share. Daimary and other NDFB leaders would be interested in smoking the peace pipe only if they were assured of a meaningful and influential role in their society,” he added.
Bodo body decries prohibitory order Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Nov 16 – The All Bodo Peace Forum has flayed the government for imposing prohibitory orders at a time when the general people of the State desperately seek peace.
In a statement released to the press, the forum stated that the ongoing ceasefire between the government and the banned NDFB, which is due to expire on November 30 next has resulted in a hard-earned conducive atmosphere which should be fully exploited by the government to prove its sincerity in the peace process. “The anti-democratic and anti-peace approach of the State government is well manifested when it imposed prohibitory order on a peace seeking democratic organisation like the All Bodo Peace Forum just to save its political interests,” it said.
The forum decried the approach of the State government and appealed again to revoke the order in the interest of peace. The forum including other peace seeking social organisations did their best in this regard and somehow if the peace process with the NDFB outfit derails, the State and the Central governments will be entirely responsible.
On the eve of the expiry of the ceasefire period, the All Boro Peace Forum urged the government of India as well as the State government to adopt a positive approach to the ongoing peace process with the NDFB so that the issue may be sorted out amicably through peaceful dialogue. The ABPF also urged the government that the ceasefire period should not be used as a tool to gain political mileage but it should be an opportunity to solve the issue.
Disillusioned ULFA cadres continue deserting rebel camps By ANI
Guwahati, Nov 16 (ANI): Frustration among the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres is becoming increasingly apparent, with militants surrendering to the police en masse.
Over 150 ultras have laid down their arms in the last three months. In a major event of surrender, 66 ULFA militants, including some holding high rank in the outfit, laid down their arms in Guwahati earlier this month. All of them pledged to be a part of mainstream society.
There is a growing dissension and disillusionment among ULFA cadres, who think that the outfit has deviated from its original ideology and its top leadership is working against the interests of Assam. Bipul Neog, a rebel, who surrendered, said: "We want peace in Assam. We want both the ULFA and the government should solve this (rebel) problem. The problem should be solved politically; only then peace can be restored in Assam." "We have joined ULFA for an independent Assam. We thought it's the right way. We thought we would be successful, but because of political conspiracy we are fighting each other," said Gopla Sandikoi, another ULFA militant, who surrendered.
The process of surrender of militants started gaining momentum after the peace process ended in a deadlock last year, said police. According to official sources, at a time when the peace process was on, only 44 militants laid down arms in 13 months, and in the last three months more than 150 cadres have surrendered. The development is seen as a major blow to the outfit. Assam Police DGP N Mathur termed this as a "good sign".
"After talking to them (surrendered rebels), I realised that they had become totally frustrated with their own organisation, and that they have decided to join the mainstream on their own. This is very good sign," said Mathur, adding: "If they keep on coming to the mainstream in the same way I think very soon we will solve the vexed problem."
Besides disillusionment with the ULFA leadership, the rehabilitation policy of the government is also among the reasons for the rebels' deserting the rebel camps. The government pays Rs. 2000 per month, besides vocational training to the surrendered rebels. Also Rs. 150,000 is given to each of the surrendered militant after three years, if their conduct remains good. (ANI)
Killing of ULFA relatives: Prafulla Mahanta faces action By IANS
Guwahati, Nov 16 (IANS) The Assam government Friday said it will take legal action against former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for his alleged role in the 'secret killings' of relatives of separatists between 1998 and 2001. 'We shall constitute a legal expert team, including counsels from outside Assam, and take their opinion on what action can be taken against Mahanta,' Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told journalists here.
The move to take action against Mahanta comes after the government tabled the Justice K.N. Saikia Commission report in the state assembly Thursday in which the former chief minister who was then heading the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) government was indicted.
'We shall definitely take action against Mahanta and some other senior police officials as the report is very clear about connivance of the state government, police and some surrendered ULFA cadres in the secret killings,' Gogoi said. Some 45 close relatives of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) guerrillas were killed across the state between 1998 and 2001 when Mahanta was heading the AGP government.
The 'secret killings', as they came to be known, became a major issue during the assembly polls in 2001 in which the Congress led by Gogoi returned to power, defeating the AGP.
Mahanta has since left the AGP and floated the Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive). 'Even the ministers during the then AGP government should be collectively held responsible for the heinous crime,' the chief minister said. 'The modus operandi of all the secret killings were same ... hooded gunmen attacking the houses of ULFA relatives in the dead of night; and the police and the government machinery did nothing to investigate the cases,' Gogoi said.
Mahanta denied the charges and said it was a politically motivated report aimed at 'finishing off' his political career. 'Mahanta is already a half-dead politician and his party has just one legislator in the house. I challenge Mahanta to file a case in the court to reject the commission's report,' the chief minister said.
The state government first set up an enquiry commission headed by former Gauhati High Court judge Meera Sharma, but it was dismissed after she expressed her inability to carry out the probe.
In 2005, the Congress government dismissed the report of a second commission, headed by retired Justice J.N. Sharma, terming it inconclusive. The enquiry process got embroiled in controversy because the Sharma Commission was accused of being soft towards Mahanta, particularly because it had failed to nail anyone for apparent lack of evidence.
In August 2005, the Gogoi government set up the Justice Saikia commission. It completed its findings in August this year after questioning several political leaders and senior police officials to ascertain their possible role in the mysterious killings.
The Justice Saikia Commission report has recommended the dissolution of the unified headquarters of the army, police and paramilitary forces in Assam. The unified command came up in January 1997 to tackle insurgency in the state. In an action-taken report, also tabled in the assembly, the Assam government said it would duly consider the commission's suggestion, a response bound to surprise the counter-insurgency machinery in the state. 'We want the unified command structure to be dismantled once there is peace and normalcy in the state. But at the moment, the situation is not conducive to withdraw' the unified headquarters, Gogoi said.
Five hurt in Paona Bazar blast By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Nov 16: While Manipur Police were conducting search operations in four Government Departments located in Imphal area, a powerful blast ripped through Videocon House in Paona Bazar at about 12.45 pm today injuring five including a woman.
According to information received from the spot, an interview for recruitment of two drivers in Videocon House was conducted at about 11 this morning.
As the interview was proceeding, a bomb exploded in the shop with a thundering sound. In the explosion, a father and son duo who came to attend the interview and a man and a woman who came to inquire about the price of television sets for an upcoming wedding sustained severe multiple injuries.
The injured victims are identified as Thokchom Sharmila (37) d/o late Angangmacha of Chingamakhong Chongtham Leikai, Chongtham Hemsingh (32) s/o late Chaoba of Chongtham Leikai, Irungbam Devan (52) of Khurkhul Awang Leikai and his son Surjit alias Nanao (19) and Asem Satyabrata (38) s/o Achou of Thoubal Wangmataba.
According to Sharmila, her marriage has been fixed on November 26. She was coming to the Videocon House with a younger brother of her locality (Hemsingh) to inquire about prices of TV sets.
“Just as we entered the shop, a round object was seen hurled into the shop and it landed on the floor after hitting a refrigerator. The object was seen emitting smokes. Suspicious as I was of the object, I held Hemsingh’s hand and tried to pull him back. But as Hemsingh turned back to look at the object, it exploded”, Sharmila said.
Hit by splinters all over his body, Hemsingh collapsed soaked in blood, Sharmila said adding that she too sustained injuries in the right wrist, right foot and calf.
Surjit and his father Devan were coming to Videocon House to inquire about the interview for recruitment of drivers.
But it turned out that the interview was being conducted at that moment. As they waited in the shop, the bomb exploded causing them severe injuries.
Surjit sustained multiple injuries at the calf, shin, arm and back. Devan was hurt at two spots in right shin and at another two spots in the right thigh.
Satyabrata hit by a splinter in the left chest is being treated at Shija Hospital.
All the other four injured victims are being treated at RIMS. It is reported that the condition of Hemsingh is critical.
Besides the injuries, seven washing machines and seven refrigerators were damaged by the explosion.
Proprietor of the Videocon House, Laishram Sarat (55) s/o late Gourachand of Keisampat Leimajam Leikai reportedly told police that there was no case of monetary demand from any UG group.
The bomb which exploded at Videocon House today was similar to the one which was hurled at Reebok showroom at Paona Bazar on November 3. It was a crude country made bomb, said police.
In Reebok showroom incident, two individuals sustained injuries.
Police recovered a few pieces of jute rope used in tying up the explosive and some clutch wire pieces from the site.
At the time the explosion took place, Manipur Police were conducting search operations in the PWD office complex at Khoyathong, Electricity office at Keishampat, DRDA office at Lamphel and Minor Irrigation office complex. From the office complexes, police pulled up 50 individuals for verification.
On the other hand, it is reported that an IED was discovered by a patrol party of 193 Bn BSF at a place in between Thinungei and Ningthoukhong Kha- Khunou on Tiddim Road at about 4.45 pm today.
The IED was retrieved by explosive experts of Manipur Police and set off safely.
Myanmar admits nexus with UGs Newmai News Network
Shillong, Nov 16: Myanmar (Burma) has formally admitted that its proposed crackdown on the North East insurgents in its soil suffered due the tacit understanding of the Myanmarese lower rank officials, army personnel, the civilians with the numerous insurgent groups from North East India. This was disclosed by the Director General of the Assam Rifles DGAR) Lt General Paramjit Singh today.
The Lt General, who was part of the Union Home Secretary delegation to Myanmar recently said on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Central Pay Bill office in Shillong, “The military Junta’s admission to the presence of the Northeastern insurgent groups was accompanied by revelation about the constraints to act as per the assurance given to us”.
“The Myanmarese junta’s only problem to act on these militants is due to the well knitted links between these groups, the lower officials and the civilian population”, stated General Singh, adding, “ however, the military regime has reassured to act on these militant groups”.
Meanwhile, expressing concern on the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh and Myanmar, General Singh expressed apprehension on the possibility of ‘trans-border immigration’.
“ It is for this reason that we have enhanced our vigilance to check movement of people from the other side”, stated the DGAR. He also foresees his force to play a pro-active role in the forthcoming elections in the three states in the Northeast.
Yangon starts ops to flush out NE rebels Sangai Express
Shillong, Nov 16 : The Myanmar Government has launched an operation to flush out militants of the North Eastern region of India from that country, Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Paramjit Singh said today. Several camps have already been busted during the past three days and most of these belonged to the ULFA, Lt Gen Singh told reporters here.
“I accompanied the Union Home Secretary to Myanmar recently. The Myanmar Government told us that about the operation they would launch. “However, the exact details of the operation are yet to be received,” he said. The Assam Rifles has been particularly going after the ULFA’s main strike force, the 28th battalion, which is reported to have its headquarters in Myanmar.
About a fortnight ago, the army had claimed that the banned ULFA shifted some camps to Myanmar from Arunachal Pradesh following pressures from security forces. PTI
OPINION: A corner of India that holds the key to Asia Indo Burma News
November 17, 2007: (NST Online) India's northeast is becoming a strategic extension of New Delhi's foreign policy goals, especially with regard to Bangladesh, China and Myanmar.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said infrastructure development had emerged as the biggest hurdle to not merely development of the northeast but also New Delhi's carrying capacity for furthering the Look East Policy. By: MAHENDRA VED
INDIA'S northeastern region is in ferment, for reasons right and wrong. New Delhi is fast waking up to its key role as gateway to Southeast Asia, even as militants and separatists that have been giving it a hard time are reworking their strategies.
Some are on the run with their cadres killed, captured or forced into surrendering. For others, it is time to regroup. Recent Myanmar developments are remote for them. But fearing that they could get hit at some stage, they want to revive a pan-Mongloid grouping.The Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF), founded in 1990, went defunct for lack of co-ordinated action and changing loyalties. Now, groups from Assam, Manipur and Nagaland want to co-ordinate their actions under this umbrella, giving it a new name.
A meeting that took place in Thailand last year is being followed up. The United National Liberation Front of Manipur, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) led by S.S. Khaplang and Assam's United Liberation Front of Asom are trying to co-opt more groups, including the People's Liberation Army, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, all operating in Manipur, India's easternmost province.
The groups plan "joint revolutionary struggle", but if Kughalo Mulatonu, the public face of NSCN-K is to be believed, "the idea is not to launch a joint campaign against India or Burma. We want to usher in greater unity among the people in the region".
Known for his provocative demeanour, Mulatonu, however, warns that if India and Myanmar were to push the rebels to the wall with continued military offensives, they would be compelled to "strike back with a vengeance". "If we are not disturbed, we shall work for unity among those living in the region under our new grouping that will be a federal front," said Mulatonu.
Mulatonu and his leader Khaplang operate from Myanmar, claiming to represent an estimated one million Nagas living on the western flank of the Arakans.
Indeed, Nagas are on both sides of the Indo-Myanmar border; so are the Chins, many of whom live in India's Mizoram and also the Rohingyas for whom Bangladesh is a safe haven.
They all confound the security of the three governments in a difficult, loosely administered terrain. The elusive Khaplang, said to be unlettered, runs camps in Myanmar and lets them out freely to other militant groups. Whenever the Myanmar forces close in, these camps, makeshift bamboo structures, are vacated and the rebels cross the border, only to return. Fourteen years of India-Myanmar co-operation has yielded only sporadic results. There is no reduction in the cadres of the militant groups, nor is there any let up in gun and drug-running. Besides militancy, the drug trade finances intra-tribal warfare lacking political or ideological substance.
India has talked to most groups periodically, conducting the proverbial carrot-and-stick policy. But militancy has not ebbed with safe havens available across the international borders. The sole exception, perhaps, was their eviction by Bhutan in 2004, when the monarch donned military uniform and led the campaign.
Largely unknown to the world, India has paid a price for Myanmar's unsettled situation.
Tiny Mizoram is host to a large migrant population, assimilating with its population of one million, 70,000 to 80,000 Myanmars, largely Chins from the neighbouring Chin state and Sagaing Division. Realising that the situation is unlikely to change, India has forced a radical shift in its strategy that seeks to alter the socio-economic conditions. The northeast is receiving a never-before attention. New Delhi wants to make it an integral part of its "Look East Policy" (LEP) towards Southeast Asia. The Ministry of External Affairs is getting directly involved in the northeast's growth. Its development will be fine-tuned with India's relations with Myanmar, and important transit and trade agreements with Bangladesh, China and Myanmar have been promised by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
With this significant move, the northeast becomes a strategic extension of India's foreign policy goals, taking forward its new mantra of bringing foreign policy to its borders.
At the first ministers' meeting on developing the northeast this month, Mukherjee said infrastructure development had emerged as the biggest hurdle to not merely development of the region but also its carrying capacity for furthering the LEP. These would get immediate attention. Top priority would be given to transit through Bangladesh that the latter has consistently opposed. Dhaka belatedly signed the Trans-Asian Railway network last week and is keeping away from the Asian Highway Network arguing that it does not want either of them to become "Indian transit highways". It is a tall order, but Mukherjee, who enjoys respect and rapport with many in Dhaka, is personally recrafting India's Bangladesh policy.
Next on the list is a bypass through Myanmar, for which the Kaladan multi-modal transport project is top on the list. India would soon sign a formal agreement with Myanmar, including one for a rail line from Barak Valley into Mizoram. The northeast is sought to be linked to Thailand through Myanmar. This would be India's real gateway to Southeast Asia. It also wants to reopen the Stillwell Road leading to Kunming in China. There are plans to improve transport links between Arunachal Pradesh and the road leading to Tibet.
Engineers and planners are working to resurrect those links and forge new ones, by connecting Myanmar to Mizoram, and the northeast by extension, via the Kaladan river, which flows along India's eastern border to Myanmar's main port - Sittwe or Akyab in Arakan, the source of one of the richest oil and gas fields in Asia. In all of these, Myanmar is clearly the bridgehead, which explains why India's Myanmar policy is at variance with the vociferous Western countries and Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbours. India plans to continue with it despite criticism.
