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12/06/2007: "PEACE: Need of the Hour CNBC reaches out to Nagas outside Nagaland The Morung Express Longrangty Longchar"



PEACE: Need of the Hour CNBC reaches out to Nagas outside Nagaland The Morung Express Longrangty Longchar
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Rev Nuh and Rio’s wife Kaisa Rio, during the unveiling of the monolith of the Naga Restoration Cord of CNBC, at Toulazouma village, Dimapur on December 5. (MExPix)
Dimapur | Reaching out to the Nagas living beyond the borders of Nagaland state, appealing for bonds of brotherhood and oneness in Christianity and renewing the call of unity among the Nagas, the Council of Naga Baptist Churches today inaugurated the ‘Naga Restoration Cord’ at Toulazouma village here today with state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as the chief guest.
Drawing inspiration from Isaiah chapter 54 in the Bible, (Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch out its curtains wide, do not hold back lengthen your cord, strengthen your stakes) the Restoration Cord, as conceived by the CNBC, envisages inviting Nagas living in Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh and even in Myanmar to come and stay in Toulazuma village under the care of CNBC and receive education and other trainings.
“The aims and objects of the NRC is to extend Christian love and humanitarian services to help restore life from the breakdown of social fabric, to develop the untapped talents and potentials of young people, facilitate common concern for human rights and dignity, peace and justice,” said Rev L Bizo, president of CNBC in a handout that explained the Restoration Cord.
Rev Bizo said that the need of the hour is not violence and bloodshed but restoring peace and reconciliation; not mutual suspicion or prejudice and hatred, but mutual understanding, thinking and reasoning. “It is not reaction and rejoinders but interaction and repentance, not recrimination but restoration. We do not propose to do everything but if the journey of a thousand miles begin with the first step, then this is one step in that direction, and it is a hopeful beginning,” said Rev Bizo.
Today’s inauguration, as one sees it, would be a step to bringing spiritual unity among the Nagas, who are today divided by political boundaries that placed them not only in different states but also in different countries.
“We feel that we are not divided we feel that we are under one administration,” said ENSA president Michael Khaite while speaking at the inauguration. He thanked the CNBC, especially the so-called “western Nagas,” for accepting the Nagas living in Myanmar and taking the initiative to reach out to them and educate them by way of renewing the bond of Naga brotherhood.
He said that though the Nagas are divided into two countries, India and Myanmar, yet the “eastern Nagas” never think that Nagas are divided. Khaite requested Toulazouma villagers to take care of the “eastern Nagas” who would be staying in the Restoration Cord receiving education and other trainings, and categorically requested the people not to refer to the “eastern Nagas” as ‘Myanmarese Nagas.’
Chief Minister, Nephiu Rio, speaking at the function, asserted that there is an increasing desire amongst the Nagas to remove these artificial geographical boundaries, and live together under one administrative dispensation. He said that the Nagas in the present state of Nagaland has advanced and progressed socially, educationally and economically; however, he pointed out that this should not make the people in Nagaland to forget about the other Naga people in other states.
His words gain significance, since the Nagaland State Assembly has passed four resolution in the past endorsing the demand to integrate the Naga areas in different states to be brought under the present state of Nagaland. Civil societies like the Naga Hoho other NGOs and even the underground faction are demanding the integration of the Naga areas; a demand which cannot be fulfilled due to strong opposition by the neighboring states of Nagaland and also the growing feeling of tribalism among the Naga people.
Strongly lamenting that some Nagas resort to violence and killing despite the call for peace and reconciliation by the Naga masses, Rio asked, “Why are the Nagas finding so much problems in forging that oneness or unity? “Apart from our oneness in Christ, are we not all related through the ethnic Naga blood? Are we going to sacrifice the Naga nationalism and unity (for which we have struggled for many decades), at the alter of tribalism and selfish divisiveness,” Rio questioned and asserted that to push forward and sustain the Naga movement is to sustain the struggle for integrity, the foremost requirement is unity.
“The time has come for us now to raise up the banner of peace by forsaking the path of hatred, misunderstanding, suspicion and narrow tribalism,” said Rio and at the same time assured that the efforts put in by the CNBC to bring the Naga people together for better understanding and harmony would not go in vain but bear fruit in the days and years to come.
The PRO of CNBC, Adahe Neli, informed that those people will to stay Restoration Cord would have to fill up a form issued by the CNBC and have to be recommended by the ‘convention’ that is in the different states. Already 12 students are there in the Restoration Cord; who are sent to secular colleges during day time and given spiritual training through bible study, singing etc.
Rev L Bizo also expressed hope that the Cord would be equipped with study and research programme facilities in the near future.
‘Unity drive not linked to State politics’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, December 5 (MExN): Refuting the several political permutations been speculated following the recent ‘unity’ drive initiated under the aegis of the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH), convener of Council of Kilonsers, NSCN (K) AZ Jami has appealed not to ‘mix’ State politics with “national sovereignty.” Jami in a press note received here stated that the recent unity drive at Nuiland had nothing to do with either bringing KL Chishi to the chief-ministership in the coming Assembly Elections nor was it to grab lands in the Intangki Reserved Forest.
Jami also refuted speculations that the Angamis “are playing to retain Neiphiu Rio as Chief Minister of Nagaland…or the Aos playing to bring either Imkong or SC Jamir to the post of Chief Minister of Nagaland”.
Terming all these permutations as a big “no”, Jami appealed that one should not mix State politics with the goal of “national sovereignty” while adding that the question of chief minister is the responsibility of the State legislators and that after elections, the majority party will themselves elect their leader to be the chief minister. “Let it be KL Chishi or Neiphiu Rio or Shurhozelie or Imkong or SC Jamir or Chingwang Konyak”, Jami stated.
Expressing regret, the NSCN (K) Kilonser stated that some “Nagas are suspecting the Sumis in one way or the other” and termed this as an unhealthy development. Defending the recent unity drive of the WSH, Jami stated that Sumis had been more or less equally divided in the two NSCN factions and that the Nagas from every corner have been accusing and criticizing the Sumis in one way or the other or at one point or the other for not being able to unite the two factions of NSCN because of them. “The Sumis, as I assume have been tired of receiving such accusations and criticisms”, Jami stated adding that this time they have “taken up life and death venture risking their lives and welfare” and regretted that now ‘some Nagas are suspecting the Sumis.’
Giving a historical perspective, Jami pointed out that in the later part of 1968, most of the Sumis isolated themselves from the FGN/NNC and formed the so-called Revolutionary Government of Nagaland (RGN) but that the Sumis alone could not to anything and so they surrendered to the Indian government in 1972.
Stating that the remaining Nagas tried to carry on the movement even without the Sumis, Jami questioned: “But what could the other Nagas do without the Sumis?” “They could do nothing rather the leaders of other Nagas signed the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975. This was no other than surrender accord”, Jami stated.
As such the NSCN (K) Kilonser advised that “our past mistakes and failure should be our guide and master”. “Division means defeat and unity means victory. Now the leaders of different factions of Naga national workers should humble themselves and seek the unity and reconciliation with humility”, Jami suggested. In this regard, Jami pointed out that when the unity and reconciliation move was initiated in 2000 by the Sumis and Konyaks, he had declared in the NSCN (IM) Council meeting that if at all unity could be brought about, he would be the first man to step down to accommodate others in other factions. Jami also disclosed on what General Khole of PAN says that “if at all unity comes, I will go on retirement and give chance to younger people”.
Jami suggested that instead of “murmur and talk of this or that”, Nagas should plunge wholly into the unity process without any reservation adding that in “unity lies peace, pleasure, strength and goodwill”. Jami urged Naga intellectuals to exert their influence to the unity process in order to heal the land from bloodshed and cautioned to beware f the Indian intelligentsia pointing out that they may be playing “different subtle games to sabotage the unity move”. The NSCN (K) Kilonser also stated that Nagas do not want any more widows and orphans through useless armed clashes between brothers and reminded that if one comes across a helpless widow or children orphaned by the killing of their fathers in fratricidal fighting’s, one would certainly be overwhelmed with emotion and sympathy if one had a human heart.
Nagaland town rises from ashes Rahul Karmakar HINDUSTAN Times


Mokokchung has risen from the ashes to claim its place on India’s trade map in 13 years. The town’s commercial hub was set ablaze in December 1994 by the army in retaliation to a rebel ambush that killed a colonel. But today, Mokokchung is an important point in India’s trade with Myanmar.
Former MLA R Lisen Ao shudders recalling Mokokchung’s “trial by fire”, but he, like others in the town, would rather dwell on the “brighter side” of this 117-year-old town. More so, because it is the golden jubilee year of Mokokchung district. The district was carved out of the centrally-administered Naga Hills Tuensang Area on December 1, 1957.
Dominated by the Ao tribe, Mokokchung was the launch pad for Baptists in the Northeast. Christianity entered Nagaland through Mokokchung in 1872, but it was not until 1937 that the first Baptist church was established here.
“The church here organised the first Christian Naga marriage, triggering a craze for western fashion in Nagaland,” Ao said.
Most of Nagaland’s top officers and politicians are products of schools here. The town also became a centre of the Naga nationhood movement with A.Z. Phizo and Imkongmeren laying the foundation for sovereignty that the NSCN championed later.
If the district had given birth to Naga militancy, it also resisted militants “who cross the line”. In August 2003, residents of Mokokchung revolted against “overbearing” NSCN (Khaplang) members and flushed them out.
Neither faction of the NSCN, the other being the Isak-Muivah faction, has been able to gain a toehold here. “Mokokchung is returning to its old glory,” said former district magistrate Imkongtemsu Ao.
Lyngdoh plays to the gallery OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph

Children in traditional attire at the Hornbill Festival in Kohima on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Kohima, Dec. 5: The ongoing Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage village in Kisama near Kohima entered the fifth day today with a special attraction. Meghalaya minister for higher and technical education R.G. Lyngdoh not only graced the festival as the chief guest, but also entertained the crowd.
The special attraction of the festival on the fifth day was the performance by Lyngdoh. The minister entertained the gathering by playing the didgerido — an Australian Aboriginal wind instrument. Brazilian artiste Rosier Vlelra de Souza, participating in the Rock segment of the festival as a judge, accompanied Lyngdoh.
The minister appreciated the endeavours of the government of Nagaland for organising the festival, which allowed the northeastern states to showcase their rich culture and heritage. The festival is also a forum to garner unity among the states.
The other highlights of the fifth day’s programmes included performances by Sangtam, Sumi, Zeliang, Lotha, Khiamnuiungan, Kuki, Rengma and Chakhesang cultural troupes. The Assam Rifles presented a Bhangra dance.
In the afternoon, Konyak, Ao, Kachari, Angami, Pochury, Chang, Yimchunger, Phom and Sangtam groups presented cultural items. Ted Osius of the US embassy and US consul-general Henry V. Jardine are currently in Nagaland to attend the Hornbill Festival. “Our main motive to come here is to get more familiar with the people,” Jardine said.
CVC demands apology from NSCN (K) Tisary Region Secy NSCN (K) Tisary Region demands clarification The Morung Express
Dimapur, December 5 (MExN): The Chomi Village Council today declared that the press statement issued by the secretary Tisary Region NSCN (K), R. Kiusangthong as totally unwanted and asked Kiusangthong to tender his apology to the Chomi Village Council at the earliest.
A press statement issued by the CVC Chairman, Kiusumong and Head GB Tomuku, while strong condemning the press statement issued by the Secretary of NSCN (K) Tisary Region that appeared in the local dailies on October 5 and 24 last; said that it is only to bring bad image to Chomi Village, which is purely a Yimchunger village with no other tribe existing in the village.
“The claim made by him is totally betrayal of the Village. We are Yimchunger by Blood, Word and Deed. Hence forth, his claim is null and void,” said the Village Council.
The release also asserted that Chomi Village is the largest Village under Pungro Sub-Division, which purely falls under Yimchunger Region NSCN (K).
However, the release said that the Chomi Village Council does not posses the slightest knowledge of R Kiusangthong joining any faction and therefore, condemned the claims of Kiusangthong.
“The Chomi Village Council on behalf of all bonafide citizens condemn his treacherous claim, and further ask Shri. R. Kiusangthong to tender his apology to the Chomi Village Council at the earliest,” stated the release.
Furthermore, the release appealed to the Yimchunger Tribal Council (YTC), the apex body of Yimchunger Tribe to consider this clarification of CVC as genuine and factual and the claims made by R Kiusangthong Secretary Tisary Region NSCN (K) is to be treated as totally baseless.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of NSCN (K) Tisary Region today expressed shock at how ‘Captain Tsapise Sangtam’ took the name of the Region in a press statement issued on November 30 that appeared in a local daily and therefore demanded a clarification from the ‘Captain’ so as to avoid misunderstanding in the future.
A press statement issued by the NSCN (K) Tisary Region, ‘Maj Kurichu’, asserted that he is the chairman of the Tisary region and also the senior-most army officer of Tisary region and declared that ‘we’ strongly support the ‘present unification of Nagas’. However, the release expressed shock at a certain press statement issued by ‘Captain Tsapise Sangtam’ and announced that there is no captain by the name as Tsapise Sangtam. The release stated that Tisary is a conglomerated region; “whereas the Sangtam has been detached with the knowledge of GPRN”. “Therefore without bearing any ill feeling I (Maj Kurichu) demand clarification from Captain Tsapise Sangtam so as to avoid misunderstanding in the future,” the release stated.
Nagas of Chandel have always been Nagas The moring Express letter to the editor
•Sir— With regard to the news item ‘United old Kuki army aligns with KNO’ that appeared in this newspaper on the 5th of December 2007, I want to make few points. It is not a new case that some organization or the other tend to stir up the issue that the Nagas of Chandel belong to the so-called old Kuki group and so they should be considered as Kukis and not Nagas. The term ‘Old Kuki’ which has now been wielded enthusiastically by these organizations, was introduced by few of the colonial writers and the people of Chandel at no point of time had considered themselves as belonging to this strangely invented category called ‘Old Kuki’. The Nagas of Chandel have always been Nagas and they will always be. I find it ridiculous to hear the argument that they were induced to become Nagas. The Nagas of Chandel on their own consent sent their representative to take part in the plebiscite called by AZ. Phizo and also they were a part of the NNC led movement and they continue to wholeheartedly support the Naga Struggle to this day. Those who try to impose the term ‘Old Kukis’ on the Nagas of Chandel can go and see for themselves and also listen to the sneering response of the people when they hear this strange term. As a piece of valuable information to those organizations, the land of Chandel has always been the ancestral land of the Nagas. The erroneous claim and attempt to create confusion by these organizations will not alter the reality in any way.
Instead of engaging in pointless display of ignorance, political fantasies and immaturity, these organizations should look beyond the immediate horizon. Instead of trying to stir the ‘Hornet Nest’ by antagonizing the Nagas with baseless and erroneous claim, they should try to understand that their interest would be best served by working and collaborating with the Nagas.
Samuel, Chandel.
Jami lauds Sumis for unity move Nagarealm.com
Dimapur, DEC05 [NPN] : Senior NSCN (K) leader AZ Jami has lauded the Sumis for the ongoing process for unification of the Nagas. Dismissing the various allegations against the move, Jami in a statement said earlier in the past the Sumis had been criticized for their failure to unite the Nagas despite having a larger representation in both factions of the NSCN. But, when they took an initiative recently towards this perspective braving life and death, the people began to suspect them one way or the other.

He dismissed speculations that the current process for unification spearheaded by the Sumis was to make KL Chishi the chief minister or grab lands in the Intangki Reserved Forest. Jami said speculations that Angamis were “playing” to retain Neiphiu Rio as the chief minister and that Aos were making a similar effort for Imkong and SC Jamir had no base because state politics could not be mixed up with national sovereignty politics. He said at the moment what the Nagas needed most was unity and not bloodshed.

Jami recalled that in the later part of 1968, most of the Sumis isolated themselves from the FGN/NNC and formed the Revolutionary Government of Nagaland (RGN). But as the Sumis alone could not do anything, they surrendered to Indian government in 1972. Later, though the remaining Nagas tried to continue with the movement, they could not do anything without the Sumis. He said the “infamous” Shillong Accord signed by the other leaders was in fact a “surrender accord”.
In light of this, Jami said the past mistakes and failures should be the guide and master of the Nagas as division meant defeat and unity meant victory. He called upon the leaders of different factions and also Naga intellectuals to work for unity and reconciliation with humility but without any reservation. At the same time, Jami advised them to be wary of the Indian intelligentsia as they could sabotage the unity move.
“In 2001, the unity and reconciliation move was initiated by the Sumis and Konyaks and I declared in our council meeting (NSCN-IM) that if, at all unity could be brought about, I will be the first man to step down to accommodate others in other factions. Now, Gen. Khole of PAN says, if at all unity comes, I will go on retirement and give chance to younger people,” Jami added.

Azo supports unity : Agriculture Minister Azo Nienu said if statements by the underground leaders that the move for unity was not confined to one single tribe alone but unification of all Nagas and not aimed at involving in state politics, then all sections of the Nagas should welcome it. In a statement, Azo said “we should also encourage our brothers and sisters to take part in this unification front, for all practical purposes because this is one step forward to a new era and a new beginning for all the Nagas to settle the difference and hammer out a solution which will be acceptable to all the Nagas”. He urged the factions to show sincerity by refraining from factional clashes and not involving in state politics in order to gain the popular support of the general public.
By the villagers, for the villagers The Telegraph
- Residents run & maintain tourism hotspots in Nagaland hamlets SAMIR K. PURKAYASTHA


Khonoma green village in Kohima
Kohima, Dec. 5: Communitisation — a term Nagaland gave the world — is adding a new dimension to the state’s tourism sector, tailormade to promote eco and cultural tourism.
For the uninitiated, communitisation was coined by joining the words community and decentralisation, meaning devolving powers to villagers.
Tourism commissioner and secretary Khekiye K. Sema said the Nagaland government has designed a unique model whereby under the guidance of the village tourism boards the tourist hotspots in the state will be maintained and run by the villagers.
Three tourist centres — Touphema tourist village and Khonoma green village, both in Kohima, and Benrue village in Peren — are running successfully. The government is also creating tourist infrastructure in Aizeuto in Zunheboto district. On completion, it will be handed over to the villagers.
“Once a tourist enters these villages, the tribal code of honour provides hospitality and protection to the tourist, who turns into a guest of the village,” Sema said.
He said at Touphema — some 41km from Kohima — the government has created a tourism village modelled on ethnic lines wherein visitors are offered modern and hygienic accommodation in traditional huts.
“This entire infrastructure is managed and maintained by the villagers,” Sema said. They even cook traditional dishes and brew local drinks for the visitors.
Similarly in Khonoma — 20km west of Kohima — it is the villagers who preserve the Khonoma Nature Conservation Tragopan Sanctuary, which is home to a large variety of rare species of plants, animals and birds. And it was the very villagers who made it possible to implement a ban on hunting, one of the favourite pastimes of the Nagas, inside the sanctuary.
In Nagaland, every village has a traditional administrative structure called a village council with a development wing to look after the welfare of the village called the village development board.
The villages where the government is “raising” tourist infrastructure, a tourist development committee has been formed to look after these set-ups.
The system is being governed by an agreement between the village and the government. According to the agreement, in the initial period, the villagers would not have to pay anything for the use of infrastructure to the government, Sema said.
“After a few years we will review the tourist inflow. If we find that inflow is good, we will charge minimal revenue from the village for using the infrastructure,” he said.
The need of introducing Naga history Nagaland Post
There are many books written on Nagas by foreigners, Indians and Naga scholars. However, it is quite bizarre that Naga history is still not written even for school and college textbooks. The Nagas want to be an independent country but whether it is really desired or not, it is high time to write Naga history and introduce in schools, colleges and universities textbooks.
Today one of the main reasons of not being active in mass participation in Naga National Movement (NNM) is due to people's bankruptcy in Naga historical background. If we know the Naga history, we cannot resist from supporting the NNM. I have got lots of questions that rise in my mind when I think the need of writing Naga history and introducing Naga History as school and college textbooks. Some of the most important questions are - Is there any nation in this world without any written history? Why Naga history need to be written and included in schools, colleges and universities syllabus in Nagalim? Why is it important to know Naga history? Do you think there is less mass participation and support in Indo-Naga talks due to lack of knowledge in Naga history? How many of our Naga educated people know in details about the Naga history? Why many educated Nagas are poor in Naga history? Do you ever come across any word mentioning about the Naga history in Indian history? Do you think it is high time to write Naga history for school and college textbooks? What is our government, Naga historians and scholars were doing in last 50 years? Why none of our Naga historians, scholars and leaders realizes the importance of introducing Naga history in school and college? What are the main obstacles that we the Nagas could not write the Naga history and have Naga history in school and college textbooks?
In this article, I may not be able to answer all the above questions. However I believe that the government, Naga philosophers, thinkers, writers and leaders would answer all the above questions. We, the Nagas have enough historians, philosophers, scholar and writers. Nevertheless, it seems the Nagas are so callous to write Naga history. I am sure that it would not be an easy task to write Naga history but there are copious of documents and books, which we can write the Naga history. We the Nagas study Indian history, but do we study Naga history in school or college level? I personally feel that if the Naga history had been introduced in school and college textbooks in 1950's or at least by 1980's, it would have awoken the hearts of the educated Naga people with alacrity to participate and extend more solidarity to Naga National Movement or Indo-Naga peace talks.
Today, many educated Naga people have no inspiration and conviction and not ardently supporting the NNM due to lack of Naga historical knowledge. There are many foreigners and Indians who know Naga history better than the Nagas in Nagalim. Unless we know the Naga history, it will be difficult for active mass participation in Nagas struggle for integration or sovereignty. There are many educated Naga people who are dithering to participate in NNM because they have not even browse the Naga history; they are not aware of the Nagas right to self-determination. How can we anticipate the layman to know the Naga history when the educated people do not know the Naga history and are bewildered?
In the present scenario, the urgent need in Nagalim is to impart the knowledge of Naga history to the mass. There is not any specific written Naga history book. However we can read from different books and we need to have lots of seminars on Naga history among the educated Naga people also along with the laymen. The Naga Civil Society (NCS) are actively involved in spreading the Naga issue to many civil societies in India through documentary movies and printed books especially to the non-Nagas. I am sure that it would definitely a help to the civil societies to understand more about the Naga issues and problems.
Recently I got a VCD (documentary movie, Naga Story-the other side of silence?) from Shekho George (a civil society active member) and I have screened that documentary movie in Interdisciplinary Discussion Group, University of Pune and a discussion based on that documentary movie was discussed. There were lots of responses from imminent Professors, Research scholars and other students. I personally feel that all the educated Naga people should have thorough knowledge on Naga history or whatever we know about Naga history, we should pass on to the Naga friends and non-Naga friends.
There is little written Naga history for school textbooks in Nagaland State but that is not enough and we need to include more even for school level and include the whole history in college level. It is very late by now to introduce the Naga history in school and college level. However, 'Better late than never'. We do not know how long it will take to solve the Naga political problem. But I am optimistic that Naga problem will be solved in our life time or generation. Even if the Naga problem is solved and Nagalim becomes an independent country or what ever it may be, the Naga history cannot be snubbed and throw into dustbin. It is high time that we the Naga scholars need to write Naga history for school and college textbooks. If our senior Naga writers and government of Nagaland would have taken the initiative to write the Naga history earlier, by now all the educated Naga people might have good historical background.
Today, if we ask the graduate or Post Graduate student about the Nine Points Hydari Agreement, s/he may say, "I am not aware of that Agreement".
Recently, the Naga Students Union, Pune (NSUP), held their 24th Annual Literary and Cultural Meet on 26th January 2005, and in that Quiz Competition, a question was asked, "When was the Shillong Accord made?", the quiz participants answered, in 1962, 1963, 1972 etc. Finally the question was passed to the audience. Then some of us raised our hands and I said, "It was in 1975". However the Quizmaster said "Sorry, it was in 1965". Then I was little bit embarrassed. I went home to check again from the book and I found that the Shillong Accord was made on 10-11 November 1975. See - this is how some of our educated people have the knowledge about the Naga history. I doubt that many of us know when the British first came to Naga Hills, Formation of Naga Club, NNC, Nine Points Agreement, Shillong Accord, Breaking up of NSCN, ongoing peace talks etc.
There are many books written on Nagas, however only the Naga writers, scholars, leaders and very few people who are interested in Naga struggle for sovereignty read the books. On of the important reasons or attributes that the school or college going students do not read the Naga book is that all the books are not easily available to all the people; it is mostly confined in some good institutes or Universities in India. I am from a remote village, Senapati District Manipur and I was not aware of the Naga history before I take up my PhD research work. And like me there are more than 90% of the total populations of Nagas who do not get the facility to read the books on Nagas, which is written by foreigners, Indians and Naga scholars. The price of the book on Nagas or any book on Tribal is relatively costlier than the school or college textbooks. We the Nagas or Indigenous people are poor and there are many students who do not have money to purchase their school or college textbooks so there is no question arising to buy and read book on Nagas.
I think the best way for all the Nagas to know or read the Naga history is to write the Naga history and introduce in school and college textbooks, so that all the books are available, affordable and accessible to all the people. I can confidently say that unless, we know the Naga history, we cannot expect active mass participation in Naga National Movement. As a Naga, it is a great shame incase we do not know anything about the Naga history.
In conclusion, I would like to suggest the Government of Nagaland, Naga Hoho, NSF, Naga Mother's Association, UNC and all the Naga leaders to consider the importance and need to write and introduce in school textbooks. Secondly, I would like to suggest conducting lots of seminars on Naga history with the Nagas and non-Nagas in different cities, towns and villages. If the government of Nagaland, Naga Hoho, NSF, UNC, etc feels the need to write and introduce the Naga history in school and college textbooks, I am sure there will be some people like me who would love to invest their knowledge, time and energy to write Naga history for school and college textbooks.
Note: (This article was earlier published in www.kuknalim.com in Feb. 2005)
R. B. Thohe Pou
Peace initiatives by AASU at Jamugurihat Correspondent Assam Tribune
JAMUGURIHAT, Dec 5 – In the backdrop of the Beltola incident in Guwahati an November 24, a joint meeting of Jamugurihat unit of AASU, Unnati Sabha, Asom Sena, Naduar AATSA, Jamuguri AAGSU, Mahmora AAGSU, Trimilan Yubak Sangha, Mundarigaon Unnayan Sami District Adivasi Kavi Sanmilan was held on December 1 at Jatiya Swahid Bhavan, Jamugurihat, the headquarter of All Jamuguri Students’ Union (AJSU).

The meeting organised by AJSU, conducted by Abhijit Nath, president AJSU and presided by Golap Baruah, president, Jamuguri Unnati Sabha was addressed by Siben Das, president, district Unnati Sabha, Mohendra Hazarika coordinator district Asom Sena, Brajen Das district member Asom Sena, Bipul Borah general secretary, Jamuguri Unnati Sabha, Dipmani Bhuyan joint secretary AJSU among others.

All the speakers recalled the age old unity, friendship and fellow feeling prevalent among the people of Naduar area, and appealed to maintain it at all costs, though divisive forces and political interest may try to embitter the same.

The meeting also criticised the role played by the State government in handling the situation on November 24, and paid homage to all the martyrs including the ones who had lost their lives on that day. The meeting decided to form a central coordination committee and to submit an memorandum to the Governor of Assam requesting him to interfere in proper handling of the situation by the State government, on December 7 next.

On the other hand, the CPI(M) unit of Jamugurihat had also sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Assam through the BDO Naduar. After a huge silent procession displaying various slogans on maintaining peace and friendship among the people and inaction of the State government, it had handed over the memorandum to the BDO. More than ten Adivasi girls also took part in the silent procession.
Council poll defeat spells danger for Assam Congress By IANS
Guwahati, Dec 6 (IANS) The ruling Congress in Assam has been routed in a little-noticed election to an autonomous tribal council, halting the party's 10-year victory run at all polls held in the state in a decade. The debacle has caused concern within the Congress leadership as it gears up to face the staggered panchayat elections starting Dec 31. The Congress lost the just-concluded elections to the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council to a coalition of the local Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It managed to win just three of the 27 elective seats. The results were declared Tuesday.
The ASDC-BJP combine is all set to rule the council, a politico-administrative structure set up in accordance with the constitution's sixth schedule, covering the militant-infested district in southern Assam, dominated by the majority Dimasa ethnic group. The margin of defeat has shocked the Congress, which was in control of the council for all but two terms since it was set up in 1954. Moreover, the party's mascot in the district, former Assam cabinet minister G.C. Langthasa, who was himself in the race to head the council, lost to an ASDC candidate.
The ASDC, a party pressing for the elevation of North Cachar Hills district as well as the adjoining Karbi Anglong district to an autonomous state within Assam, won 12 seats while its partner BJP bagged nine. Independents won three seats, a tally that cannot help the Congress in any way. The stakes were obviously high for the Congress because it had been winning successive elections in Assam - the Lok Sabha poll in 1998 and in 1999, the assembly poll in 2001, panchayat elections in 2002, the 2003 civic polls, and again the assembly elections in 2006. However, the Congress in the district has been at the receiving end of a rag-tag militant outfit called Black Widows since the beginning of this year. The rebel group, formed after breaking away from the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), had openly threatened voters not to support the Congress. The DHD, a militant group fighting for maximum autonomy for the area's Dimasa tribe, is currently on a peace mode, having signed a ceasefire agreement with the centre.
A Congress minister and Assam government spokesman, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said the party's defeat was caused by the assassination of three top leaders in the district, including outgoing council chief Purnendu Langthasa, son of G.C. Langthasa. 'Our party cadres were certainly demoralised by the killings,' Sarma admitted. The Congress is also bound to take note of the BJP's inroads into the hill district. At a time when the Congress' traditional vote bank, the tea garden community, is agitated over the demand for Scheduled Tribe status, the party is gearing up to work overtime to regain the lost base ahead of the panchayat polls.
After debacle, blame game - Cong seeks probe into NC Hills ‘rigging’ OUR BUREAU The Telegraph
Guwahati/Nagaon, Dec. 5: The Congress today pointed a finger at the government it heads in trying to find reasons other than declining popularity for its defeat in the elections to the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. State Congress chief Bhubaneswar Kalita led the blame brigade, ascribing the debacle — the party won three seats out of 27 — to “malpractice” and demanding an independent inquiry into the two-phase poll process.
Kalita said militants forced polling officials at gunpoint to rig voting. “Without malpractice, how can it be possible that not a single vote was rejected in the entire district, and that, too, after such a high percentage of voting (over 80 per cent)?” he asked.
The Congress accused the Autonomous State Demand Committee-BJP combine, which won 21 seats, of using militants to prevent its candidates from campaigning. “The elections will go down in history as a black chapter in the history of a district with peace-loving people,” Kalita said.
The state party chief had a word of caution for the ASDC-BJP combine. He said the two parties would not be able to run the council independently after having hobnobbed with militants.
All 21 elected members of the victorious alliance met at Haflong Circuit House this morning to discuss how to go about forming the next council. The head of the joint co-ordination committee of the alliance, Dibulal Hojai, presided over the session.
The swearing-in is slated for Friday. The BJP said it saw in the election results the beginning of the end of Congress rule in the state. A party leader said the Opposition would replicate this performance in the panchayat elections. A source in the joint co-ordination committee said the chief executive member of the council would be from the ASDC and the deputy chief would be from the BJP. The president of the North Cachar Hills unit of the ASDC, Prakanta Warissa, and his BJP counterpart Kulendra Doulogapu will most likely get the top posts.
Hojai was secretive about whether the allies had already arrived at an agreement on who would head the council. “Till now, the issue of who will be the chief executive member and the deputy has not been discussed,” he said just after the meeting. Doulogapu said the alliance was clear about its priorities. “Our priorities are peace and harmony, a people-friendly administration and development of the district, which remained an unfulfilled dream for the people during years of misrule by the Congress.”
Some central leaders of the BJP, including Northeast organising secretary Chandra Sekhar Reddy, will visit the hill district in a day or two. Elections to 27 seats in the autonomous council were held on November 26 and December 1. The ASDC won 12 seats and the BJP got nine and Independents three. A source in the election office today clarified that Warissa won only in Gunjum. He had been initially declared the winner in Harangajao, too. That seat actually went to the Congress
Bodos oppose ST demand A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph


A demonstration in Duliajan to demand ST status for tea tribes. A file picture
Guwahati, Dec. 5: A conglomerate of Bodo organisations today threatened to revive the demand for a separate Bodoland if the Adivasis were granted ST status.
The organisations, which met at Kokrajhar Girls’ College, said they were opposed to Dispur’s attempt to pressure Delhi into granting ST status to the Adivasis and that an eight-member delegation would soon apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, home minister Shivraj Patil and tribal affairs minister P.R. Kyndiah about their stand.
The Bodoland Citizens’ Forum, Bodoland Peace and Integration Committee, Tribal Sangha, Bodo Writers Academy and Boro Samaj were among the organisations which met at Kokrajhar today.
“We have strongly opposed any move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Adivasis who have migrated to Assam. The government should not try to compensate the Adivasis for what had happened in Beltola by granting them ST status, diluting the rights of the indigenous tribal people of the state,” Daorao Dekhreb Narzary, a former Absu leader, said after the meeting. The eight-member delegation, formed at today’s meeting, will soon leave for New Delhi to submit a memorandum to the Centre.
The state government had yesterday hinted at a new formula to accommodate the six communities that were demanding ST status, without affecting the rights of the existing tribals.
According to the new mechanism, the government proposed to enhance the reservation quotas for the Scheduled Tribes by reducing the quota for the Other Backward Classes.
Narzary said such an arrangement would not be acceptable to the Bodos as it would dilute the political rights of the tribals. “If the Adivasis are given ST status, they will get the rights to contest elections from the constituencies now reserved for us,” he said.
The former Absu leader said if the state government supported the Adivasi demand for ST status, there would be fresh unrest in Bodoland for a separate Bodo state.
“The mood at the meeting was that under no circumstances will we accept granting of ST status to the Adivasis and if need be we will resort to agitation to protect out rights,” he said.
Aditya Khakhlari addressing the Press. (Sentinel)Aboriginal tribals disheartened From our Correspondent Sentinel
KOKRAJHAR, Dec 6: A section of Bodo intellectuals and former Bodoland movement leaders observed that the voice of Asomiya intellectuals in support of Adivasis has been disheartening for the aboriginal tribals of the State, such as Bodos.
In an interview with The Sentinel, former ABSU leader and co-worker of Bodofa UN Brahma, DD Narzary said the Asomiya intellectuals always claimed the outsiders and immigrants of other countries as “Asomiyas”, forgetting the indigenous people of the State. He said the successive State Governments have sympathized wish of outsiders overlooking tribes like Bodos. The intellectuals of the State are not serious about the killings of indigenous people, human rights violations, gang rape on tribal women and molestation for which justice has not been done. He questioned why leaders like AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya refrained from calling Bodos and other indigenous people of Asom as Asomiya whereas they do not hesitate to call a Santhali girl as Asomiya. He expressed fear and apprehension that the State Government and Asomiya intellectuals would be bound to lend their voice to the new ST demand.
Narzary strongly opposed the granting of ST status to six communities saying that the communities are well advanced in all respects and they have been enjoying political rights and advantages. He said both Adivasis and Rajbongshis have Cabinet ministers and good number of legislators in the Assam Assembly since long, but the indigenous tribals do not have such advantages. He also cautioned both Delhi and Dispur that the tribal would not be responsible for another unrest in the region.
MP SK Bwiswmuthiary, while speaking The Sentinel from New Delhi, said the granting ST status to outsiders will not only affect the Bodos and other tribals, but also the Asomiyas as a whole will lose their rights.
“There will be a new power equation in the State politics if new communities are included in the ST list. Political power will not go to the hands of genuine Asomiya people because power sharing by outsiders will bring a drastic change in the political scenario of the State,” Bwiswmuthiary said.
The MP asked the Government of India and Government of Asom to announce the policy of reorganization of the State on a “federal” plan before granting ST status to the six-communities, saying that the process of “Balkanization” is yet to be completed.
Former president of KDC, ABWWF, Ms Maloti Rani Narzary, in an interview with The Sentinel, said the tribals of the State are deprived of all facilities and rights. Both the Centre and the State Government, instead of fulfilling the demands of the tribal people, are going to accord ST status to the six communities ignoring strong opposition from indigenous tribal groups. She also attacked the AGP saying that the party opposed the inclusion of more communities in the ST list during PK Mahanta’s rule, but the party is now favouring ST status to the six communities. This is political opportunism, she said.
President of All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) Ranjit Kumar Borgoyary told The Sentinel that the Sangha had no option other than launching a vigorous movement comprising all tribal people of Asom. He accused the State Government for its failure to protect the tribal belts and blocks, without filling the back log posts lying vacant for many years.
Working president of Federation of Bodo Youth (FBY) Jangshisu Brahma told The Sentinel that the federation would oppose the inclusion of six communities into the ST list at any cost and that the tribals would be adversely affected by the new ST formula for six communities.
ABPF welcomes NDFB’s move to place demands By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
The political will and sincerity on the part of the Government would be the key factors in the ensuing process of negotiation. Otherwise, the submission of the charter of demands for political dialogue would also prove to be meaningless

GUWAHATI, Dec 6: The All Boro Peace Forum (ABPF), which has finally decided to rechristen its nomenclature as the Boro People’s Forum for Peace and Rights (BPFPR), has welcomed the extension of ceasefire agreement between the Centre and the NDFB on November 30. The forum also hails the, what it called, landmark decision on part of the NDFB leadership to place its core issues of political dialogue before the Government in February.
It may be mentioned here that, the non-acceptance of Centre’s demand for submission of the outfit’s charter of demands by the NDFB prior to the beginning of the negotiation had become the main hurdle to the much-awaited peace talks between the Government and the outfit. “Now, we hope the decision taken by the NDFB leadership will finally pave the way towards lasting peace and solution of the vexed problem,” said Bhromon Baglari, ABPF adviser in a statement here today.
However, he has warned that the political will and sincerity on the part of the Government would be the key factors in the ensuing process of negotiation. Otherwise, the submission of the charter of demands for political dialogue would also prove to be meaningless, he added. It has been learnt that, the NDFB general council which met last month after a long gap has decided to accept the Centre’s demand for submission of its charter of demands for the sake of the peace process, and the decision was conveyed to the Centre accordingly in a meeting held in New Delhi last month to formalize the six-month extension of the ceasefire.
On the renaming of his organization, Baglari informed The Sentinel that the executive meeting of the ABPF held at Dhekiajuli on November 29 has decided to come out with a new identity as the BPFPR. The meeting also decided to hold its 2-day second annual conference at Dhekiajuli starting December 20, where the new nomenclature of the organization would be approved formally, he added.
Rumors of Burmese military head facing psychological problems Mizzima News
December 6, 2007 - Burmese junta supremo Senior General Than Shwe is reportedly suffering from strain and psychological problems and has sought an appointment at a hospital in Singapore for treatment, sources close to the military establishment said.
"Senior General Than Shwe has suffered a sudden attack and is now seeking an appointment with a psychiatrist in Singapore," the source told Mizzima.
While the information cannot be independently confirmed, Htay Aung, a Burmese military analyst based in Thailand said, "It is likely as he [Than Shwe] is getting old."
The Burmese military Supremo today met a Chinese official, who pressurized him to conduct economic reforms to solve the socio-economic crisis in the country, the source said.
"After the meeting he [Than Shwe] was so angry at having to listen to instructions from the hated Chinese that he fainted," the source added.The source, however, did not elaborate on details of the general's plan to go to Singapore for treatment.



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