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12/07/2007: "Support to Isak-Muivah affirmed Nagaland Post"



Support to Isak-Muivah affirmed Nagaland Post

DIMAPUR, DEC 6 (NPN): The Yimchungru (YMC), Pochury and Shepoumaramth regions of the NSCN (I-M) have reaffirmed their commitment to the collective leadership and the declaration of NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu on reconciliation, unity and peace.
Asserting to adhere to Swu’s declaration, the NSCN (I-M) YMC region in a press release issued by its CAO said that though the long-cherished dream of all Nagas for unity was a must, any move towards unification should be broad minded, sincere, honest and in proper manner in the interest of all Naga communities, and not through “backdoor policies.”
The NSCN (I-M) Pochury region in a press release issued by its CAO, K Atalu Chugho informed that the region members at a meeting held on December 3, condemned the “sectarian motive of unification spearheaded by the Western Sumi Hoho” and said “such divisive design, originated and aided from the external agencies, to further create fissures in the already fragmented Naga society should not be tolerated by every conscious Naga.”
The Pochury region however resolved to support genuine effort for wholesome unification of the entire Naga family by any organization under the “time-tested and able leadership” of Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah.
In a separate press statement, CAO, Shepoumaramth region NSCN (I-M), LD John said the region in a meeting held Thursday, while reaffirming that unification of Nagas was a must, however felt that any unification move should be broad-based and inclusive.
“The long Naga political struggle and hard earned peace should not be allowed to go in vain. It should be nourished and helped to bear fruit. For this to happen, we need understanding amongst ourselves. To bring more understanding, discrimination and hatred prevailing among the oganizations and societies should be removed,” the release added.
Rongmeis are part of Naga community’ The Morung Express

Rongmeis ladies dancing to their traditional beat during the inauguration of the Namgonlong Rongmei colony council hall, Dimapur. (MExPix)
Dimapur, December 6 (MExN): Reiterating that ‘Rongmeis are a part of Naga community’, Atomi Zhimomi, MLA today said that the DAN government is seriously looking into the issue of indigenous inhabitants status for the Rongmeis. “I have raised the issue with the chief minister and even as we speak, the matter is being discussed. We cannot give you a dead line but the issue will hopefully be resolved in the next few months.” He also added that, “The DAN government does not want to leave any tribe behind.”
Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the Namgonlong Rongmei colony council hall, Dimapur, Atomi said, “I am not here just to inaugurate the council hall but to show support and solidarity to the Rongmei community. The construction of this hall is a collective effort and the credit goes to you all too.” Atomi who had donated a sum for the construction of the newly inaugurated council hall said that the public should demand for collective development, “It is not possible for an MLA to consider only individual benefits, but it is a duty to look into collective development,” he said. He also lamented on the dark side of the so called ‘business hub’ of Dimapur, his constituency Dimapur I, saying that, “Behind the tall building and walls lies the lack of basic amenities. As an MLA I am trying to build on it but the time is less and the funds are also not sufficient.” He also added that all works carried out are done with transparency and accountability. Highlighting that the NPF party has a vision to develop not only Dimapur but the whole of Nagaland into ‘an Island blooming with flowers’, Atomi, in a promotional statement said, “We are able to do this because we are in the ruling party. We still need to do much more and for that, we need co-operation from you in the days ahead. If you continue to extend your support and we come back to power, there is nothing we can’t do.”
The young MLA reminded the people that when DAN came to power in 2002, people had little faith in its governance, “But we have proved them wrong and DAN government has done so much for its people in theses five years. Therefore we have the support of the Naga intellectuals, bureaucrats and people form the grass root level,” he said. Atomi hoped that the new council hall will be used for the welfare and benefit of the entire Rongmei community in Dimapur.
Hornbill festival grand finale today Chizokho Vero The Morung Express
Kisama | The week-long Hornbill Festival of Nagaland will conclude December 7, with the organizers is all set to organize a befitting function here at the Dancing Arena from 4:00 pm onwards with minister for Works & Housing and Tourism, Kaito Ayeh as the chief guest.
Smoking peace pipe: Smoking in various form was always treated as part of the Nagas’ tradition. A Naga elder smokes a traditional pipe at the ongoing Hornbill Festival at Kisama. The weeklong annual festival will come to an end for the year on Friday. (Pix/Pradeep Pareek)
The government has prepared a special programme to mark the wrapping up of the week-long festival in a traditional style, said K. Khekiye Sema, Commissioner & Secretary of Art & Culture and Tourism while talking to media persons. The minister will light a giant bonfire to mark the event. 16 smaller bonfires will also be lit in the arena for the performing cultural troupes.
Also, in recognition of the active participation of cultural troupes, the government will give away certificates, Christmas cakes and token cash awards of Rs.10,000 each to the troupes apart from serving light refreshment. He also said that the Hornbill National Rock Contest will also continue. The programme will conclude with a time of get-together for all revelers around the bonfire and mass singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, to be led by a reputed band. Meanwhile, pleased by the overwhelming response from locals as well as domestic and foreign tourists at the festival, Sema attributed the success of the festival to excellent teamwork and support and cooperation from all departments and the public.
He also admitted that this year’s festival has attracted an unprecedented number of visitors, adding that the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists was amazing, more than double compared to the previous years.’ However, the figure is yet to be ascertained. He also disclosed that the government will continue to upgrade the festival.
India: Marching in step with Burma’s generals [Human Rights Features, HRDC] Nagarealm/com
It must have been a proud moment for India’s representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Ambassador Swashpawan Singh, when on 2 October 2007 he valiantly voted in favour of a resolution condemning Burma’s repression of pro-democracy protests and calling for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release. Then again, his courage lasted all of two hours.

Most Indian citizens feel that India owes the Burmese people an explanation for its long silence while monks were being shot and arbitrarily detained by the military government next door. Instead, the Indian Ambassador’s explanation took the form of a qualifying statement intended to soften his vote, clarifying, ‘“we regret that the text of the resolution adopted is not fully in conformity” with India’s stance for a “forward-looking, non-condemnatory” approach’.

September’s silence: predictable While India should be commended for voting in favour of the resolution rather than against it like China and Russia, it is hardly surprising that it has failed to meet the demands of Indian public opinion to pressure the Burmese military junta. After all, India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Murli Deora, himself witnessed protests in Burma’s streets when he signed a $150 million deal with the state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise in September 2007. The Shwe gas project is expected to yield between $12 billion and $17 billion for the Burmese government over a period of 20 years. With the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) spending over 40 percent of its annual budget on military expenses, the project is sure to provide the junta with plenty cash for its needs.

India’s own National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), established to investigate human rights issues, recently participated in the annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions where it expressed disagreement over a statement calling for Asia Pacific governments to negotiate with Myanmar to bring an end to human rights abuses. The Indian NHRC was outnumbered 16 to one. Clearly, even India’s supposedly autonomous institutions have chosen to echo the State’s apparent disregard of democratic struggles in the region.

The Indian government’s countenance in the last few months has paralleled its stance on Burma’s human rights abuses during the past 15 years. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee defended military aid to Burma explaining: “We have strategic and economic interests to protect in Burma. It is up to the Burmese people to struggle for democracy, it is their issue.” These “interests” take the form of significant arms deals that are anything but neutral investments. In a December 2006 report entitled “Military Aid to Burma Fuels Abuses,” Human Rights Watch noted, “India’s Air Force chief, S. P. Tyagi, offered a multimillion dollar aid package to Burma’s military… This aid package includes counterinsurgency helicopters, avionics upgrades of Burma’s Russian- and Chinese-made fighter planes, and naval surveillance aircraft. This followed recent pledges in early November by then Indian Army chief of staff, General J. J. Singh, to help train Burmese troops in special warfare tactics.”

India’s about-face In the past, the world’s largest democracy’s relationship with Burma was not quite so hypocritical. Prime Minister Nehru and Burmese leader U Nu were said to be close friends and maintained cooperative relations between the two nations. After U Nu’s ouster by a coup d’état in 1962, he was given refuge in India. In 1988, during the pro-democracy uprising, thousands of political activists found refuge in India and received aid from the Rajiv Gandhi government. India supported the popularly elected National League for Democracy (NLD) and even bestowed upon Aung San Suu Kyi the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding.

India’s about-face took the form of a mid-1990s strategic policy of “pragmatic engagement” in which it warmed relations with the SPDC in order to gain a foothold on the region’s large oil and gas reserves. Indian defence analysts justified the move, claiming that by supporting the pro-democracy movement in the 1980s, China gained an economic and political stronghold in Burma. India cemented its new relationship with the military junta in 1994 by sending thousands of refugees back to Burma, where they suffered imprisonment and unfair military trials. So began India’s custom of placing ostensible geo-strategic interests over the Burmese desire for democracy.

Indian decision makers’ choice to engage with a government that commits arbitrary arrests, recruits child soldiers, and tortures pro-democracy activists is publicly justified by a number of military and economic interests. Foreign Minister Mukherjee made it clear that business interests take precedence over human rights when he firmly opposed any suggestion of economic sanctions in early October 2007, asserting, “Sanctions from the Security Council should be the last resort”. His buzzwords over the last month: engage, urge, and dialogue demonstrate that genuine economic pressure on India’s behalf is not an option when dealing with torturers next-door. Despite global pressure and Burma’s well-documented human rights abuses, General Singh had brazenly declared, "We value our growing military relations with Burma".

Indian army officials and politicians rationalise their collaboration with the dictatorial regime by noting that arms deals and donations keep India’s own northeast territories stable. Indeed, India recently offered to train Burmese Special Forces in counterinsurgency tactics. Cooperation between the two armies dates back to the time when India stopped demanding Aung San Suu Kyi’s release and completed a joint operation to squeeze Nagaland and Manipur insurgents out of base camps in Burma. The Burma Campaign UK writes, “There are serious concerns that once the regime has finished the crackdown on insurgents it will use the weaponry in its war against ethnic civilians”.

Weapons are not the only support provided by India. Its most recent contribution to the junta’s revenue is “a very happy development and augurs well for expanding the cooperation between two neighboring countries”. At least that was the feeling expressed by Mr. Deora after his approval of the oil exploration deal. The state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) are large investors in Burma, as is the privately owned Essar Group.

India’s growing energy needs, which are estimated to climb to 400 million standard cubic meters per day by 2025, significantly influence India’s foreign policy in Burma. As pointed out by the former secretary general of the Indian Chamber of Commerce: “India and not China should be getting this gas. It is vital for the economy of eastern India.” Competing with behemoth China for regional power, India continues to pump money into Burma by participating in joint projects like road construction and telecommunications, and even encouraging tourism between the two countries.

Shortsighted policy a mistake The allegedly realist dimensions of India’s policy cannot be ignored. India’s security concerns are real, as are its energy needs. Further, the half-hearted measures taken by the US and the EU are scarcely a benchmark for countries wishing to show support for democratic rights in Burma. Companies based in the US and the EU continue to operate in Burma, enriching the junta and negating the impact of sanctions imposed by their governments (see Human Rights Features – HRF/175/07). China and Thailand, non-democratic countries themselves, can scarcely be expected to issue determined calls for human rights and democracy in Burma.

Indian foreign policy pundits also privately argue that in the absence of a strong government in Myanmar, it will descend into fratricidal ethnic conflict with all the concomitant consequences for its neighbors. Despite having called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in the last fortnight, the Pundits in South Block are not sure if her National League for Democracy can fill the political vacuum if the generals are out of the picture. New Delhi still hopes Ms. Suu Kyi and the generals can work together notwithstanding an earlier failed attempt by former chief of intelligence and prime minister Khin Nyunt. India is also not impressed with the leadership of the so-called Burmese exile groups, although it has allowed some of them to operate from India, where they mainly carry out publicity work.

India’s nightmare is that Burma will join the other unstable states on India’s frontiers. The refrain in the corridors of power is: Nepal and Sri Lanka are adequate worries, why add Burma to this list? Coupled with this is the long-term uncertainty of the situation in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and even the Maldives, which is adding to the grey hair of the exalted in New Delhi.

India needs to be less myopic and more cognisant of long-term gains that will accrue to it if there is a democratic government at the helm in Burma. Long-term political stability is a much better guarantor of India’s interests than a rapacious military government that governs on whim and rules by fear. Moreover, the moral high ground is nothing to scoff at. As India strives to make its mark as a responsible, reliable world power, it must know that extensive dealings with a military government will blot its copybook. When the SPDC finally folds and a representative government takes power, India might be stuck with a lot of explaining to do.
Two injured in Assam militant attack Special Correspondent The Hindu
Guwahati: Suspected militants of Black Widow — the anti-talk faction of the militant Dima Halam Daogah(DHD) — made an abortive attempt on the life of Dibendu Langthasa, son of senior Congress legislator and former minister Govinda Chandra Langthasa, in southern Assam’s North Cachar Hills district on Thursday. A police constable and a civilian driver were critically injured in the attack which occurred around 12: 30 p.m.
The police said that the militants fired on the convoy from vantage points on both sides of the hilly road at Sontilla while Dibendu Langthasa was on his way to Guwahati. An escort vehicle came in the line of firing resulting in bullet injuries to a constable and the driver of the vehicle. The injured constable Arun Sonowal and the driver Ritesh Boro were admitted to the Haflong Civil Hospital. The police said that despite his injuries the driver sped the vehicle to save other security personnel from being hit by militants’ fire.
Militants had earlier assassinated two sons of Mr G.C. Langthsa—Purnendu and Narmendu and abducted Nirmalendu. Dibendu Langthasa had as a Congress candidate contested from Mahur constituency in the just concluded North Cachar Hills District Council (NCHAC) elections. He, however, lost the election to Bokul Boro of the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP). Militants of Black Widow had assassinated Purnndu Langthsa, who was also the Chief Executive Member of the outgoing NCHAC, and the Congress candidate from Mahur, and his cousin Nindu Langthasa in June this year leading to postponement of the council polls. The Autonomus State Demand Committee and the BJP alliance has wrested the power from the ruling Congress by wining 21 seats while the Congress could win in only three and independents in three. The Congress attributed its defeat to militants’ attack on party candidates and threat. In May 2003, militants had gunned down another brother of Dibendu--Narmendu Langthasa in Halflong town.
Rebel turf falls, partially - Forces inch into UNLF-dominated Somtal KHELEN THOKCHOM The Telegraph
Somtal (near the Indo-Myanmar border), Dec. 6: The army has secured control of one-third of Somtal, a 1,000 square km tribal belt along the Indo-Myanmar border, after flushing out militants in the ongoing operation.
Two Assam Rifles battalions and an army battalion jointly launched Operation Somtal II under 26 Sector of the Assam Rifles on November 18 to flush out militants of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its military wing, the Manipur Peoples Army. “We have been able to clear militants from 70 per cent of Somtal. Nine villages have been cleared and the rest would be secured in a fortnight,” operation commander Brig. Raymond Noronha told a group of visiting journalists at Zoupi, a frontline post nearly 170km from Imphal, yesterday.
He said the UNLF had been occupying the area for the past 15 years and the operation was launched to re-establish civil administration. There were only a few casualties on either side.
The commander said his troops killed four UNLF members while six of his jawans were wounded while removing IEDs laid by the militants. “Now we have reached Old Somtal village and within 15 days, we will be able to clear the whole of Somtal Salient of militants,” the brigadier said. This is the second operation launched by the security forces in this Kuki-dominated belt since last year. Operation Somtal I launched last year was abandoned because of the February Assembly elections, the monsoon as well as paucity of troops.
“The militants used three-inch mortars. We used the same weapon to fire back. But we exercise maximum restraint so that there is no civilian casualty or damage to property,” he said.
Brig. Noronha said the progress of the operation was slow because of the IEDs laid by militants along the road and forestland. The troops recovered and destroyed 115 IEDs since November 18. The army is using bulldozers to clear the IEDs on New Somtal Road which connects New Lazang, a border village, with Imphal-Moreh road. The brigadier said nearly 250 UNLF militants, active in the area, retreated towards the Indo-Myanmar border. “They did not fight back.”
He said the troops did not find any permanent rebel camp. He, however added that the UNLF had headquarters in New Lazang. “Important leaders of the UNLF are present at the headquarters,” he said. Brig. Noronha could not say whether the militants present at Somtal retreated to New Lazang or fled to some other place.
The security forces and Chandel district administration are planning to reopen the BDO’s office at Khengjoy later this month. Somtal Salient comes under Khengjoy block.
Arson stalls OIL activity - Denied package, Muttocks revolt OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Dibrugarh, Dec. 6: Another restive Assam community went the Adivasi way today, targeting Oil India Ltd property and blocking drilling operations in two districts for being denied a development package by the petroleum company. Activists of the All Assam Muttock Yuba Chatra Sanmelan set a Tata Sumo ablaze, damaged around a dozen oil tankers and beat up three OIL employees in the twin districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, police said.
The incidents occurred during the course of a 24-hour “oil blockade” to protest the Navaratna company’s reluctance to accede to the community’s demand for a Rs 100-crore development package for areas inhabited by the Muttocks. Like the Adivasis, who went on the rampage across Assam in the wake of a mob attack in Guwahati, the Muttocks have been hankering for Scheduled Tribe status. The series of attacks on OIL property began around 7.30am, when between 30 and 40 Muttock youths attacked parked oil tankers at Dikom in Dibrugarh district. “We saw some youths approaching us and they started throwing stones at our vehicles without warning. We had no option but to flee,” a tanker driver said.
Members of the youth organisation also set fire to a Tata Sumo at the Tengakhat oil-collecting station near Nandanban tea estate. The driver of the vehicle, Abdul Islam, said around 10 youths were involved in the attack. Islam and the five passengers barely escaped unhurt.
In the third incident of the day, OIL employees Bhuman Dutta, Diganta Goswami and Kamal Singh were attacked while at work in an installation in Lahowal. All three were admitted to Duliajan OIL Hospital with injuries. Muttock activists blocked OIL operations at Tengakhat, Bokpara, Udalguri, Ciringhulla, Makum, Gondhia, Barekuri, Dikom, Rajabari, Pulunga, Rangamati and Wilton. The police rounded up around 20 of them. They were in detention till late in the night and could be arrested, a senior official said.
The general secretary of the youth organisation, Mintu Borpatra, said the agitation would be intensified if the police did not free the detainees. On what was the trigger for the violence, he said “betrayal” by the OIL management had left the Muttocks frustrated. “OIL has betrayed the community not once but on numerous occasions. We have been repeatedly asking the company to do something for the socio-economic development of the people of the areas where it operates.”
The Muttock organisation announced a 36-hour blockade from 6am on December 27 if the company did not announce a development package by then.
OIL spokesman Phanindra Kumar Devachoudhury said his company filed an FIR at Tengakhat police station and spoke to senior officials of the administration about the need to rein in the Muttock activists. “An organisation might have some demands but that does not mean it has the right to attack our people and damage our property. We are taking this case very seriously.”
A source said employees of the company were reluctant to work night shifts for fear of more attacks.
Wungnaoshang hits back at rebel MLAs, Rishang The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Dec 6: Wungnaoshang Keishing, Independent MLA representing Phungyar Assembly constituency has reacted fiercely to criticism from the dissident Congress MLAs over the supposed Opposition interference in the internal crisis in the state Congress, asserting that they have every right to speak their minds concerning the state government.

Wungnaoshang, addressing a press conference today at the state Assembly secretariat however clarified that the recent trip by Opposition MLAs belonging to the Hill Area Committee of the state Assembly to Delhi had nothing to do with Congress internal crisis, nor was it at anyone`s behest.

The HAC members had discussed the situation in the hill areas, and the problems faced by the hill people with the Central leaders, Wungnaoshang said. He however admitted that they had praised the initiatives taken by Ibobi Singh for the development of the hill areas.

`Eikhoidi apha mibu phei hairamba phattababu phatte hairamba adu khaktani` (`All we did was make it clear who is good and who is bad`), he asserted. `We have every right to do so, and no one can gainsay this,` he said.

Wungnaoshang went on to say that no other chief minister of Manipur has till now taken as much initiative for the development of the hills. There has been no other chief minister who has as much respect for the hill people as Ibobi, he said.

Wungnaosang reiterated that the MLAs from the hill areas were only doing their duty, and asserted that as MLAs, they had every right to make their opinions and concerns known, whether it concerns the state government or any other issue. Ibobi Singh is the chief minister not just for the Congress party, but for the state as a whole, he maintained.

He also attacked dissident MLA M Oken for his press statement issued yesterday, charging that the latter was biased against the Nagas, and acted as if he alone loved Manipur. If Oken genuinely wishes to save Manipur he should stop seeing particular peoples as enemies, and trying to alienate them, he warned.

Attacking the veteran Congress leader, Rishang Keishing as a troublemaker, he said Rishang was the actual leader of the dissident group and the others are only following him. This is no surprise, he asserted, maintaining that he is the one who has been fomenting the trouble.

Chauhan likely to visit Imphal Sunday; rebels to return home a day ahead The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Dec 6: The campaign to replace chief minister, Okram Ibobi as chief minister by the rebel Congress MLAs who are now camping in New Delhi continues unabated despite the unexpected turn of events in which 10 opposition MLAs including the six sponsored by United Naga Council, UNC, professedly coming out in support of the chief minister. The rebels have in fact, seemingly succeeded in advancing another pawn on the political chessboard, predicted to cause another serious threat to the chief minister`s defence. At 11.15am this morning, the man projected as a possible replacement for Ibobi, Th Debendra met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his office room at the Parliament House. Although the details of what transpired are not known, the meeting presumably had to do with the campaign to remove Ibobi as Congress Legislature Party, CLP leader.

Interestingly, the rebel MLAs also met with the PM at 3.30pm again in his room in the Parliament House. Mayang Imphal legislator, Kh Ratan who was among those who met the PM said the latter gave them a patient hearing, claiming that the indications were encouraging for them, although the PM said nothing categorically on the fate of the Ibobi government.

Sources also said Lok Sabha MP from the Inner Manipur constituency, Dr T Meinya, was instrumental in arranging the second meeting. Promising further intensification of the political drama in the state, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur, Prithvi Raj Chauhan indicated he may come to the state on Sunday.

One day ahead of his possible visit, the rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi would also be returning to the state on Saturday.
It may be recalled that the ongoing Parliament session is scheduled to conclude on Friday.

While it is uncertain what the ultimate outcome of the tussle would be, the rebels now claiming 18 physically present in their camp, and two more likely to join in soon, are confident they cannot but succeed. The Congress commands an absolute majority in the state Assembly with 31 legislators, and if the claims of the rebels are true, they do command a comfortable majority in the CLP.

Under the circumstance, observers are of the opinion that they do have a very strong lever to influence even central Congress leadership to oblige their demand. "Even if they decide in desperation that they would leave the Congress and form another party, their act would not attract the anti-defection law" the observers said. Ahead of some crucial Assembly elections early next year, this would be a consequence the Congress would want to avoid under any circumstance, they added.

Two captive truck drivers rescued from KLA militants after gunfight The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Dec 6: Two truckers who had been detained in the custody of a Kuki militant group since December 2 were rescued safely by a strong team of the Thoubal district police commandos, from Seljang village, under Yairipok police station yesterday afternoon after a fierce encounter with Kuki militants.
The hijacked truck was also recovered intact at Nongpok Keithel Manbi on the bank of the Thoubal river.

Informing mediapersons of the incident during a press conference called at his office today, the SP, Thoubal, Th Radheshyam informed that reports had been received yesterday of the presence of many armed underground cadres and detention of some kidnapped persons in the areas of Nongpok Keithel Manbi, Bungbang Khullen, Kamuching, Itham, Saitang and Saijang villages.

In this connection, a strong team of the Thoubal police commandos was sent to Kamuching yesterday morning at around 8:30 am but found nothing in a search of the area.
The commandos were however informed by villagers of the presence of many armed UGs in the area of Itham and Saitong, and subsequently, four commando teams were sent to these areas, while another four commando teams were detailed at Nongpok Keithel Manbi for further search operations.

According to the SP, the first group came under heavy attack from well armed Kuki militants at a spot between Itham and Saitong Kuki villages, whereupon the second group of commandos, along with personnel of the 115th BSF posted at Moirangpurel rushed to their assistance and engaged the militants.

There were no casualties among the police and security forces personnel in the encounter, which lasted for an hour, the SP said. The militants later escaped taking advantage of the hilly terrain and thick jungle, he said. With additional reinforcements rushing to the area, massive search operations were carried out at Itham, Saitong and Saijang village in the course of which the truckers, namely Nongthombam Nanao, 24, of Kiyam Siphai Babu bazar, and his younger brother, N Robin, 19, were rescued from a house at Saijang at around 2:30 pm. The pair, it turned out, were being held for ransom by militants belonging to the Kuki Liberation Army, KLA, according to the SP. Acting on their revelations, further search operations for the missing truck were carried out in the Nongpok Keithel Manbi area and at around 3:30 pm, the hijacked truck was found abandoned, but emptied of its load among bushes at the river bank.

In the meantime, narrating their ordeal to the assembled mediapersons, the brothers disclosed that they were waylaid and abducted by the Kuki militants while returning from Guwahati on their truck, registration no MN01-6315 with a load of CGI sheets and tyres on December 2.

They disclosed that they had reached Mantripukhri on the outskirts of Imphal, and were taking a brief rest when they were accosted and hijacked by three persons at gunpoint. They said they were forced to drive on towards Imphal, and after passing through North AOC, Minuthong, Hatta, Wangkhei, Kongba, Irilbung, Ngariyan hills, and Yairipok Tulihal, they finally ended up near the Dolaithabi dam site
There, they were blindfolded and taken on foot to a place in the nearby hills, though they were brought down to a plain area for their daily meals. They also said there was no harassment from the side of the militants, who, they also learned had contacted their truck owner for payment of ransom.

The SP, Thoubal, in the meantime, has conveyed gratitude to the personnel of the 115 bn BSF for their full support to the district police in the operations yesterday. He said the Kuki militants were armed with lethal weapons and used lethode bombs, M16 and G-3 rifles in the encounter yesterday.
The police on their side expended some 700 rounds of ammunition in the gunbattle, he said. He also informed that the rescued truck drivers will be handed over to their families after taking their statements.
Indo-Burma border trade mired in controversy Indo Burma News (Khonumthung News) To break the monopoly of a trade union in Mizoram in transporting goods from Burma to India's northeast state, locals in Zokhawthar village halted a procession of trucks heading to pick up cargo from the neighbouring country. On December 4, the trade union based in Champhai district in Mizoram despatched 60 trucks to Tio stream to pick up goods from Burma stacked on the Indo-Burma border trade road No (2) despite the Champhai District Council having issued an order banning import of goods from Burma for two months from November 19. However, locals from Zokhawthar in Mizoram state who have been demanding the rights to transport goods from Burma to Mizoram in India stopped the trucks. Zokhawthar locals are not allowing any trucks to cross Zokhawthar to Tio.
The police and members of Youth Mizo Association (YMA) from Champhai rushed to the Zokhawthar to resolve the problem between the locals and trade union members.
Yesterday, the police, YMA members and Zokhawthar locals held a meeting to discuss the right to transport goods, but apparently, the issue has not been resolved.
"There is no agreement yet from yesterday's meeting. We will continue the meeting today", a local in Zokhawthar said. Impatient traders from Burma have hired carriers at high costs and are smuggling the goods from Tio to Aizawl. "Instead of losing their investment by keeping the goods for such a long period on the border, some traders are trying alternative means to smuggle their cargo to Aizawl. I think, most of the goods have already been transported through foot paths to Champhai", said a trader from Burma in Aizawl. A local who attended the meeting in Zokhawthar said there is a hint to lift the ban on transporting goods from Burma to Mizoram, "The situation will continue like this for this week, but I don't think the ban will carry on for two months as stipulated".
The trade union from Champhai district charges Rs. 2,000 from passenger buses but the charges they collect from trucks that transport goods on the 29 kilometre stretch from Tio to Champhai road ranges between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000.


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