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12/16/2007: "Nagas are one and let none divide us: NSCN (IM) Page News Service)"

Nagas are one and let none divide us: NSCN (IM) Page News Service)

Dimapur, December 15: The NSCN (IM) today said that it shall always stand tall with all honesty and commitment in the name of Naga unification. Terming the Naga tribes' stand for Naga unification and reconciliation as encouraging, the NSCN (IM) said that it must be translated into something concrete.
It said maturity of approach and honesty of commitment should guide the Naga nation in search of lasting unity, adding NSCN is committed by the people's aspiration that "Nagas are one and let none divide us."
However, it said that in the name of Naga unification, the name of "Tangkhul" is used in a very bad taste.
"There is no iota of truth in accusing the 'Tangkhuls' as standing on the opposite side of Naga unification," the MIP stated in a release, adding this is absolutely misleading and does not augur well for the healthy development of Naga unification.

Nagaland caught in political crisis Bano Haralu NDTV
(Kohima) The NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland may have survived the no confidence motion on Thursday but the outcome is threatening dissident activity.

The Opposition Congress has accused the Speaker of being partisan for not admitting the votes of seven NPF MLAs, who defied the party whip and voted against the government. Three Independents, previously NPF supporters, were barred from voting. The action of the speaker was subverting the constitutional rights of the members. He had taken away the fundamental rights of the those members representing their communities I Imkong, President CLP.

But the government justifies the Speaker's actions.

''As per the 91st Amendment Act they have received the whip issued by the chief whip of party. Number one if they go against the rule their votes will not be counted their action will attract disqualification from the house since they have voted against the government. We still hold that we have defeated the motion,'' said Shurhozelie, Minister for Planning and Urban Development.

The MLAs whose resignations were earlier rejected by the Speaker have raised a storm over the decision. ''If you go by the constitution of India there is no such provision that you cannot vote against the whip. Yes, we will be disqualified if we go against the whip but there is no provision that our votes will not be counted,'' said I Kheto, former Minister for Forests and IPR

Faced with an unprecedented political situation, the Governor says the matter is being reviewed by constitutional experts in Delhi. It looks like its going to be along winter ahead for politicians many of them will be fervently wondering if winter is here can spring be far behind.
‘No real peace and unity without God’s guidance’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, December 15 (MExN): Unity and reconciliation is a must for the Nagas, but without the guidance and blessing of God, the Naga people cannot have real peace and unity in their land, opines an NNC member.
Espousing the need to follow the will of God, ‘Thomas, NNC Member’, in a press statement said that God is protecting and leading the Naga nation till date, however, many Naga people do not understand it, for which the Naga are facing an internal crisis.
“The Almighty God bestowed the sovereignty of Nagaland and therefore, the Nagas had never fallen into foreign domination in the human history,” declared Thomas. Giving the rationale of his thought, Thomas said that some educated Nagas attempted to sell out ‘God given sovereignty’ while some attempted to lead the Nagas on ‘his’ own will and tried to impose ‘his’ own plan or ideology on the Naga people.
In this regard, Thomas strongly asserted that during the past 27 years since the formation of the ‘so-called’ NSCN, the Naga people have suffered immensely at the hands of NSCN cadres as “some imposters and renegade leaders tried to impose socialism on Naga people”. “The Naga leaders and civilian population who wanted to preserve the age-old Naga traditional democracy were eliminated by them. Thus, they destroyed hundreds of homes and killed thousands of Nagas,” said Thomas. He added that ‘they’ are trying to barter out God given sovereignty with an autonomous state within the Indian Union, which they claimed “a special federal relationship with India”. Thomas claimed that soon after the formation of the NSCN, “God spoke” to ‘renegade leaders’ through an NSCN lady and also through Evangelist Athiu ‘to stop killing and rejoin the Naga National Council.’
Consequently, the NSCN split into two factions in 1988 and killing among them is still unabated, reasoned Thomas. In this context, Thomas asserted that “another split took place once again in November 2007 and more killing may happen at any time”.
“This is the fact that God is truly working against them because they disobeyed the word of God,” preached the NNC member.
Lamenting that the Naga people do not acknowledge that God is leading the Naga nation under the banner of the NNC and FGN, Thomas asserted that God brought Peace to Nagaland in 1964 and again in 1975, God restored peace in Nagaland when Indian Government resorted to destroy the Nagas with her armed might re-escalated war from 1972.
“However, the renegade leaders rejected God given peace and led the Nagas in the blood path,” he said.
The NNC member said that it has been their experience that some of the Naga people have ignored the way in which God is leading the ‘our nation’ and rejected the God given peace, besides committing heinous crimes and involving in all kinds of evil activities.
Saying that these people instead of admitting their mistakes are justifying their misdeeds, Thomas said that it is time for them to abandon such evil practices and follow the path of God.
Thomas said that God given peace and sovereignty should be valued so that the people can have peace and work together for the achievement of ‘national goals’.
“Unity and reconciliation is a must for the Nagas. But without the guidance and blessing of God we cannot have real peace and unity,” said Thomas.
NSCN-IM committed to unification The Morung Express
Dimapur, December 15 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has pointed out that as far as Naga unification goes it will “always stand tall with all honesty and commitment” and that it was “all the more exhilarated when all the Naga tribes stand for Naga unification and reconciliation”. Terming this as encouraging, the NSCN (IM) in a press note stated that this must be translated into something concrete.
It however termed as unfortunate that in the name of Naga unification the name of “Tangkhul” is being used in ‘very bad taste’ while pointing out that there was no iota of truth in accusing the “Tangkhuls” as standing on the opposite side of Naga unification. “This is absolutely misleading and does not augur well for the healthy development of Naga unification. And Nagas in general should not be taken back by such unfounded and misdirected concept on the Tangkhuls”, the NSCN (IM) stated.
It pointed out that in the campaign for Naga unification one must learn to be “humanistic and not communally bombastic” and that there was no point to spread “tribalism venom while the unification process is being studied”. The NSCN (IM) termed this as uncalled for and that it smacked of “unwarranted communal campaigns that only tarnish the unification process”.
The NSCN (IM) urged that maturity of approach and honesty of commitment should guide the Naga nation in search of lasting unity. “Because of the complexities involved it demands such level of moral attachment and transparency. NSCN is committed by the people’s aspiration that “Nagas are one and let none divide us”, it stated.
AZSU hails unification move Source: The Sangai Express
Dimapur, December 15: The initiatives of the joint forum of Nagaland Gaonbura Federation (NGF) and Nagaland Dubashis Association (NDA) in fetching ceasefire amongst the rival factions of NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and NNC has attracted wide appreciations from many Naga civil organizations.

The All Zeliangrong Students' Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) has also lauded today the move of the joint forum of NGF and NDA in reaching a ceasefire agreement among the warring factions of NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and NNC and termed it 'a hope of an end to the spate of fratricidal killings' and assumed that the outcome would surely pave way towards desired direction of peace and unity in all Naga areas in general and to Zeliangrong region in particular.

Though six months may not be a long time, the wishes of every Nagas have been rewarded, AZSU (AMN) general secretary Joshua Dangmei conveyed. Joshua also in the meantime warned that in case of any signatory party is reported of violating the truce in the Zeliangrong region, the Zeliangrong public will be compelled to withdraw cooperation to that particular group.
NPF fetes DAN for winning trust vote The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 15 (MExN): The NPF has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the DAN Government for smoothly sailing through the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition Congress without any hiccups. The party in a press note issued by Akang Ao, General Secretary stated that the NPF had full faith in the constitutional institutions of the State and the country that the law of the Anti-Defection Law will be upheld and will prevail and that the laws of the Constitution of India will be protected.
The NPF termed the formation of the so called Nagaland Progressive Alliance led by the Congress which includes dissident MLAs of the NPF as completely illegal under the Anti-defection Law. “The Nagaland Congress has lost all sense of direction as it has formed a new alliance against the laid down rules of the constitutional laws. It speaks volumes of the desperateness of the Congress leadership whose sole aim is to play backdoor politics”, Akang stated.
However the NPF stated that it was firm that the DAN Government enjoys the mandate of the people and it will not allow undemocratic forces to go against the will of the people. The NPF also alleged that the Congress was resorting to force with the help of armed elements to play defection politics and it is trying its best to make the NPF MLAs defect. “However the forces of democracy have ensured that such negative tactics cannot succeed”.
The NPF stated that the Neiphiu Rio led DAN government has emerged from the assembly session with flying colours and it has once again proved its majority to the people of Nagaland and that the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition was on flimsy grounds and the Chief Minister has given the most appropriate reply in the floor of the House. The NPF urged upon the guardians of the constitution to ensure that the anti-defection law is implemented and that those who violate the law be given appropriate judgment as per the law.
NSCNs on unity move Nagarealm.com
DIMAPUR, DEC14 [NPN] : The GPRN/NSCN has said that as much as Naga political aspiration was concerned, unification had always been the primary requisite and one that had been echoed by a cross section of societies including Government of India, International Organs and civil societies, Naga public and NGOs, over the years. Maintaining that the ongoing Naga unification move was, not an outcome of sudden particular phenomenon but a co-related political prerogative, a press release purportedly issued by the publicity cell, GPRN/NSCN, also said the November 23, 2007, unification declaration at Hovishe village was definitely a historical landmark and a step ahead towards ultimate political solution.
It said unification of Nagas had not only evolved a significant elevation of Naga’s political status but also set a precedence for the Government of India to prioritize the settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue. “The legitimacy of the ongoing truce between the GoI and NSCN groups, one led by Isak Swu and the other by SS Khaplang should not be jeopardized by any anti-peace elements and the GoI must honor the agreement,” the release said.

It also said the Naga unification was aimed at putting an end to bloodshed and fratricidal killings amongst Nagas and therefore, any individual, group, organization or community that went against the same spirit would be committing a “grave historical and political calamity.” The release further stated that since the partition of Nagas into several groups and factions, Nagas had been insisting on prior unification of the Sumis on the ground that Sumis comprises the majority in all the groups. “The Sumis has today proved their worth so as to pave the way for unification of all the Nagas, thus the question of any backdoor or clandestine affair on communal lines does not arise at all,” the release added.

NSCN (K) reacts : Reacting to various press statements issued by the MIP/NSCN (I-M) and one by its vice president Khodao Yanthan, on the recent unification move, the NSCN (K) has alleged that these statements were not written by the “so-called MIP” or Khodao but by some vested interest persons who were against unity and reconciliation groups. “All the statements are usually written by some subtle Tangkhuls to hoodwink and confuse the Nagas general public. The statements were all fakes and figments of imaginations of some Tangkhuls,” the MIP/NSCN (K) secretary in a press statement said, while advising the public not to be confused and swayed by such “make believes” statements.

The NSCN (K) also said that some “disinterested” persons with ulterior motives have questioned the present unity process by alleging that the move was through the back door and not through proper channel or approval of the appropriate authorities. “Then the question arises, that why no organizations or individuals had initiated the unity process even after shouting for peace and unity for the last more than a decade?? And what was wrong if anyone has taken the lead in the move?” NSCN (K) asked. Beckoning one and all to the unity and reconciliation move, the NSCN (K) said all other past differences should be thrashed out across the table.

Pledging to pursue the unity and reconciliation process with renewed strength, whether irrespective of ceasefire or not and the ways and means adopted, the NSCN (K) added “If unity comes at all, half sovereignty is achieved. The next goal will be pursued with united and collective wisdom.” Urging Nagas to beware of fakes and falsehoods, it further said “Let those who oppose the current unity and reconciliation process be cursed creatures. Let the blood of the innocent Nagas that has already been shed be on their heads.”
IM flays Tangkhul bashing Newmai News Network
Dimapur, Dec 15: The NSCN-IM has expressed resentment “for using the name of Tangkhuls in a bad taste”.
Harping deeper on the matter, the outfit has said to-day that in the name of Naga unification, the “NSCN/GPRN shall always stand tall” with all honesty and commitment. It stated that the NSCN-IM is all the more exhilarated when all the Naga tribes stand for Naga unification and reconciliation.
“This is encouraging and must be translated into something concrete. It is however unfortunate that in the name of Naga unification the name of Tangkhul is used in a very bad taste”, rued the NSCN-IM.
The outfit also added that there is not an iota of truth in accusing the ‘Tangkhuls’ as standing on the opposite side of Naga unification.
“This is absolutely misleading and does not augur well for the healthy development of Naga unification,” said the NSCN-IM while adding, “and the Na-gas in general should not be taken back by such unfounded and misdirected concept on the Tangkhuls”.
The outfit also called upon that in the campaign for Naga unification “let us learn to be humanistic and not communally bombastic”.
The NSCN-IM then asked, “Why spread tribalism venom while the unification process is being studied?” The outfit termed it as uncalled for and “smacks of unwarranted communal campaigns that only tarnish the unification process”.
The NSCN-IM statement then opined that maturity of approach and honesty of commitment should guide the “Naga Nation in search of lasting unity”.
“Because of the complexities involved it demands such level of moral attachment and transparency. NSCN is committed by the people’s aspiration that Nagas are one and let none divide us,” prayed the NSCN-IM statement.
Rio horse trading: NPA Correspondent Nagaland Post
Kohima, Dec 15 (NPN): The Nagaland Progressive Alliance (NPA) has charged Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio with indulging in horse-trading besides accusing him of trying to use underground leaders to threaten MLAs, who were supporting the NPA, in order to save the DAN government.
Briefing media persons here on Saturday, NPA Leader-elect I Imkong said, “We can give evidence that some of our underground leaders have been threatening some of our Members to back out from the NPA. All these five years, Mr. Rio’s actions have been to retain power by hook or by crook and indulge in rampant corruption. Even last night, his Ministers and his businessmen friends have been going around offering up to Rs 5 crores to those Members who will support Mr Rio.” Imkong claimed the 9 NPF and 3 Independent MLAs had voted in favour of the no trust motion against the DAN government on their own volition. Also present at the media briefing, former Minister I. Kheto decried the manner in which the Speaker had “arbitrarily and undemocratically” acted by nullifying 12 votes which were in favour of the motion. He ridiculed the Speaker by describing him as “immature” and one who did not know what he (Speaker) was doing.
Kheto questioned the intention of the Speaker behind serving the showcause notices on the three Independent MLAs – Khutovi, P. Chuba and Jongshilemba – at 10 pm of December 12 asking them for an interim reply latest by 9 am of December 13, half an hour before the commencement of Assembly session, when the first had withdrawn his support to the government in September and the other two in November. Kheto contested that if the 3 Independents were disallowed to vote (for the motion), the fourth Independent, Imkong L. Imchen, who is a Minister in DAN, should not have been allowed to vote (against the motion). He accused Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs, R. Kothandaraman of “misguiding” the Speaker, Chief Minister and the NPF by subverting the Constitution and Rules and Procedures of the NLA.
Kheto wondered as to how the Independent MLAs could vote for or against any Bill in the House when they had been prevented from voting for the motion. “Where is the logic?” he asked. Supplementing Kheto’s statement, Imkong said “A Member can vote against the whip. Disqualification is a subsequence to that action of going against the whip.” Kheto alleged that during a Working Committee meeting of the NPF held on October 26 Rio had declared that the “Collective Leadership” would support the NPF in the polls. Both Kheto and JD (U) MLA Deo Nukhu castigated the Cabinet decision on enhancement of superannuation age from 57 to 60. “There should have been certain conditions. This has been done with subjective motive to retain certain bureaucrats due to retire shortly because they are hardcore supporters of the DAN,” Nukhu stated. Jongshilemba said “By voting for a party, we are not joining it. Under Rule 17, the Speaker is not a supreme power to prevent a Member of the House from voting.”
Cry from the Street- Nagaland Post
Let us stop beating around the bush. Whether we like it or not Nagaland is in total chaos in every front. If we keep on denying and ignoring the reality we'll be doomed forever. So if we want healing, the bitter truth first. Please pay attention to this and let us start doing our own responsibilities and duties sincerely wherever we are.
To begin with - Does a Government exist in Nagaland? Or is the public the stumbling block in bringing about development? Please don't politicize this question but think and reason like an intelligent being if you are one. Whether we like it or not Kohima is the worst capital in India, which means, we are worst in the world! Simple logic. You don't need to refer to any academic book. At the first instant we welcome 'guests' with the filthy foully smell of garbage. Shock? No doubt she is beautiful but only at night that's also from a distance. Let us build Kohima to shine all the time from anywhere!
The roads of Kohima and Dimapur are beyond horrible now for quite sometime. Pot holes are deeper than 1 foot even in the main town. So you can imagine the conditions in the exterior areas. What about other villages and towns? Dear concerned MLAs, for your own good please fill up the pot holes before Election 2008 at least. Use your head as much as you want to become an MLA/ Minister. It won't cost much to fill up all the pot holes. Do it and see.
A drive around the town both in Kohima and Dimapur reminds one of war torn countries like Afghanistan. In fact we are worse and the worst part is we have not been bombed by any alien forces like them but it's because of our irresponsible backward corrupted mindset. We have a civil war at home but we can do better than this.
Let us construct 'hygienic-market-shed' for our 'daily bazaar'. It's so pathetic and embarrassing at the same time to see even fancy luxury vehicles with VVIP lights parked around our dirty, filthy, muddy, dusty daily markets while the 'mem-sahibs' shop. It's disgrace to imagine that even the cream of our society shop and eat from these filthy bazaars. We may be backward but at least we deserve to eat healthier.
Dear shops owners and private establishments, please don't throw your daily wastes in the roads as if it's your backyard. Dear Municipal/Town Councilors, think big! To become the next Chairperson is small thinking. Dream of building our town into a world class city. That's Big Thinking! Begin with keeping our towns gargabe clean and construction of footpath and Drainage system. It's high time we survey and construct bridges to ease traffic congestion in Dimapur. Actually we are far too late. We have only 2 bridges which serve as bottlenecks. Remember, a river flows through our town. [Excuse me if a project proposal is under consideration] Please place intellectually efficient traffic personnel at strategic traffic locations. Remember, everything works with the mind.
Dear Naga brethrens let us learn to live like humans consciously. We take great delight in talking about other peoples and places but don't think of building ourselves. This is our land and it's our responsibility [response - able] to build it. Don't expect anyone to come and perform a miracle. Let us also realize that 'development and peace' co-exist. Let us stop reasoning and arguing the logic - 'chicken or egg' first.
Nehemiah Jr., Dimapur
Double vision over Myanmar crackdown Brian McCartan The Morung Express
A consensus is gathering that Myanmar’s State Peace and Development Council’s (SPDC) official version of events of its violent crackdown on street demonstrations in late September, continued detention without trial of protesters and ongoing harassment and arrests of activists doesn’t square with the actual facts. The ruling junta said that 10 protesters were killed when its troops opened fire and that of the 2,927 people it detained, all but 80 have since been released. Two human-rights reports released in the past week, one by US-based rights group Human Rights Watch, the other by the United Nations Human Rights Council, highlight the ruling junta’s excessive use of force and contradict the junta’s official figures.
The SPDC in its characteristic fashion has downplayed the incidents, while trying to present a benevolent image by releasing prisoners it held in makeshift detention centers. It has also aimed to deflect criticism by assigning a liaison officer to meet with pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, while at the same time proceeding with its “Seven Step Road Map” to democracy which excludes her political party from any participation in the process.
The Human Rights Watch report, entitled “Crackdown: Repression of the 2007 Popular Protests in Burma”, was based on the testimony of over 100 witnesses to recent events inside the country, to which the junta has sharply restricted foreign journalists’ access. The UN report was the product of a November 11 to 15 fact-finding trip to the country by its special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Paolo Sergio Pinheiro, which was presented to the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday.
Both reports found the regime’s official figure of 10 killed to be much too low. Human Rights Watch estimates at least 20 civilians were killed as a result of the military’s violent suppression of the protests; Pinheiro says at least 31 were killed. And both monitoring organizations indicated that the actual toll is probably still much higher.
The UN report also claims that at least 4,000 people have been arrested, of which 1,000 are still being held in detention, while Human Rights Watch says that hundreds of protestors remain unaccounted for. Such estimates are echoed by other groups, including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Thailand-based monitoring group composed of former Myanmar political prisoners.
The group has been able to document the location of 250 of those prisoners, but the whereabouts of at least 300 others remains unknown. They join the 1,200 political prisoners which were already languishing in Myanmar’s overcrowded prisons and labor camps. Many more activists have been arrested since the demonstrations were violently put down in late September, with security personnel continuing to sweep the country in pursuit of those involved in the countrywide protests.
The SPDC, meanwhile, has downplayed the scale and severity of its crackdown and continues to justify its violent actions as a proportionate and necessary response to uphold national security. In response to the UN report, Wunna Maung Lwin, the SPDC’s ambassador to Geneva, said, “Exercising its sovereign right to handle a violent situation should not be construed as a human rights violation.” According to the Myanmar ambassador, “Almost all those in detention in connection with the September events have been released.”
The December 4 edition of the state mouthpiece The New Light of Myanmar newspaper, meanwhile, stated that 8,585 prisoners had been granted amnesty between November 16 and December 3 “to mark the successful holding of the National Convention in September 2007, the commencement of the functions of the Commission for Drafting the State Constitution, the third stage of the seven-step Road Map, forging the national solidarity in the country and cooperation with international communities including the UN”. This figure, too, is highly debatable. While the number of released may include some of those detained in the wake of the September crackdown, most of those freed were petty criminals with no connections to politics - including 33 Thai nationals. According to the Association for Political Prisoners-Burma, not one of the leaders of the 88 Generation Student Group that initially organized the protests has been released, nor have any of the leading monks involved. According to Bo Gyi, the AAPP’s chairman, “Only seven of the released prisoners were political, but they were arrested in 2000 and 2001.” The tactic of releasing prisoners and tying the event to political statements has frequently been used in the past by the regime as a way of trying to appease the international community and deflect criticism. Bo Gyi said, “It is a tactic. When there is international pressure they show the world that they can release large numbers of prisoners.”

Well-worn tactic The SPDC has repeatedly been commended by the international community for its past release of political prisoners. Prior political prisoner releases have often acted to ease international pressure, under the misguided impression that the junta is loosening its restrictions on the opposition. The releases, often of low-ranking opposition figures, have to date never led towards genuine dialogue or a move towards national reconciliation.
Rights groups note that the release of non-political prisoners is a well-worn government tactic. In 1993-94, for instance, the military regime rounded up hundreds of people at a time, who were then released a few days later. Even pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi commented at the time that if the regime wished to arrest five of her National League for Democracy (NLD) members, they would arrest 105 people including the NLD members, then release the other 100 for which the international community congratulated it.
The releases now have the added benefit of focusing attention on the old capital Yangon and away from other peripheral abuses, such as the junta’s continued use of forced labor, growing internal displacement, food scarcity and human rights violations associated with the military’s ongoing counterinsurgency campaign along its borders. Recent reports from Karen State indicate that the army is flooding the area with military units as part of yet another dry season military offensive against ethnic insurgents. Meanwhile, liaison officer ex-Brigadier General Aung Kyi’s three meetings with NLD leader Suu Kyi have so far come to nothing. The only way real political dialogue can be achieved is through meeting with the SPDC’s senior leadership, especially with the junta’s chairman Senior General Than Shwe - which the appointment of such a low-ranking liaison officer was apparently designed to avoid. Aung Kyi’s appointment does, however, allow the junta the benefit of telling the international community that at least some discussion with the opposition is underway.
The duplicity of this was shown in the Myanmar National Day speeches of Information Minister Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan and Aung Kyi. While Aung Kyi claimed to have made progress in his discussions with Suu Kyi, Kyaw Hsan’s speech made it clear that opposition groups would not be included in the constitution drafting process. This presumably includes Suu Kyi and her NLD. Than Shwe in his National Day Speech reaffirmed support for the Seven Step Road Map and on December 3 the Constitution Drafting Commission began work on writing a new constitution, the third designation step in the process. Although details are unclear, what is certain is that any constitution that results will include provisions for a strong role for the military in any future “democratic” Myanmar. The international community, at long last, appears to be waking to the junta’s tactics. In a December 10 statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during a visit to Thailand, he said that “patience is running out” with Myanmar. Whether that means the UN might consider imposing its own set of economic or financial sanctions against the regime, as the US and European Union have imposed, seems doubtful so long as China and Russia use their veto powers to protect the junta from UN Security Council censure, as they did earlier this year. In the past when the international community’s patience has run dry, the UN and others have often turned a blind eye and moved on to making pronouncements about the next global hot spot. And the junta has proven in the past it has the patience to wait out international condemnation until international attention shifts elsewhere. Once the spotlight is off, the regime can revert back to form and continue the repression that has been a part of life in Myanmar since the military first seized power in 1962.

Brian McCartan is a Thailand-based freelance journalist.
ISI operative held in Guwahati

K An Suspected ISI man held in Guwahati
Guwahati, Dec 15: A suspected key activist of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, looking after its operational matters in the North-East in the guise of running a coal and garment business here, has been arrested. The police said the 35-year-old man, S M Alam alias Mujbullah Alam alias Asif Alam, was nabbed from the Hedayatpur area last night after a tip-off.
Alam was a Jamiat-a-Islami activist in Bangladesh and in 1993 joined the Harkatul Mujhadeen. He was trained in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), the sources said.
He was recruited by ISI in 2006 and was the key man in Assam, the sources said. According to documents seized, he was the son of Moidan Ali whose address was Azampur, Dhaka, the sources said. He is the third suspected ISI man to be nabbed here. Two others had been caught earlier this year with one working as a rickshaw-puller. (Agencies)
Villagers protest army ‘torture’ OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Dibrugarh, Dec. 15: Hundreds of villagers blocked the Moran-Naharkatia Road at Veterinary Tinali, 65km from Dibrugarh town, in Assam today to protest harassment by army personnel.
The villagers alleged that army personnel from the Rajgarh camp of 268 Field Regiment have been harassing them for allegedly having links with Ulfa.
On Thursday, army personnel picked up two activists of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Biplob Gogoi and Jayanta Das, and allegedly tortured them. They handed them over to police the next day. The police freed the duo after checking their credentials, a source said.
The villagers reached the end of their tether yesterday when nearly a dozen army personnel entered the Hatigarh, Diksam and Digholia areas under Tingkhong police station around noon, saying they were conducting search operations. Police said the army team did not take any police personnel or the gaonburah with them while conducting the search operation.
The armymen slapped and kicked some villagers and beat them with rifle butts. Bertho Aind, Alfred Lagun, James Aind, Babu Hemram, Samel Aind, Phani Gogoi, Debakanta Gogoi and his teenaged son Tralukya, a Class IX student, were among those beaten up.
“Samel, Debakanta and Phani were tortured by the armymen at the camp and had to be administered medical attention at the Naharani first referral unit. They have bruises all over their bodies and were possibly given electric shocks in their private parts,” a doctor said on condition of anonymity.
The army handed the three over to the police at Rajgarh outpost late last night. The police released Samel and Debakanta early today, while Phani was released later. The protesters lifted the blockade around 3pm after Phani was released, but threatened to resort to an agitation again if the guilty jawans were not punished. The villagers took Samel, Debakanta and Phani to hospital. Phani, who was in a critical condition, had to be admitted, while the others were discharged after treatment.
“These incidents are happening again and again. We need justice,” Prabhat Gogoi, a local villager said. The villagers submitted a memorandum to the Dibrugarh deputy commissioner through magistrate Brojen Das. Officials of the 268 Field Regiment could not be contacted.




Key man of ISI operation in NE police net Newmai News Network
Guwahati, Dec 15: The Special Branch of the Assam Police on Saturday produced before the media the key man of the Pakistan based Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) operating in Assam and other parts of the Northeastern region. Identified as SM Alam alias Mojibullah Alam alias Asfi Alam was arrested by members of the Special Operation unit of the Special Branch from a place in the city. The Special Branch sleuths hopes that detailed interrogation would give vital inputs regarding the ISI’s activities in the region. Giving the details of the Alam, IGP (SB) Khagen Sarma said that the hardcore ISI operative hails from Azampur village near Dhaka in Bangladesh and added that he was working with Jamaat-e-Islami.
“Alam joined Harkat-Ul-Mujahadeen, a Pakistan based jehadi outfit in 1993 and underwent training at the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK),” said Sarma while adding that he had joined Jamatul Mujahideen activist in Bangladesh. “Alam had been staying in Assam since 2006 and he has been looking after all the operational matters of the ISI in Assam and other parts of the region,” said Sarma.
The intelligence chief termed the arrest as a good catch and hoped that inter-rogation would yield in vital information regarding the ISI activities in the whole region including its links with the militant outfit of the region.
The history of the ISI activities in Assam and other parts of the region is not new.
In 2005 the city police had arrested one Hanif Khan from a city hotel for his alleged links with the ISI. Khan was a retired Indian Air Force personnel.
A five-member team of police went to Uttar Pradesh after Hanif Khan gave some specific information about the ISI operating in the country and the four other persons— Md Latif Khan (31), Md Yamin Khan (38), Mrs Kiran Chandra (46) and Mrs Rani alias Jogarani (50), were arrested from Goutam Budha Nagar in UP. Three days after Khan was arrested, police had also arrested his son Javed Khan, working in the capacity of Lance Naik with the 18 Grenadier brigade under the Army’s 4 Cor. based in Tezpur.
Sources informed that Javed used to procure the classified information about the movement of the armed forces in the region and hand those over to his father, who in turn used to pass those on to the ISI through various channels.

The price of patriotism Patricia Mukhim (Courtesy: North East Page, The Statesman)
Arunachal Pradesh has been in the eye of the storm because of alleged Chinese incursions into what is claimed as Indian territory. Of all the tribes in the Northeast, those in Arunachal Pradesh have been the most sanskritised. Their lingua franca is Hindi and, because of the vast dialectic differences between the tribes, their only common language of communication is also Hindi. This is due to the educational policy adopted in the state which makes Hindi the medium of instruction across the board. Almost two-thirds of the state's approximately 1.1 million population are non-tribal.
With a land area of nearly 83,000 square km, most of it uninhabitable mountain terrain, the Public Distribution System faces a peculiar challenge to reach food grains to interior villages. But this challenge was converted into an opportunity for money making through the very system that is aimed at providing affordable essential commodities to those living in the margins of development.
In India's Northeast the PDS has long been used as the milking cow by the government in power. It is used to siphon off funds into the coffers of the ruling party. State governments in collusion with officials of the Food Corporation of India at Guwahati devise the most innovative schemes to make money at the cost of the poor. Since large parts of Arunachal Pradesh are not motorable, food grains are transported up to the road head and from there by the system of headload. But the rates paid by the FCI for head-loads, at least on paper, is highly arbitrary. These range from Rs 2,100-15,000 per quintal, which is far in excess of the going rate. Simply put, this means the government was paying a carrying charge of Rs 21-150 for every kilogram of rice. It does not require much intelligence to understand that the entire PDS has turned into a major scam.
This Rs 200-crore scam is now the subject of litigation in Gauhati High Court following a public interest litigation. Several politicians, officials and contractors are involved and have been named in the petition. What is shocking is the consumption figure shown in the records of the State Food & Civil Supplies Department and the FCI. Each person was shown to consume 50 kg of rice and 50 kg of iodized salt per head per month. And the state government was paying carrying charges for this absurd amount for years together.
Maximum mileage was taken by officials of the department and the FCI from the Hill Transport Subsidy, whereby the Central government subsidizes the carrying cost to reduce the overall cost of essential commodities and make them affordable to the common man.
The PDS scam is not the only one that has beset this border state. The government-run Cooperative Apex Bank has also run into rough weather after huge loans taken by the rich and the powerful remained unpaid. The bank went bust and had to be closed down temporarily, even as small and medium depositors lost their hard earned savings. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, a Congress party stalwart, announced in May this year that loan defaulters would not be given a Congress ticket. Here, too, the amount siphoned off totaled a whopping Rs 200 crore. He cautioned that defaulters should return the money by September of face serious consequences. Khandu has now extended the time for repayment of the loan to February next year.
Meanwhile, the Congress high command has come to Khandu's rescue. Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, who was also the general secretary of the Congress in charge of the Northeast, handed over a cheque of Rs 225 crore to the state government to rejuvenate the bank. This amount was paid as advance by the National Hydel Power Corporation, a government-owned public sector undertaking, which had earlier signed an agreement with the Arunachal Pradesh government for 3 power projects in that state. Arunachal has the potential to generate 60,000 MW. In a sense, the future of the state is already mortgaged to the PSU even before the power project has taken off.
The Arunachal Pradesh Cooperative Apex Bank has 32 branches and an overall defaulters' list of 150,000 debtors. For a state with such a small population, this is by all counts a huge number. In almost all Northeastern states, those who are politically connected can get away with all kinds of misdemeanours. Investigations have revealed that the defaulters are no small fries engaged in petty businesses but big fish, many of whom have invested in real estate in Delhi, Kolkata and other metros of this country. There are no qualms about squandering public money because the culture of impunity is so embedded in the whole system. In the smaller tribal states where the line between non-formal hierarchical tribal institutions and constitutionally mandated offices is blurred, patronage democracy becomes even more evident. Yet, because the people of Arunachal Pradesh profess undying loyalty to the tri-colour and speak their patriotism so convincingly, there is, in the corridors of power in Delhi, a proclivity to underwrite debts and cover up scams if only to retain this loyalty to the nation state. But this patronage has also created serious fault-lines in society. Those with access to the political system have creamed off everything, leaving those in the margins of development impoverished. Now how long this disparity can continue without serious social consequences depends upon the people themselves.
Corruption is second nature in the Northeast. They say practice makes perfect. Indeed, the practice of corruption is so well-oiled that it only gets better and more innovative with time. Just how blatant corruption has become in Arunachal Pradesh was documented by none other than Khandu himself in an interview with an Internet news portal. Immediately upon his assuming office, a chief engineer of the Public Works Department brought him a file to be cleared. When the Chief Minister opened the file he found Rs 5 lakh in cash. Unfortunately for the officer, there were a few other MLAs and Ministers in the Chief Minister's chamber. Naturally Khandu had to exhibit a sense of outrage. The officer was arrested and Khandu claimed he deposited the money in the Treasury. So while this sort of circus carries on unabated, the only sufferers are the common people whose lives are getting tougher by the day. (The author is a Shillong-based columnist and activist, and can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com.)

Rebel MLAs leave for New Delhi The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Dec 15: With a strong determination not to retreat from their campaign for regime change by replacing O Ibobi Singh as chief minister of the state, 12 MLAs of the rebel Congress left Imphal today to reopen their camp in New Delhi. Chief minister O Ibobi Singh who is also outside the state will fly to Delhi tomorrow. He attended a passing out parade of SI and jemandar today at Shillong and returned to Guwahati where he has been since Thursday last.

The camp at New Delhi will open from December 17 and they will halt at Kolkata till tomorrow. Manga Vaiphei who is among the rebel MLAs, but not together with the 12 MLAs, is likely to join them at New Delhi on the same day as MPCC president Gaikhangam who is still at Imphal.

The twelve MLAs who left Imphal today for Kolkata by Zet Airways were K Govindas, T Mangibabu, chief whip of the SPF government, Ratankumar, L Brajabidhu, I Hemochandra, L Nandakumar, M Hemanta, M Oken, Manindra, Meghachandra, Bijoy Koijam and Y Surchandra, the spokesperson said.

The MLAs left Imphal with a strong determination not to retreat from their campaign till their goal of ousting O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership be achieved, said Surchandra, the spokesperson when contacted by IFP.
However, ministers Y Erabot, DD Thaisii and the group`s putative leader Th Debendra were still in Imphal. Whether they too will proceed to Delhi to join the camp could not be immediately confirmed. But Th Debendra may not join the camp as of now as he is currently looking after the charge of chief minister.

If Debendra has to leave Imphal, he has to hand over the charge of chief minister to his next senior most cabinet minister as per Ibobi`s order who handed over charge except for financial matters.

Meanwhile, state chief minister, O Ibobi Singh who is also out of station from the state attended a passing out parade for the recently recruited sub-inspectors and Jamandar of the state police department today at Shillong in Meghalaya. Altogether 130 personnel including 54 SI and 76 jemandar completed their 10 months basic training course at the North Eastern Police Academy, NEPA, Shillong. The course was completed on December 10.

UNLF claims killing five security men The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Dec 15: The proscribed United National Liberation Front, UNLF, claims to have killed at least five Indian security forces personnel and wounded seven others in an attack this morning on a security post at Aeiyang village in the Sajik area of Chandel district.

A statement issued by the outfit said the camp, which it claimed was a company headquarters, was attacked with rockets and 76 mm lethod shells, at around 11:30 am today by a fighting group of the MPA 292 battalion. This is the fourth attack on the post, the statement said.

It also stated that the dead and wounded were evacuated from the camp by helicopter, with another helicopter providing covering fire.
The UNLF`s claim could not be immediately verified.

The UNLF statement went on to say that fighting is going on between MPA cadres and Indian security forces near Molcham, at a spot located some 65 km from Moreh on the DC road since this morning.

Informing that the area is the MPA 292 bn C Coy base area, the statement said villages located in the periphery of the area are being progressively occupied by the security forces, aided by the UKLF as well as the KNA, and there is strong likelihood of more clashes in the days ahead.

The statement also charged that due to intimidation by Kuki armed groups, many more villagers in the area are fleeing their homes. Some 300 villagers who have fled from Old Somtal and S Bongjoy are still there at New Somtal and Laijang, it added, and reiterated its appeal to civil society to extend assistance to them.

The UNLF further stated that the Indian security forces have achieved some success in the ongoing operations as they have been able to push in more forces due to groups such as the NSCN(IM) and others going in for talks with the Indian government. However, evicting the MPA 292 bn from its base area will take a long time, and cost the security forces much, the group declared.
KYKL killed The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Dec 13: Two cadres of the underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL, were killed by troops of the 21 Assam Rifles posted at Keirak village in an encounter at Elangkhangpokpi village last night at around 11:30 pm under Waikhong police station in Thoubal district, according to official reports.

Security forces reportedly recovered two Chinese made pistols, with 44 live rounds and Rs. 16,640 in cash from the slain UGs. According to Assam Rifles authorities, the incident took place when troops of the 21 AR who were manning a mobile vehicle checkpost at Elangkhangpokpi last night stopped two motorcyclists for checking

The two, who were approaching from the Wabagai side and heading towards Sugnu however fired at the Assam Rifles troops and attempted to turn back. Both were killed in retaliatory fire by the troops, according to AR sources.
After the shootout, the troops recovered two 9 mm pistols with altogether 44 rounds of ammunition, two mobile phones, and Rs. 16,640 in cash along with the Yamaha motorcycle in which the pair had come.

The bodies along with the recovered items were later handed over to the police, who in turn brought them to RIMS morgue for post mortem and identification.