[Previous entry: "Naga neighbours heap bodies on Karbi Anglong A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph"] [Next entry: "Naga ‘national issue cannot get polluted’ The Morung Express"]

12/27/2007: "Year 2007: Nagaland witnesses remarkable efforts towards peace (UNI) Nagaland page"

Year 2007: Nagaland witnesses remarkable efforts towards peace (UNI) Nagaland page

Kohima, December 26: The outgoing year was significant for Nagaland as remarkable efforts were made towards establishing a lasting peace in the state, which has been witnessing recurring violence for the past several years.
After years of yearning for peace and unity by the Naga people, the Joint Forum of Nagaland Gaon Burah Federation (GBs) and Do-Bhashis Association (DBs) were able to bring together all the underground organisations, which included the NSCN-IM (Kilonser Yanger Pongen), NSCN (K) (Kilonser R M Lotha), Naga National Council (NNC) (General Secretary Vizosielhou Nagi) and NSCN Unification Core Committee (Maj A Chuba Ao).
A 4-point resolution was jointly signed by these organizations which called for putting an end to the atrocities against the Nagas, to create a peaceful atmosphere, to pursue peace and unity among all the different groups of Nagas and extension of inter-factional ceasefire for a further period of six months at Kohima on December 7.
The year also witnessed the first Indo-Naga talks in the soil of Nagaland (Dimapur) on July 30, which also extended the ceasefire between the Indian Government and the NSCN-IM for an indefinite period from August 1, 2007.
A significant development was the coming together of cadres of both NSCN factions towards a broad-based unification of all underground groups in the name of NSCN Unification Core Committee, which has been the cry of the Naga people for decades.
On the contrary, the year also witnessed former Nagaland Chief Minister and present Governor of Goa S C Jamir narrowly escaping an attempt on his life for the fourth time from unidentified gunmen near Chanki village under Mokokchung district on November 24 which sent a shock waves throughout the state. Earlier, the NSCN-IM served Azha (Decree) to Jamir and senior bureaucrat Alemtemshi Jamir over the controversial booklet Bedrock of Naga Society published by the NPCC in 2002.
Inter-factional clashes, fratricidal killings, arson, looting and extortion became daily affairs, besides the maximum number of strikes, bandhs called by various organisations on different issues.
Amongst them, the arsons at Wungram Colony at Dimapur on April 22, and Jalukie-Jangdi village and later Inavi village by NSCN-IM, were pointers to the Government's inability to protect its citizens.
The Neiphiu Rio led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Government will continue its full term in the month of February next year (2008), but in the ultimate year, it witnessed many defections from all its alliance parties, including the major alliance Nagaland Peoples' Front (NPF), JD (U), BJP and Independents. Altogether, 13 MLAs so far resigned from the 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and from the parties. While the 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly ruled by the DAN was sailing smoothly, the ultimate Assembly Session on December 13 witnessed an uproarious scene when a Congress sponsored No Confidence Motion was voted. Some resigned and defected members also voted in favour of the motion. The Assembly Speaker did not count the votes of 12 members under the Anti-Defection Act and gave the ruling that the motion was defeated by 23 to 19 votes. However, the opposition Congress claimed that altogether 31 members voted in support of the motion. The Congress, which along with the JD (U), Independents and defected NPF Members formed the Nagaland Progressive Alliance (NPA), are still camping in Delhi demanding dismissal of the ''minority'' DAN Government. The Left parties in the UPA Government have reportedly rejected the demand. Meanwhile, all political parties are gearing the election strategy for the forthcoming Nagaland Assembly Elections, likely to be announced by the Election Commission by the second week of January next year. According to political observers, the elections are unlikely to be peaceful.
Albeit, the aspirations of the people for a peaceful Nagaland still continues.
A new dawn of peace emerging in Nagaland Cheers News Estonia


Nagaland is on the threshold of a new dawn of peace. The three warring Naga factions are poised to come together on a single platform to establish peace.

The dominant Naga factions -- National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Issac-Muivah (NSCN-IM), NSCN (Khaplang) and Naga National Council (NNC), signed a peace pact recently.

Representatives of the three Naga factions, who were sworn enemies till recently, were sharing the table and smoking the peace pipe.

The peace pact is significant as it spells an end to the clashes between the cadres of the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) and NNC. It is expected that the people in the State will be benefited from the latest move and the focus will shift to ensuring the State's development and economic welfare.

The three main Naga factions met at the negotiation table in Kohima, after much persuasion from tribal chiefs and the state government.

The historic meeting took place under the aegis of the Joint Forum of Nagaland Gaonburas (GBs) and Dobashis (DBs). It is expected to end decades of internecine clashes between the Naga groups.

Joint Forum of Nagaland GBs and DBs Convener Taku Longkumer said: "The meeting has resolved to unanimously accept and assure peace among different groups in Nagaland, without discrimination on the basis of tribes or region."

Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner T N Mannen said: "It's a very positive step. We fervently hope that it will definitely lead to total peace."

More than 500 people have lost lives in the conflicts between the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) in the last five years. The State Government is also lending its support to bring all factions together.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said: "We want unity and that of all the Nagas, not just a section. While welcoming the unity moves, it should be ensured that all factions are brought under one umbrella so that Nagas can focus on a unified entity."

With the unification process on and the peace process between NSCN (IM) and the Central Government inching towards a positive outcome, the time is not far when Nagaland turns into an oasis of peace in the North East. By Vibou Ganguly (ANI)
NSCN Unification Camp cautions Nagaland Post
Dimapur, Dec 26 (NPN): Taking strong exception to the rise in cases of extortions, kidnappings and other anti-social activities, perpetrated by individuals in the guise of national workers, the NSCN Unification Camp Wednesday warned that it would take stern action against anyone, including national workers, who would vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the ongoing unification process. A release issued by the publicity cell of NSCN Unification Camp appealed to the general public, law-enforcement agencies and other State machineries to cooperate and set up vigilance to curb the criminal activities. Further, the NSCN Unification Camp extended New Year greetings to the Nagas.
Naga officers dump bodies on border A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, Dec. 26: Police stations and outposts along Karbi Anglong’s border with Nagaland are routinely saddled with unclaimed bodies of people killed by criminal gangs or militant groups in that state.
“We have complained about this to Nagaland police several times, but there has been no response from them,” the subdivisional police officer of Bokajan, Satyen Gogoi, said today.
Karbi Anglong shares nearly 10km of Assam’s border with Nagaland. Gogoi said Bokajan police station had earned a bad name because of unclaimed bodies being frequently found in the areas under its jurisdiction. “The police station has to register a case whenever a body is found, though the crime may have been committed across the border.”
Bokajan is around 15km from Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.
Last week, a team from Bokajan police rescued three persons from the clutches of two Nagaland policemen who allegedly intended to kill them on this side of the border. The team arrested the uniformed duo and impounded the official Maruti Gypsy they were using. Apprising the home department of the incident, Karbi Anglong police said the involvement of police personnel from Nagaland in “crime in Assam territory” necessitated immediate intervention. It requested the government to take up the issue with Nagaland.
“Until recently, we thought only miscreants and militants outfits dumped bodies and committed crimes in our area. But it seems even police personnel from that state are using Assam territory for crime,” the police said.
Apart from bodies being dumped, Karbi Anglong is having to contend with a network of criminals originating in Nagaland but more active on this side of the boundary. Lahorijan, another Assam township bordering Dimapur, is known to be a haven for drug addicts and arms dealers. Most of the drug peddlers and arms dealers active in the area are from Nagaland.
Mukul Saikia, a former subdivisional police officer in Bokajan, said drug peddlers and addicts had long been converging on Lahorijan to strike deals away from the prying eyes of vigilante groups in Nagaland. “Most of the addicts and traffickers are from Nagaland. They use Lahorijan as a buying and selling point.”
Another police officer in the border affairs department said one of the proposals was to seal the state’s border with Nagaland. The former deputy inspector-general of police (eastern range), Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, had asked residents of the districts bordering Nagaland — especially Karbi Anglong and Golaghat — to be cautious since they were near a “criminal den” like Dimapur.
Mob attacks MLA home - Poll postponement triggers fury OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Dhubri, Dec. 26: Ethnic sentiments continued to grip panchayat elections in Assam with six policemen being injured today in a mob attack on a Congress MLA’s house over the postponement of polling in areas dominated by the Rabha Hasong tribe.
The attack on Abdul Rashid Mondal’s private residence at Basbari in Goalpara district was allegedly orchestrated by the Non-Rabha Co-ordination Forum, an organisation formed to protect the rights of other communities in the Rabha Hasong belt. The legislator, who represents Goalpara (West) constituency, escaped the mob fury along with two of his guards by slipping out through the backdoor. Basbari is nearly 50km from Goalpara town.
The injured personnel, including the officer-in-charge of Baguwan police station, Fazlul Hoque, were shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital after first aid at Goalpara Civil Hospital. The condition of one of them, constable Bichitra Das, was critical.
A police officer said the 400-strong mob converged on the legislator’s house in two groups and shouted slogans like “Rabha Hasong murdabad” and “Abdul Rashid Mondal murdabad”. The guards on duty tried to stop them, but a few of the protesters entered the visitors’ room and had an argument with the legislator.
The mob ransacked the residence and damaged two vehicles owned by the legislator. The bamboo fencing around the Assam-type residence and temporary sheds for visitors were uprooted. “The security personnel were outnumbered, There was little they could do,” the police officer said.
The mob targeted the legislator for allegedly backing the postponement of panchayat elections at the behest of Rabha Hasong organisations, who wanted polls to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to be held first. Leaders of the Non-Rabha Co-ordination Forum denied being involved in the mob attack, blaming a “third force” for the trouble. It said some people were trying to take advantage of the surcharged situation.
The same forum recently singled out Mondal as the “villain” responsible for the postponement of panchayat polls in the Rabha Hasong belt. The president of the forum, Shahjahan Ali, said the attack on Mondal’s house was “a manifestation of people's anger” at government policies. “We had nothing to do with the incident but when people are angry, such incidents are bound to happen.”
A source said a section of members in the district unit of the Congress, led by some disgruntled leaders, could also be “trying to fish in troubled waters”.
The announcement about elections being postponed was made on December 13.
Goalpara superintendent of police Abhijit Bora said the hooligans involved in today’s incident would be rounded up and punished. “Security has been beefed up and raids on hideouts of the suspects are under way,” he added. On December 18, a policeman was seriously injured in an assault by activists opposed to the postponement of elections at Mailapathar near Goalpara town.
India's role in Burma was below expectations' Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1141003
Q&A: Prof Larry Diamond wants India to be politically more proactive and spread democracy far and wide
Larry Diamond is Professor of Political Science and Sociology at Stanford University, and coordinates the Democracy Program of the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. Diamond was invited by Condoleezza Rice to be an advisor to Coalition Provisional Authority on Iraq to advice on ways to bring democracy in the distressed country. He spoke to Sayandeb Chowdhury about Iraq, India's neighbourhood and why India must play a much bigger role in exporting it's democratic ethic than it is doing now.
You have a rare view of the Iraq War and its failures, in your capacity as an academic as well as an advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority on Iraq. What do you think went wrong?
The first mistake was going to war itself when there was no imminent threat to national security and no international consensus. And a faulty war was followed by bad management, abrupt disbanding of the army, needless efforts at total de-Bathification and an impression that it was an Anglo-American conquest. The condition was just right for insurgency.
You opposed the war but then supported the democratisation process. Aren't they linked?
Yes, I did oppose the war but once it was over I felt a system had to be put in place. Once an egg is broken, you must do something; you cannot leave it like that.
Do you think Islam is incompatible with democracy?
I can't say that. There are about 43 majority Muslim countries of which 16 are in the Arab Middle East. Of the 16 not one is a democracy. But elsewhere, in Africa and Asia, there are about seven Islamic democracies, including big ones like Indonesia and Turkey.
In fact, if Islam is the religion of peace, then it cannot be intrinsically incompatible with democracy. It is about how the political establishment wants to use its influence. For that matter, every religion has interpretations that go against the norms of democracy and an equal number that go for it. It depends on how they are interpreted politically.
How would you explain the democratic deficiency amongst India's neighbours?
You can take Sri Lanka as an exception but yes, it's an embattled democracy. Otherwise it is a sorry state of affairs. Much of the problem has to do with the beginning of each of them as a State.
India was greatly advantaged in having as its foundation the Indian National Congress and people like Nehru, his companions and Gandhi, men with vision and decades of democratic practice. In Pakistan, the Muslim League, had none of it, except Jinnah, who died early. Moreover, military intervention is a kiss of death for a democracy.
Once you allow the military in, it's difficult to get rid of them. Even otherwise in Pakistan, for example the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto regime was not a model of democracy. Like Pakistan, Bangladesh was born out of strife and trauma. That also contributed to weak and fragile protocol institutions and machinery.
You have argued for India's intervention to safeguard democratic processes.
Not intervention but a larger engagement. And that has nothing to do with any alignment with any country. I can understand that there are a lot of misgivings here about foreign policy choices but I am not saying that India must align with a country; at least geopolitically.
Rather, India must align with a cause like democracy. I can understand that India feels nervous about taking up a bigger role in the internal issues of its immediate neighbours, like Pakistan and Bangladesh. But it should engage with the others.
What about China's role?
Critical. China must play the role of, as someone said, an 'equal responsible stake holder' in global affairs. National security is primary for every country. But it does not mean that one cannot play a more responsible role. China will be as much affected by regional instability and border skirmish as any other country. But is it being responsible? No. Take the Burma example.
And here I must say that India's role was not fitting with the expectation. India needs natural resources. But should that always come in the way when a blatantly ruthless and corrupt junta regime in Burma is abusing its people and institutions? The US-like hypocrisy of turning a blind eye to the worst practices will not go down well now, in a changed world.
What role can India play?
India can leverage its lessons in running a successful democracy with other countries. It can invite all stake holders for dialogue, create institutions, learn and let others learn from its experience, its federal structure, its panchayat system, its popular participation. I am taking about exporting democracy as a soft power. If India can export its cinema, why not its democracy?
Have we heard the last word on democracy or are there more forms to evolve?
It's a vital question. The following are critical to democracy: regular, free and fair elections, adult franchise cutting across divides, participation of two or more political parties, an independent framework to supervise elections and free judiciary and press. Anything less than that or any experiment without them is a fraud. But democracy is also evolving fast trying to keep up with the technology race.
Children of Conflict Nagaland Post
"After my father's death, I learnt that he was a militant. At that time, I was too young to know who a militant was. But very soon I understood the meaning when my mother and the rest of my family began to face difficulties. Why does the army harass us? We are not militants. Can't they be stopped?" asked Manzoor Ahmad, 16.
This innocent question posed by a schoolgoing teenager from Srinagar silenced a packed audience in Delhi, which had gathered to interact with children from Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Assam and West Bengal - states affected by militancy, terrorism and communal strife. Even Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Prakash Jaiswal, who was present at this unique initiative organised by Guild of Service (GOS), a Delhi-based NGO working for children, widows and women's empowerment, and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), was taken aback.
But Manzoor wasn't about to leave without an answer. After all, this was what he and approximately 100 other children had come for. "The purpose of bringing the children here and giving them a platform to speak was that their stories be heard by a larger audience. We want them to have a normal childhood. We want to lessen their trauma and bitterness so that they can grow up to be normal citizens," said Mohini Giri, chairperson, GOS.
Although Jaiswal apologised for the trauma children like Manzoor underwent because of militancy, he said that people with vested political and social interests continue to fuel conflict. He added that the government was trying to wean back those who had lost their way and turned to militancy. But it is not just the families of militants that have a hard time. The loved ones of those who have surrendered suffer a similar fate. When Nikhat's father decided to give up militancy, things did not really change for the better for the family. "My siblings and I faced problems in getting admission in schools. Teachers viewed us with suspicion and we were discriminated against only because our father was a former militant," said the 16-year-old.
Fortunately for Nikhat and Manzoor, they were able to find a way to pursue their education, thanks to an intervention by GOS. "Many of these children have seen their fathers being gunned down and, in the absence of proper education, they can be misled by anti-social elements. So we set up Rahat Ghar (Relief Home), a shelter home in Srinagar, to ensure that these children do not miss out on education. We believe that it is much better to ensure their healthy and safe development right away, when they are at a vulnerable age, rather than gunning them down 10 years later as terrorists," said Giri.
Almost two decades of militancy in the Valley has led to an alarming rise in the number of orphans in the region. Although there are no official statistics, a 1996 survey conducted by Yateem Foundation, an NGO in Kashmir, enumerated 15,000 orphans. Now, the number is estimated to be over 50,000. Studies conducted by various NGOs have found that children in Kashmir suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), which arise from being witness to the killing of a family member and/or destruction of homes and property.
According to the Indian army website (www.armyinkashmir.nic.in), an ongoing independent research in PTSD by Dr Akash Yousf Khan, has found 64.28 per cent children between the age group of three and 16 years suffer from somatic complications like loss of appetite, altered sleep patterns or headache. These children have either witnessed a shocking incident, or have had it narrated to them. Further, 21.42 per cent of the 70 children that participated in the research performed badly in school, while 17.8 had lost interest in all activities. What has been disturbing is that 32.14 per cent displayed an increased outburst of anger. Zahida, who has been the supervisor at Rahat Ghar for six years now, knows what it's like to be homeless. Her house was burnt down during crossfire between the militants and the army in Sopore, in north Kashmir, many years ago. So she understands the psychology of the children that live at Rahat. She said that the children wanted to fight back. Zahida believes that the Rahat Ghar intervention has been able to channelise their anger and frustrations positively towards education. However, a long-term plan was needed as the children were on the threshold of adulthood.
Although the Council for Rehabilitation of Widows, Orphans, Handicapped and Old Persons (Victims of Militancy) in Jammu and Kashmir was created by the Centre and state government in 1996, there has been an inordinate delay in providing relief. The Council has several schemes like providing a monthly pension to widows and old persons, giving marriage assistance in the form of Rs 10,000 per case (US$1=Rs 39.5) to young widows and grown-up daughters of old widows; and creating scholarships for students to pursue professional studies. But to be eligible, a 'non-involvement' certificate from the police, absolving the parent of any association with militants has to be produced. And getting these certificates is far from simple.
Justice has been just as elusive for the victims, especially children, of the communal riots in Gujarat, in 2002. Zuber's father was killed in the riots. But the killers have not been punished. "Who will give me justice?" asked the 15-year-old. His mother, Sabina, who is bringing up five children single-handedly, is afraid her son will turn violent. She had hoped that the monetary relief promised by the government would help to distance her son from violence. But even five years on, no compensation has been given. Samin, 16, said he doesn't expect any relief from the government. After their house was burnt down in the Gujarat riots, cases were filed but there has been no outcome. Hearings have been postponed and they have been shunted from one courtroom to another.
Pranjal, 16, from Assam said that people were afraid to send their children to school because of the prevailing atmosphere of fear in his state. Jayanto, 14, whose brother was brutally murdered, wanted to know who would ensure that the killers would be brought before the law.
Sreerupa Mitra Chau-dhury, Chairperson, Institute for Gender Justice, and one of the national coordinators for the initiative, said that a special package was needed for the children, as they cannot file Public Interest Litigations (PILs). She said that the children had indicated their helplessness in understanding the legal complexities during their meeting with Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, and 22 Supreme Court judges last month and the judges have promised to look into the matter. Giri believes that the government should prepare a special scheme to integrate these children into the mainstream. "I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to request that conflict-affected children be granted admission and provided free education in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Sainik Schools. These schools should reserve three per cent seats for these children because they too have a right to education," she asserted. Several other suggestions for relief and rehabilitation have been put forth. These include the setting up of a national security scheme and a national surveillance team to counter the recruitment of children by militants a special welfare package per child per family to allow them to exercise their rights and to create a legal framework to ensure their protection. While the GOS initiative presented a rare opportunity for the children to voice their grievances to the people in power, who expressed their commitment to upholding their rights, only time will tell whether the promises made were merely words.
Swapna Majumdar (Courtesy: Women's Feature Service)
Security tightened at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati after rebel threat By ANI
Guwahati, Dec 26 (ANI): Security has been strengthened at the famous Shakti Shrine Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati after a rebel threat.
The alert comes over a week after a suspected Pakistani secret agency ISI's operative Mojibullah Alam alias Asfi Alam was nabbed in Guwahati, where the temple is located.
Declining to comment on the authenticity of newspaper reports of an al-Qaeda threat to the temple, the police said they are nevertheless taking precautions.
"I would not like to comment anything on the authenticity of the reports. We have got reports (of threats to the temple) and we have received such reports before. There is no need to comment on the authenticity of these reports but it is important we take enough precautions to avert any danger and we are doing it," said P. Hazela, Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district.
The temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya who represents female fertility, receives devotees from across the country.A number of separatist outfits including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are active in the state. The ULFA says it is fighting for Assam's independence, which is rich in oil, natural gas and tea. It accuses Centre of taking away its mineral and forest resources while neglecting the local population.
Assam is one of seven states in northeast, a region racked by a number of insurgencies. More than 15,000 people have been killed since ULFA launched the revolt in 1979 in Assam. (ANI)
Chin women meet Indian MPs in New Delhi Indo Burma News
December 19, 2007 (Khonumthung News) A delegation of the Women's league of Chinland met Members of Parliament in India yesterday and gave a detailed account of the human rights situation in Chin state, Burma and the plight of Burmese refugees in Mizoram state, northeast India.
"We, the WLC, want the people of India to know the updated information about human rights abuses and military oppression which are still occurring in ethnic areas in Burma. Much of these do not appear in the media, especially after the 'saffron revolution' that occurred in September in Burma", said Cherry Zahau, coordinator of WLC, explaining the purpose of meeting the Indian MPs.
"We also want to expand our networking with political and civil society groups in India. Only after we get support from Indian people, will the Indian government pay heed to the voice of the people and change its policy of support towards the military junta in Burma," she said.
"The people of India are standing with you in the cause of democracy and promotion of human rights in Burma. Wherever there is injustice human beings suffer, it includes Indian citizens as well. Injustice causes economic, social and political problems everywhere. It is a matter of how exactly we will put our hands together", Nirmala Deshpande, a member of Rajya Sabha was quoted as saying by WLC's press release yesterday. Former Defence Minister of India Goerge Fernandez said, "The UNSC should take serious steps on Burma and the governments around the world should deprive the regime from everything. India does not want to discuss Burma and no one can question the policy on Burma in parliament".
WLC's press release expressed unhappiness over healthy ties between the Indian government and the Burmese military junta and urged India to review its economic engagement with the Burmese regime. WLC also called on India to discuss Burma issues with its neighbouring countries such as China and Thailand in the interest of long-term economic stability in the whole region, including India's North-East. Chin women blamed the Burmese regime for its refusal to usher in democracy, mismanagement of state economy and human rights abuses in ethnic areas in Burma. This is forcing the people to flee their own land. It urged the Indian government to adopt a proper policy that will help Burmese refugees in India.
The Campaign for Democracy Movement in Burma (CDMB) based in Mizoram state, northeast India on November said that around 80,000 unrecognized Burmese refugees are taking refuge in Mizoram as a result of the deteriorating social, political and economic situation in Burma.