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12/31/2007: "Border people regularly paying taxes to Naga ultras From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune"

Border people regularly paying taxes to Naga ultras From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune

GOLAGHAT, Dec 30 – Majority of the areas along the Assam-Nagaland border in Dhansiri sub-division are inter-connected by three sectors, namely A, B and C, for the smooth running of administration. These areas under the three sectors are being identified as disputed areas. The Nagaland Government and encroachers have been taking advantage of this situation. In the disputed areas, the Nagaland government established sub-divisions and districts defying the recommendation of the Sundaram Committee.

The erstwhile Chief Minister of Nagaland, who is now a Governor, mentioned in his lectures that Assam government had encroached on lands of Nagaland. Majority of the people living along the Assam-Nagaland border are farmers. They are being compelled to pay taxes to Naga extremists regularly. Recently, Naga village head of No, 1 Cheunpui, J Kharkuw had served demand notice to villagers to deposit seven quintals of paddy as taxes.

People informed to the neutral force (CRPF) and requested action against the Nagas, but the CRPF paid no heed to their appeal. The CRPF personnel were allegedly involved in transaction of land belonging to Assamese farmers with the Nagas, it was alleged by border inhabitants. During harvesting period, the Naga extremists compel farmers to pay tax. As a result, the farmers of the border areas had to lose major portions of their produce.

Having taken advantage of the ceasefire agreement with the Central government, the NSCN extremists have begun to indulge in kidnapping and extortion of money from the neighbouring people of Assam-Nagaland border areas. The extremists kidnap businessmen and release them after receiving a large amount of money. Due to the apathy of the State Government regarding solution of the vexed border problems, people feel that within a short period, Nagaland would include the whole areas of A, B and C sectors in the Nagalim.

Talks only solution on border row with Myanmar: Rio Nagaland Page

Chennai, December 30: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the border row with Myanmar could be solved only through talks. Talking to reporters after calling on his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi at the latter's Gopalapuram residence here, he said since one third of the Nagas were living in Myanmar, the issue had to be solved only through political dialogue. ''We have been insisting the Centre to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the border issue.'' he added. Rio said as ceasefire was in force, the situation in the troubled state was peaceful. Describing his nearly 20-minute meeting with Karunanidhi as a courtesy call, he appealed to the people of South India, especially Tamil Nadu, to visit Nagaland to promote tourism (UNI)

Naga women get politically conscious (Page News Service)
Dimapur, December 30: Women leaders cutting across political party lines today asserted the need for women to contest the ensuing state general elections in Nagaland. They maintained that it is about time Naga women also become lawmakers instead of just staying back in the background. The women leaders were speaking at a felicitation programme of Khetoli Chishi here at Tourist Lodge Dimapur on Sunday.
It can be recalled that Khetoli Chishi had challenged the Government of Nagaland in the court for its failure to implement the Nagaland Municipal Act (First) Amendment Act 2006 by not declaring the wards reserved for ST/SC and women. The Government had eventually notified the number of wards reserved for women in the state municipality. However, the same cannot be implemented so far as some of the sitting members of the municipality/town councils had filed a writ petition challenging the provision of the amendment act.
In her speech, Khetoli exuded confidence that the reservation for women in the municipality would eventually led to women occupying important position in the state legislature. She wanted all women to unite irrespective of party affiliations to put up and elect at least some women in the forthcoming state general elections. Other women leaders were also unanimous in asserting the need to elect some women in the ensuing state elections so that they can bring some level of decency and transparency in governance.
"Women bear the brunt of mis-governance by men in all affairs of the state because it directly effects the family. It is time we bring some semblance of decency in the state of affairs and this can be done only when there are women law makers to lead the men in the right path," they averred.

Yangon protest, border fencing put on hold By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Dec 30 : With the Myanmarese Government objecting to India Government’s measures of erecting fencing over a distance of 10 kms inside Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border to prevent drug trafficking, illegal crossing and check movement of militants, the Risky Survey Trace Cutting (RSTC) which was slated to begin from November 16 could not take off.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source informed that the Myanmarese Government has protested the move being made for conducting the requisite RSTC as announced by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta during his last visit to Imphal for erecting fencing over a distance of 10 kms along the border town of Moreh after leaving 10 metres from the zero line of the International border on India’s side.
A Myanmarese official deputed at Tamu and who is at par with ADC Moreh in rank had reportedly sent a protest note to ADC Moreh Hopeson Chothe stating that border fencing should not be carried out until the settlement of all matters related to border dispute between the two neighbouring countries, the source confided.
The protest note sent by the Myanmarese official demanded to know the exact spot of the zero point of the International border from where the Government of India is planning to measure 10 metres on the India’s side for erecting the fencing, the source further disclosed.
Consequent to the protest note, ADC has brought the matter to the notice of the State Government which in turn has communicated the relevant details to the Union Home Ministry, the source said, adding that the Government of India has not given any response to the State Government in this regard.
However, there is the possibility taking up some diplomatic initiatives from the side of the Government of India with its Myanmarese counterpart to resolve the matter, the source said.
It may be noted that the State Government had earlier urged the External Affairs Ministry to hold diplomatic talks with the Myanmar Government to bring about a settlement to the border dispute.
Following the objection of the Myanmarese Government, officials of the Survey of India and BRO who are presently camping at Moreh in connection with carrying out RSTC have been not been able to take up any work.
The Government of India is to provide all the required fund for the proposed border fencing.

Naga Cong fights twin battles One in Delhi, the other within the party

Kohima, DEC30 [TI] : The Opposition Congress is fighting two losing battles. One in New Delhi where the Centre has refused to dismiss chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s government and the other at home where the party is staring at fissures within.

Top Congress leaders remained mum over the development in the party, but a senior functionary in Nagaland PCC today admitted that all was not well in the party. Though Opposition leader I. Imkong Ao is still in Delhi trying to convince the Centre to dismiss the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government on the ground that it has lost the confidence of the people. Sources said the core problem of the party is that it is entangled in distribution of party tickets for the February elections. While another major problem within the party is leadership crisis between Imkong Ao, former chief minister K.L. Chishi and Goa Governor S.C. Jamir.

Jamir, who is more of a politician than a constitutional head, according to his critics, is willing to come back to the state and is negotiating with the high command. Ao is finding it difficult to accommodate all those MLAs who have defected to the Congress from the ruling DAN as he had promised Congress tickets to all of them. But the party loyalists are ready to revolt if tickets are denied to them at the cost of the newcomers. Ao along with other 15 Congress legislators and nine former members of Nagaland People’s Front are in Delhi since December 17. They are demanding the dismissal of the government besides seeking party tickets for the nine former Nagaland People’s Front members, two JD(U) legislators and three Independents. While Ao is heading one group of the Congress, sources said Jamir had already submitted his own list of party candidates to the Congress high command. “Yes, we heard Jamir had submitted his own list,” a senior NPCC functionary said.

“The Goa governor is willing to come back to the state, but he should not come back to state politics,” said former chief minister Chishi. The relationship between Jamir and Congress chief Imkong Ao had soured after Ao attributed the controversial booklet Bedrock of Naga Society to Jamir and not the Congress as a whole. Ao said the booklet was published by Jamir, therefore the Congress should not be implicated. The booklet generated widespread condemnation from Naga organisations and political parties as it said that statehood had compromised the Nagas’ demand for sovereignty. It also stated that there was never a Naga nation as claimed by Naga rebel organisations. While Jamir still remains the enemy of Naga organisations, Ao has mend his relationship with them. But Ao has been barred from entering his village Changki, which is the biggest village in his constituency. He is also barred from entering another village, Khar. The two villages have decided to field their common candidate Longri Ao.
Yen for Bodo brings linguist to Assam The Telegraph Kokrajhar
A dying language in Nepal has brought a Japanese scholar to the Bodo heartland in Assam. Kazuyuki Kirya, an associate professor at Mimasaka University in Tokyo, is seeking help from Bodo linguists and scholars to compile a grammar of Bodo spoken by a minuscule Bodo population in Nepal who are known as Mech or Meche. Bodo is recognised by the Nepal government as one among the 10 indigenous languages of the country.
“The language is on the verge of extinction because of the small population there. Moreover, in many villages, the young generation now speaks only Nepali,” Kirya told The Telegraph.
The Bodos migrated to Nepal several centuries ago. Kirya, who speaks Bodo fluently, said: “Now, even parents converse with their children in Nepali to make them conversant with the language, knowledge of which is essential to bag government jobs. They do not have any idea of what will happen if they stop speaking their mothertongue. This is sheer killing of the language spoken by a section of the minorities.”
Kirya picked up the language while doing research in a Bodo village in Nepal.
Asked what prompted him to work on Bodo, he said: “My interest in the language was the motivation. I wanted to preserve it and after having received a grant from the Japan government, I started my project three years back. I am trying to compile a grammar and vocabulary of Bodo, among other things. My research will, however, be the work of a professional and appeal to linguists.
“I will try to encourage the Bodos to set up schools to promote education through their mothertongue. I want to help them prepare a syllabus of sorts. You have to make them think that their language is very important and needs to be preserved. We have to inculcate in them love and a sense of pride in the language.
“I will continue to work on Bodo. It is a very satisfying experience to see Bodo as a medium of instruction in Assam. Language, culture and religion are the three main criteria for identifying a community. Of these, language is the most important.”
AR troops ‘recover’ bodies of three ultras Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Dec 30 – Assam Rifles has claimed to have recovered bodies of three militants following an encounter in Chandel district. Columns of 18 Assam Rifles under 26 Sector of HQ IGAR(S) based on specific intelligence inputs, launched a massive operation in the thick jungles of general area Kuljang of Chandel District in Manipur on Friday night.

Contrary to the Assam Rifles claim, proscribed United National Liberation Front countered that at least five securitymen were killed and others wounded in an encounter near S Bongjoi village in Chandel district around 1.10 pm on Saturday.
On December 29 morning around 5.40 am, troops of 18 Assam Rifles established contact with the terrorists. In a well-coordinated-and executed operation, the area was surrounded by the troops. A statement of the Assam Rifles PRO said the firing continued till 6.10 am.

The area was searched and three unidentified bodies of the slain terrorists were recovered. Two automatic weapons, one US made carbine and another 9 mm Sten carbine were recovered from the spot.The operation is still continuing.

In another development, based on specific information, troops of 34 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector under Headquarters IGAR (South) launched a well-planed- and quick operation in general area Langthel Mamang Leikai and apprehended one Prepak cadre on Friday.

The individual was identified as self-styled Sergeant Major Sagolsem Yaima Singh alias Ibomcha alias Henry alias Ngakpiba(34), son of Madhu Chandra Singh, resident of Langthel Mamang Leikai, Prepak batch No 08. The cadre was handed over to Thoubal Police Station on Friday.
‘Investigative journalism is of prime importance today’
By Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Dec 30 – His memory is not the same he used to be known for. But his love for sports continues to be the same, undeterred and selfless. This is about veteran sports personality Pulin Das, who in spite of being 90 years of age is still going strong.

Speaking as the guest of the month today at the Guwahati Press Club, an organisation, which was his brainchild, Das, who is credited to have revolutionised the concept of sports journalism in the State, said, “ The concept of journalism has undergone drastic changes from what it used to be in our time. Thanks to the existing environment of stiff competition, investigation journalism has assumed greater importance and with the quality of the work.”

Das who started his journalism career as a freelancer for many a leading national newspaper including some Kolkota based dailies, was associated with The Assam Tribune since its inception and became its first sports sub-editor apart from serving the newspaper also as a photographer. He retired from the job in the year 1982.

Urging the young and upcoming journalists of the State not to get influenced by any unsocial and powerful elements existing in society, Das said, “Merely filing a report for the sake of it is not what people expects from the journalists. A journalist must analyse the pros and cons of a finding before giving it a final shape and that’s where scribe’s investigation instinct comes into play.”

“The idea should be to work for the greater interest of the people of the State and not just for a section of people,” Das stated.

Born in 1918, Das, a vibrant sports organiser, was instrumental in floating a host of sports organisations including the Guwahati Cricket Association (1946), Gauhati Table Tennis Association (1948), Gauhati Hockey Association (1956) and Gauhati Lawn Tennis Association (1979) besides playing an active role in forming the famous Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Trophy Football Tournament and the Gauhati Sports Association.

“Cricket is my first love but almost all other sports event fascinated me be it table tennis, hockey or lawn tennis. It was my love for these games or sports as a whole that I took special interest in floating a host of sports organisations. Expressing his overview of the existing sports scenario in the State, Das opined that unlike what the problems which sportsmen, few decades back faced, the scenario is much better today and this should inspire every one associated with it.
“Government is coming up with financial help, which is indeed very encouraging,” he said.

However, he rued over the lack of public interest for sports event like football in the State, revival of which is a challenge for the journalist fraternity. “The Bordoloi trophy, which was hosted few months back received lukewarm response, which was a very sorry site,” he pointed out. Pulin Das today also gave away the fellowship cash award instituted by vernacular newspaper Adinor Sambad for a research work (Hindi) on the songs of veteran singer Deepali Barthakur to journalist Azhar Alam. Das also released a book titled ‘Siriakhanar Behela’ penned by senior journalist and editor of Asom Bani Dilip Chandan.
After Killings of the Burmese Monks; The Writing is on the Wall by May Ng Mizzima
"Since too, murders have been performed --- too terrible for the ear: That, when the brains were out, the man would die, and there an end; But now--- they rise again," William Shakespeare, 'Macbeth,' ACT III, Scene IV
After the Burmese military junta attacked and killed the peaceful monks and protestors, it is still impossible to imagine how the powerful military can at last be dismissed. But it is even harder to see now how the military generals will survive the latest self inflicted blow, by killing the sons of Buddha in Burma. Since the independence in 1948, 'Myanmar Tatmadaw' has proclaimed itself to be the only force capable of maintaining the national peace and stability. But under the military government, Burma has become the poorest nation in the region and the home to the largest army in Southeast Asia. While the military junta spends most of Burma's resources on paying for the army, the military still has not gained the trust or an outright victory against the armed rebels. After dominating every facet of Burmese people's lives since 1962, Myanmar army is still nowhere near removing the rebel armies, consisted of ceasefire and non-ceasefire armed organizations.
The legacy of armed conflicts with over a million losses of lives and the large scale humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing military occupation of the ethnic tribal areas, have shown the Myanmar Tatmadaw to be the cause of the disasters not the savior of Burma as the regime often proclaims. Sixty years of the army mantra --'non-disintegration of the Union'-- does not seem to have made Burma more secure or gain greater solidarity with its many ethnic nationalities.
The 2005 arrests and the extra long prison sentences for the prominent Shan NLD leaders, including Hkun Htun Oo, and the ceasefire SSA leader Hso Ten indicate that the tensions between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the ethnic nationalities have not lessened but have increased since the army takeover of the power almost a half century ago. The junta's obsession with non-disintegration of the Union, national solidarity and perpetuation of national sovereignty has permitted the military to tighten its grip on the political power. But the government's neglect and mismanagement of the country and its economy has become the Achilles heel of the regime.
The militarization of the economy has plundered a bountiful nation to the poorest one. While the army continues to promise democracy and uplift of morale, the generals continue to demand a greater sacrifice from the population already suffering from the army induced poverty. Last August's fuel oil price increase has finally brought home the military's greatest failure, the widespread poverty, and triggered the largest unrest in two decades. After forty five years in power the army has failed to win the war against the armed rebellions and has now failed to win the peace with the political oppositions. The regime's legitimacy is at all time low even when compared to Ne Win's socialist BSPP party. The BSPP has never lost an election or faced open political oppositions until its fall from power in 1988. The SPDC in contrast continues to hold on to power against the wishes of the people who have voted for the opposition NLD party of Aung San Suu Kyi. The coercion and use of violence against the population have further eroded the legitimacy of the military. People no longer trust the junta government and they no longer see the army generals as their legitimate rulers. The people's goodwill in 1988 helped the SLORC to finally quell the angry mobs with the promise of the 1990 election. But the present army junta no longer has the people's goodwill and can only rely on violence and coercion to control the discontented populace. Up until now the Burmese political opposition has lacked a unified front, within the armed organizations and the political oppositions. It may be changing. Martin Smith in 'State of Strife' observed that as in other political eras, the situation remained fragmentary on the surface. But he said that what was striking about most ethnic parties was not their diversity but the private unity of their views on the need for peace and democratic reforms.
The opposition political parties are also becoming unified under the surface as well. Slowly a powerful unity is emerging within the diverse forces of the political oppositions with a common goal for a free and democratic Burma. While the overstretched army is facing a dim prospect and dropping enlistments, it was evident during the recent uprising that the forces of the protestors do not suffer the same fate and have the support of the majority of the people. Most Burmese believe that Burma has three sons, the students, the soldiers, and the Sangha/monks. Historically the students have been at the forefront of the political movements. The government's actions, from the military's destruction of the Students Union Hall in 1962 to the recent brutal assaults on the monks and students, have elevated the anti-junta sentiment among the young people.
The extravagant undertakings to weaken and suppress the students' desire for democracy have obviously not been effective. The spread of information technology and the increase in political sophistication have caught up with the '88 and '07 student generations. The imprisonment of the senior '88 student leaders last August did not stem the tide of the major protests that followed.
The power of the movement against the government is no longer dependent on a few top leaders. The largest public demonstrations in two decades took place in spite of the absent of many important leaders at the helm. It seems that the political awareness is helping to form new leaderships quickly in response to the army junta's aggression. The army under the SPDC regime is not a monolithic force impervious to the forces against it. Burma's last sons, the soldiers, may hold the key to how long before the military dictatorship will end. The soldiers have already voted for the democracy in 1990. The purging of the military leaderships in 2004 and at other times are signs that all is not well within the military as it may seem on the surface.
The extensive recording of the wedding of supreme general Than Shwe's daughter was leaked to Youtube in 2006 and has greatly empowered the oppositions. The thundering protest that followed a year later may not necessarily have been a coincidence. This is an important reminder that it may not take that much to uproot such little loved regime. Since only the high power elites have access to the video tapes of the wedding, the betrayal of Than Shwe might have likely come from the top. If a video tape of the diamond studded wedding can do much damage, it is not hard to see what the recordings and live evidences of the killings and abuses of the highly revered Buddhist monks might have in store for the military generals. The writing is already on the wall, it is only a matter of time now. May Ng is from the Southern Shan State of Burma and is a NY Regional Director of Justice for Human Rights in Burma (J.H.B).