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01/22/2008: "Nonconformists’ hampering unification process-"


Nonconformists’ hampering unification process-
The Nagas are the master of their own political destiny. But unfortunately, few Nagas by virtue of their position in the NSCN/GPRN desperately tried to place the destiny of the Nagas at the mercy of the government of India. And in the covert operation taking the sweet sounding name of Naga Unification few selected Naga national workers with the connivance of some members of civil societies dared to make cheap of Indo-Naga issue by hijacking the Naga unification issue in the manner of a harden criminal trained for the purpose of playing divisive role. The manner of handling the Naga unification was so demeaning that it was like an insult to the Naga people that come from a rogue gene. But in the process it takes no time to expose their true standing and eventually they earned the wrath of the Nagas when the NSCN/GPRN declared them as defectors. Proving them-selves nothing more than stooges of the Indian intelligence agencies they went to the extent of branding themselves as NSCN and rushing to Delhi to get further direction. The unification group with the confused lot of persons while still proclaiming themselves as working for the Naga unity that encompassed the whole Naga areas that respect no artificial boundaries dropped 'Nagalim" from their official document and replaced by 'Nagaland'. This is a cruel insult to the Naga nation at the behest of the Indian intelligence groups to divide the Naga nation under the Indian constitution.
Significantly, an interesting development further exposed the belligerent face of the unification and Khaplang group. On 18th of January the residence of Q. Awomi, Director, PWD GPRN, at Burma Camp was rounded up by around 20 members of the combined group with the intention to kill him. The panic stricken children seeing the fully armed boys around the house had a harrowing experienced till the father had a miraculous escape. These people who professed to be working for Naga unification in order to end bloodshed is now targeting the NSCN national workers who refused to toe their line of action to join the unification group. This is another mockery of their unification call to the Nagas who have tolerated all the insult heaped on them in the name of Naga unification. The government of India instigated program taking the issue of Naga unification which the Nagas are so obsessed with met its doom in the scheme of its own making when the very people used finds the 'unification issue' too hot to handle.
Issued by MIP/GPRN,
NSCN (IM)
NSCN (I-M) dismisses 27 Nagaland Post
Dimapur, Jan 21 (NPN): The NSCN (I-M) has dismissed 27 of its members, who had defected along with former Kilo Kilonser (home minister) Azheto Chophi, from national service with effect from January 22, 2008, for “deliberately” defying a directive of the Yaruiwo to return from the “reactionary camp” and report to the Council Headquarters. An order issued by Samson Jajo, Chief Principal Secretary, NSCN (I-M), said a decision towards this effect was taken in exercise of the decision of “National Security Council” dated January 21, 2008.
The order said the 27 “authorities, secretaries and army officer have deliberately defied the directive of the Yaruiwo to come back from the reactionary camp and report at the Council Headquarters” despite being given sufficient time.
Those who were dismissed from national service included – Hevukhu Yeptho and K. Hothrong (both Steering Committee Members), Vitoyi Ayemi (Kilonser), P. Nihoto Chishi (Convenor, NJB), Hekheto Zhimo (Dy. Kilonser), Shikato Chishi Swu (Dy. Kilonser), Kiyekhu Awo (Dy. Kilonser), Hojei Swu (Dy. Kilonser), Hokugha Achumi (Dy. Kilonser), Vitoshe Achumi (Tatar), Viniho (Tatar), Tokiho (Tatar), Haolim Kuki (Tatar), Iheshe (Tatar), Qhehoto Kiho Swu (Tatar), “Brig” (Retd) Kakiho Tuccu (Tatar), Bohoto Kiba (secretary), Hekiye Chophy (secretary), Zutovi G. Swu (secretary), Visheto Yeptho (secretary), Shevukhu Swu (joint secretary), Ghukato Assumi (joint secretary), Vihoto Lobo (joint secretary), Akaho Assumi (joint secretary), Khekihi Chophy (joint secretary), Hovito Yeptho (CAO, Sumi Region) and “Col” Nikiye.
Zurich University to showcase Naga culture The Morung Express
Guwahati, January 21 (The Telegraph): Colourful beads, faded black and white photographs and reams and reams of glossy paper will soon reconstruct Naga culture down the ages for curious Europeans. Beginning June, a series of exhibitions across central Europe will showcase the tribe’s history through pictures, slides and ethnic material collected from Naga-inhabited areas.
The exhibition, which will tour Europe over the next few years, is part of a three-year project titled “Material Culture, Oral Traditions and Identity Among the Nagas”, launched by the Ethnographic Museum of Zurich University. If things go as planned, the university will unveil its first exhibition on Naga history on June 6 at the Ethnographic Museum in Zurich.
“This (exhibition) is partly to satiate the curiosity of our people about the Nagas, which is fuelled the large collection of Naga artefacts in European museums, mostly collected during the colonial times. But a large reason behind the initiative is the growing interest about the entire region of Northeast India. Even though the Nagas are among the best documented groups, especially in European museums, only a small part of the collections have been on display,” Alban von Stockhausen of the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich said.
He was in Guwahati last week for a two-day IIT conference on Northeast India and its Transnational Neighbourhood. Stockhausen, along with Marion Wettstein, presented a paper on “how to represent the Nagas in Europe”, after which they spoke about the planned exhibition.
The show will be have divided into three parts: “ancient times”, which will be reconstructed through beads and costumes. The second, named “historical transition”, will be a collage of black and white photographs. The third, “local modernity”, will have slide shows and video films.
“All that the German-speaking audience, who we will mainly cater to, knows about Naga culture are through beads, textiles, spears, hats, feathers, armlets and pictures and texts of head-hunting dances and fests of merit.
This is what visitors expect to see, and of course they will get to see at least a bit of that. But it is also our aim to project today’s Nagas, which shall also include the disillusioning or even the deconstruction of current exotic photograph books,” said Stockhausen.
The Zurich exhibition, too, features a book, but it promises to be more authentic than the “exotic” collections on the Nagas available in Europe. The claim comes from the fact that some of the editors of the glossy museum catalogue are from Nagaland. “It will be our duty to present modern Nagaland in a manner which will be as aesthetic and as fascinating as the ancient culture,” Stockhausen said.
The show’s next stop will be the Ethnographic Museum of Vienna, Austria in spring 2009. There will be another international exhibition, Nagas of Eastern Himalayas, at Museer Culturen, Basel, Switzerland, in August.

‘No room for dirty politics’
NNC is a national institution not a political party
Dimapur, January 21 (MExN): The Naga National Council (NNC) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) has stated that it was constrained to issue this statement concerning the names of NNC/FGN appearing in the newspaper recently, informed Gainbon Panmei, Dy. Rali-Wali Kilonser, FGN and W. Shapwon, Joint Secretary, NNC.
In its press note, the duo pointed out that the NNC is not a political party but national institution and there is no room to play dirty politics like telling lies and false allegation against others in the interest of self-aggrandizement. The press note pointed out that the NNC has its President Ms Adinno Phizo to whom the Naga people had entrusted plenipotentiary power in March 1991 at the Longmisa NNC General meeting, and that since Eno Tobu Kevichusa, former General Secretary of the NNC was assassinated by Th. Muivah group on 4th June 1996 at his residence in Dimapur, the NNC Central Executive Committee entrusted Eno L. Kaiso as Secretary Incharge and he will uphold the office till new General Secretary is elected by the Naga people, it stated. It further stated that the FGN has its Kedahge(President) Gen. (Retd) Viyalie Metha who is constitutionally elected by the Tatar Hoho, FGN following the Provision of Nagaland Yehzabo (Constitution) Article 20 of part five in March 2005.
“Therefore, no one who is not under these constitutionally elected leaderships or approved by them can claim as NNC/FGN. If anyone or whosoever claims as separate NNC or FGN is only imposter and they are playing politics for their own benefit at the cost of Naga nation and people; hence they become traitors in the face of Naga people, and can do nothing good for the Nagas”, the press note stated adding that “they created faction and working against the solidarity and integrity of Naga people, therefore, even if they speak ferociously for unification or peace, the Nagas can have no good faith on them, because their actions are paradoxical to what they speak”.
“He who has no principle, telling lies, deceiving and cheating fellow Nagas can never be a leader in a Christian State like Nagaland”, it stated and pointed out that the Naga nation has its foundation and principle and that without this foundation and principle the Nagas have no shortcut way to achieve their cherish goal. “Therefore, no unification can be found outside the national foundation and principle. Moreover, without the guidance and blessing of God no Naga leader will achieve the Naga National goal. The renegade leaders already proved this”.

‘Nagas are master of their own political destiny’
Dimapur, January 21 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has stated that the “Nagas are the master of their own political destiny” and termed as unfortunate that a few Nagas by virtue of their position in the NSCN (IM) “desperately tried to place the destiny of the Nagas at the mercy of the government of India”.
A press note issued by the MIP stated that in the “covert operation taking the sweet sounding name of Naga Unification few selected Naga national workers with the connivance of some members of civil societies dared to make cheap of Indo-Naga issue by hijacking the Naga unification issue in the manner of a harden criminal trained for the purpose of playing divisive role”.
The MIP note stated that the “manner of handling the Naga unification was so demeaning that it was like an insult to the Naga people that come from a rogue gene”. “But in the process it takes no time to expose their true standing and eventually they earned the wrath of the Nagas when the NSCN/GPRN declared them as defectors”.
The MIP note added that these people had proved themselves as nothing more than “stooges of the Indian intelligence agencies” going to the extent of “branding themselves as NSCN and rushing to Delhi to get further direction”.
“The unification group with the confused lot of persons while still proclaiming themselves as working for the Naga unity that encompassed the whole Naga areas that respect no artificial boundaries dropped ‘Nagalim’ from their official document and replaced by ‘Nagaland’. This is a cruel insult to the Naga nation at the behest of the Indian intelligence groups to divide the Naga nation under the Indian constitution”.
The note described as significant an “interesting development” which it stated had further exposed the belligerent face of the unification and Khaplang group. It claimed that on January 18 the residence of Q. Awomi, Director, PWD GPRN, at Burma Camp was rounded up by around 20 members of the combined group with the intention to kill him. The panic stricken children seeing the fully armed boys around the house had a harrowing experienced till the father had a miraculous escape, it stated.
The MIP note pointed out that these people who professed to be working for Naga unification in order to end bloodshed is now targeting the NSCN (IM) national workers who refused to toe their line of action to join the unification group. “This is another mockery of their unification call to the Nagas who have tolerated all the insult heaped on them in the name of Naga unification”, the MIP stated adding that the government of India “instigated program taking the issue of Naga unification which the Nagas are so obsessed with met its doom in the scheme of its own making when the very people used finds the ‘unification issue’ too hot to handle”.
NSCN (IM) refute army’s report on gun running
Dimapur, January 21 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has claimed that contrary to the reports issued by OIC Media cell of 3 Corps HQ the three arrested persons identified as Purtoshe Ao, Mayur Raijung and Peter Akhum have no connection to gun running business as charged by the Army. An MIP press note stated that Purtoshe Ao is a Lieutenant in the Naga Army of NSCN (IM) and Peter Akhum is a Sergeant, Naga Army, NSCN (IM). Mayur Raijung is a local from the Dimasa community of the area. They were on duty stationed in the area, the MIP stated.
Clarifying on the incident, the MIP note stated that the two Naga Army personnel were on the way to have a bath at the residence of the younger sister of Mayur Raijung when they were accosted by two intelligence personnel, one local and another a non-local. They were then fired upon by the intelligence personnel though the bullets missed them.
“Unbecomingly, Lt. Purtoshi was beaten when he disclosed his identity as Naga Army. Two 9mm Chinese made pistols in their possession are officially issued by the Naga Army authority, one of which was for the purpose of repair. Seven live rounds were loaded and it has been found intact without a single bullet fired”, the MIP note stated and pointed out that “no purpose will be served by charging them as gun runners when the NSCN vouched for their identity”.
Gaan- Ngai (Post harvest festival of the Rongmei Nagas)
The Rongmei Naga festivals like any other tribes correspond to the different stages of agricultural operation; Pre-operation and post harvest, and during the festivals they ask blessings for their Crops and also for their health. Gaan- Ngai is the most important and colourful festival of the Rongmei Nagas. It is a post harvest festival. At this time the granaries are full, the landscape is dry, the whole Village is free from all agricultural works, people turn to celebration, festival and worship of the God. The duration of the festival varies from village to village. But usually it is celebrated for about 5 to 7 days with cultural gusto. This year too, the Premier Festival will be celebrated in the Rongmei inhabited areas from 20th of Jan. 08.
Listed below are some of the important ceremonies linked with Gaan- Ngai festival in brief:-
i) Gaan Shanmei (Heralding of the Gaan- Ngai festival). In the beginning of the month in which the Gaan-Ngai is to perform, a village elder will announce the coming of the festival by blowing the horn of a Mithun informing the community to make necessary arrangements for the festival.
ii) Ngai Gangmei – The first day of the festival is called Ngai-Gangmei. On this day, in the early morning, an old man perform “Danjaomei” rite at the village Northern gate and Southern gate. It is also known as “Gucheng Phaimei” or “Bambujang Lamei”. “Gakpai Jaomei” is also performed by the members of Khangchu. It is a ceremony of predicting the future of the village from the spleen of pig, which is examined by a village elder.
In the afternoon Hoigammei (Hoi Procession) is performed, where every menfolk, elder and even children participate in the procession holding spears and wearing headgears. It starts from Khangchu (Boy’s Dormitory) proceed towards Northern gate and then to the Southern gate with shouts of Ho, Ho, (Ho-Hoing) and then to the village selected site for sports (Danshanpung). Competition in Shot Put (Taophai), Long Jump (Daan Jongmei), Javelin Throw (Misum Phenmei) and Wrestling (Anaomei) are carried out in the presence of the whole community, the inauguration of sports being performed by a village elder. Another important ceremony is Mairapmei (Traditional way of making fire by woods and bamboo friction) and Kaidapmei (elders beat a stick at the door of every house warning that there should be no quarrel during the festival – this manifests their concern for every household of the village. Every family prepares various dishes for the evening meal. Boys and Girls in separate groups go in turn to their houses singing and dancing with the beating of the drums. This is called Nepcha Tukaronmei.
iii) The 2nd day is called Ngai-dai. It is also known as Tamchan Ngai (the performance of Tamchan Dance). In the evening, girls will perform a dance in the selected families. This dance is known as “Tamchan Laam”. If there is no much dance, there is usually a singing competition between the members of Khangchu and Luchu.
iv) The 3rd day is called Tuna-Ngaan Ngai (Festival of the youth). On this day both the members of Khangchu and Luchu perform the “Tuna-Gaan Laam” (Leang Laam). This dance is performed in recognition of newly admitted members to Khangchu and Luchu. If it is performed in recognition for the new member family of the village, it is called Namteng Laam. It may be grouped together as recognition dance. This dance is also performed in owner to the parsons who have been promoted to the higher ranks, as the Rongmei Society is based on hierarchical system eg. (Khangbob Kadimei).
v) The 4th day is called Lakpui Kadimei. On this day womenfolk have their feast at their dormitory called “Maithenmei Kaibang”. They perform dance in honour of new members enlisted in their dormitory. But this day is not compulsory.
vi) The 5th day is called Napchan. It is closing day of Gaan-Ngai. It is a day of Prayer. Khangchu and Luchu perform a ceremony called “Napkaomei” to restore the consumed and wasted rice during the festival invoking heavenly God for he plentiful harvest in the coming year. After the feast is over, there is an assemblage of singing together mocking, joking etc.

In addition to all these activities mentioned, every night from the first to the 5th day there may be folk song competition between boys and girls, Pajeimei (Sitting Dance) and Kailong-Ruanmei (Village Guarding Song). With these comes the end of Gaan-Ngai, the celebration of which give one, the assurance that all is not lost and the rich Tradition and cultural heritage of the Rongmeis in particular and Nagas at large is still intact. On this occasion I wish all the Rongmei Community a happy Chakan Gaan-Ngai 2008.
“Kuknalim”
D. Kamson, Dimapur.

ULFA chief's sis wants democracy thru elections
Teresa Rehman
Source: Tehelka

Go ahead, but be courteous and respectful to everyone.” That is the advice that Hirawati Baruah Chetia, sister of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) commander- in-chief Paresh Baruah, remembers her mother gave her as she stepped into the fray of the panchayat polls. But isn’t she contesting under the Constitution, which her brother had rejected in 1979 when he launched his “struggle” for a “Sovereign Assam”?
“I am a simple person and have come forward to serve the people,” replies Chetia. “I haven’t met my brother for the past 28 years nor have I ever sought his advice. I wouldn’t even recognise him if I saw him now. Like others, I learned that he had left India to struggle for the country from the newspapers.”
An unassuming mother of three, 44-yearold Chetia is a well-liked figure in her village, Panitola Borchapori Betoroni. Her hopes from a panchayat election win are basic — improving roads, healthcare, education, working conditions for weavers and setting up a rural library. As a social worker active with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for the past decade, her decision to contest for the Baruaholagaon panchayat in Tinsukia district has surprised few.
But does she agree with her brother’s principles? “I don’t think I am qualified to comment on his activities. He never discussed with us the reasons why he left everything to wage his struggle. My parents also failed to understand why he had to do this because he always got what he wanted,” she says.
Paresh Baruah had worked as a railway porter from 1978 to 1982, and also as a labourer for Oil India at Duliajan. “He used to stay with a group of friends in a rented house while he was working. We did not know who he met then and what he used to discuss with them,” she recalls. Chetia remembers Paresh, elder to her by four years, as a strict, nononsense, short-tempered man of few words. “I used to be very scared of him. He was very particular that I not hang around and chat with my friends after school. He would tell me to come home straight after school got out or stop going there altogether,” she says.
“We never had peace at home. One brother left home to become an insurgent and another — Dinesh — who got a job in the railways through the sports quota, was found dead after unidentified gunmen took him away on February 19, 1994. But my mother manages to remain happy as she feels both her sons have been sacrificed in the cause of the country. Of course, we miss them. But we know we can’t get them back.”
Did her family face harassment from the security forces? “Yes, they used to trouble us,” Chetia replies. “I still remember a few policemen hanging around at my wedding, hoping my brother would come.” Didn’t her parents find it difficult to find a suitable match for her, considering she was the sister of Assam’s “most-wanted militant”? She says people did not know much about her brother then as ULFA wasn’t very well known at the time. It is her children now who keep asking about their “famous” uncle. She recalls how she and her four brothers all used to excel at sports. “You can say we had a team at home. While he was in school, Paresh was just too busy with football and volleyball. He hardly spent time at home. He used to go to Bombay, Calcutta, Punjab and Kashmir to play in tournaments. He once got a jacket for me from Kashmir, something that I still treasure.”
Chetia says Paresh had a good sense of humour and would often tease younger boys and elderly women. But his aversion for hard labour was one of his characteristic traits. “Once my mother asked him to carry rice sheaves from the field and I still remember what he said. He said he was ready to wash even the clothes worn by women but he wouldn’t carry a heavy load on his shoulders.”
SO, DOES she expect to win? Will she get votes because she is Paresh Baruah’s sister? Her response is emphatic. “No, people look at me as Hirawati Baruah Chetia and not as Paresh Baruah’s sister. People will judge me on the basis of the service I have rendered to the community. I have my own credentials.” Bhaben Barua, a former legislator from the constituency, is all praise for her. “She is very articulate and active. I am confident she will win and we might even nominate her to the central committee of the AGP.” But Chetia doesn’t have any such ambitions. “I will contest only the panchayat polls to help my village to develop. I will not go beyond that as I am not educated enough and I have family obligations,” she says.
Chetia couldn’t study beyond Class X as her father was ill and wanted to marry off his only daughter. “I took the Board exams once but I failed. Maybe I was a dull student. My brother used to encourage me to study,” she says. But she’s happy at the way reservation has helped women to come forward to contest polls. What does she think about the path of violence her brother has adopted? “I don’t know much about it,” she replies. “I really don’t know what he discussed with his associates and why he decided to choose this path.”



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