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02/06/2008: "NSCN (IM) questions India’s ‘sensibilities’ morungexpress"

NSCN (IM) questions India’s ‘sensibilities’ morungexpress

Dimapur, February 5 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has expressed deep anguish and disappointment with the way the Indian government has been dealing with the ‘present downhill trend of situation launched by Azheto group encouraging “gangsterism and criminalism at the expense of the people”’ and in this regard has called for setting up of an independent inquiry team from the various Naga civil bodies and social organizations in order to “verify all doubts of allegations and counter allegations by Azheto group”.
A press note issued by the National Security Council of the NSCN (IM) pointed out that crimes were now rampant and that law and order has broken down completely after President’s Rule has been imposed in Nagaland state. “This has made things clear beyond doubt that Azheto’s group has the direct blessing of the Indian Government”, the NSCN (IM) stated and pointed out that allowing an open illegal camp at Vihokhu village as their nerve centre is a clear example of India’s backing to Azheto’s group. “Who can now deny the fact that Indian government has treacherous double standard! Therefore, such policy of the Indian government is a total negation of the long search for mutually acceptable solution through peaceful means”, the NSCN (IM) stated. The NSCN informed that it had taken a ‘thorough assessment’ of the situation around Dimapur.
The NSCN (IM) observed that “since a crowd of reckless elements led by Azheto Chophy deserted Council Headquarters in the name of Naga unification” there has been “relentless unleashing of terror of abduction for ransom, extortion, intimidation and even taking innocent life whose family fails to pay up the demand”. The NSCN (IM) expressed sadness that such kind of shameful activities are happening under the patronage of the Sumi Hoho and the Western Sumi Hoho in the guise of unification. “Threat and intimidation cannot solve the problem of fear and insecurity, “as darkness cannot do away with darkness; only light can drive away darkness” and that “so also hate cannot drive away hate; only love can drive away hate”. NSCN (IM) affirmed that it still stood by the declaration of the January 13 2007 whereby its Chairman Isak Chishi Swu had proclaimed that NSCN (IM) strives for reconciliation and unification of all Nagas through forgiveness and that no stone shall be left unturned towards this end.
The NSCN (IM) stated that it had been exercising maximum restraint despite utmost provocation and it is not a sign of weakness. “But the patience is wearing thin and when the NSCN takes necessary step to save the situation in the interest of the people, Indian government shall be solely responsible for any fall-out”, it cautioned. The NSCN (IM) stated that it was time for the Indian leadership to be sensible and hold themselves from such course of senseless collision.
NSCN (IM) questions President’s Rule orungexpress
Dimapur, February 5 (MExN): The NSCN-IM on Tuesday once again expressed its unhappiness with the Government of India for the latter's manner of dealing things in Nagaland. The NSCN-IM alleged that the Indian security forces personnel have been refusing to acknowledge the identity cards issued the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (Govt of India) and detains those ID card holders.
"With the onset of President Rule in Nagaland all ethical norms is going the way of the non-existence law in the midst of Law Enforcing agencies that respect no law which was enforced for the last ten years as part of the Indo-Naga Ceasefire. Shamelessly, the government of India proclaimed President Rule in Nagaland giving reason for breakdown of law and order. This has been ridiculously proved wrong as testified by the present situation, particularly in the commercial hub of Nagaland, Dimapur where the hoodlums and ruffians that has taken the form of a rogue gene but wearing the mask of Naga unification to hoodwink the Naga's obsession for unification," said the NSCN-IM.
The outfit also stated that realistically, a cruel deception all the way. The President's Rule for all practical purpose has come to serve the purpose of strengthening the unification hands of Azheto gang that has gone awry, added the NSCN-IM. "The abduction spree for ransom by Azheto gang has changed the face of Dimapur as the city of gangster. But with the blessing of the government of India, Azheto gang is taking recourse to smear campaign targeting certain persons of a particular community who have refused to be their partners-in-crime. Fabricating false statement and other planted stories to defend their crumbling façade of unification is now the exercise in futility, " further stated the NSCN-IM on Tuesday.
The outfit then alleged that ironically, the Indian Security forces moving about the town of Dimapur in a typical war-like manner is singing in a different tune now, refusing to honour the Identity Card issued by Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) and detaining such ID card holders for no sensible reasons given the still existing ceasefire between NSCN and government of India. "This is the new face of the Security Forces under the President Rule. But the question to be answered by the government of India is what is the actual status of the Indo-Naga Ceasefire under the present political scheme of the President Rule?," asked the NSCN-IM.
NSCN (I-M) slams Sumi bodies Nagaland Post
Dimapur, Feb 5 (NPN): The National Security Council (NSC) of NSCN (I-M) Tuesday squarely blamed the Sumi Hoho and the Western Sumi Hoho for the upsurge in incidents of abduction for ransom, extortion, intimidation and killing etc in Dimapur.
A press release issued by the NSC of NSCN (I-M) alleged the violent and "shameful activities" were being perpetrated under the patronage of "the Sumi Hoho and the Western Sumi Hoho in the guise of unification".
The NSC said the present situation was created ever since a "crowd of reckless elements led by Azheto Chophy deserted Council Headquarters in the name of Naga unification".
The NSC reaffirmed to stand by the January 13, 2007, proclamation of NSCN (I-M) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu that "NSCN will strive for reconciliation and unification of all Nagas through forgiveness and that no stone shall be left unturned towards this end".
Expressing anguish and disappointment with the way in which Government of India was dealing with the present situation "launched by Azheto group encouraging gangsterism and criminalism at the expense of the people", the NSC said it was clear beyond doubt from rampant criminal activities and breakdown of law and order after the imposition of President's Rule that the group led by Azheto had the direct blessing of Government of India.
"Allowing an open illegal camp at Vihokhu village as their nerve centre is a clear example of India's backing to Azheto group. Who can now deny the fact that Indian government has treacherous double standard"!
The NSC pointed out that such policy of Government of India was a total negation of the long-searched mutually-acceptable solution of the Naga issue through peaceful means.
The NSC said its maximum restraint despite utmost provocation should not be viewed as a sign of weakness. It cautioned that "the patience is wearing thin and when the NSCN takes necessary step to save the situation in the interest of the people, Indian government shall be solely responsible for any fall-out".
Meanwhile, the NSCN (I-M) said it would welcome constitution of any independent inquiry team from the various Naga civil societies and social organizations in order to verify all doubts of allegations and counter allegations by the Azheto group.
WSH condemns
Dimapur, Feb 5 (NPN): Condemning the latest anti-social activities in Dimapur, the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) urged the law-enforcement agencies as well as the citizens to be more vigilant in order to rein such activities. A release issued by WSH border cell secretary Bohoi K. Yepthomi alleged some individuals and groups were disturbing the peaceful atmosphere in the name of national workers. The WSH urged the general public to cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies. On its part, the Hoho pledged to extend its fullest cooperation for restoration of a peaceful atmosphere in the district in particular and the State in general. Further, the Hoho appealed to those businessmen, who still kept their establishments closed, to reopen them in the interest of students and general public.
NNC executive meeting Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR: The NNC has convened an executive meeting of the Central Executive Council Members of all the Regions on February 13 and the general meeting on February 14.
The NNC in a press release issued by Mhasi Angami, Information & Publicity Wing, NNC has requested all the members to make it convenient to attend "this important and historic meeting" for the larger interest of the Naga people as already decided by the NNC.
Further, the NNC said all the Regional Authorities are compulsorily to attend both the meetings and asked all the Regions to contact the Central Authority for necessary arrangement of transportation and accommodation. The NNC also reiterated its stand for Peace and Unity of all the Nagas "as resolved time and again for the best interest of the Nation after fragmentation (division) because of the 1975 Shillong Accord."
The "NNC as the parent body of all the Nagas in particular and the North East Region in general" stand for the whole and all the Naga inhabited areas, it added.
It also called upon all the Nagas specially the factions to come together as a body (common front) for the best interest of the Nation for freedom before it is too late while at the same time wishes all the people in the Naga country a peaceful and prosperous life.
Mute spectators- Nagaland Post
It is very unfortunate that people who have been shouting for peace and unity have remained mute spectators to the ongoing spate of terrorist activities in Dimapur by the so called "NSCN (Unification)" led by defector, Azheto Chophy. When Dimapur is heading for an abnormal situation with the ongoing kidnapping, ransom and extortion by the members of Azheto's terror gang, where are Sumi Hoho, Western Sumi Hoho and Sumi church leaders who have been claiming as champion of peace and unity among the Naga groups.
While welcoming the peace and unity process initiated by the Sumi organizations, I want them to be pragmatic in their approaches as Nagas are closely watching the situation.
As for the Azheto's terror organisation shifting the blame on the NSCN for the spate of terrorist activities in Dimapur, I would only say Nagas are not fools.
According to information from Vihokhu terrorist camp, 'ss' deputy kilonser, Akato Chophy and his two accomplices, Isak Sumi and Akato Sumi, son in-law of Nihoto Chishi, alone have abducted several businessmen from Dimapur for huge ransoms. The three terrorists have also extorted lakhs of rupees from the town. There is also information that several members of same terrorist organization are indulging in such activities.
Lieutenant Hukato Yeptho Naga Army GPRN/NSCN (I-M).
39 abducted, cops silent OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Itanagar, Feb. 5: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union today claimed that 39 students were abducted by the Khaplang faction of the NSCN from six villages in Tirap district last month but the police and district administration have done nothing to ensure their release.
The apex students’ organisation of Arunachal Pradesh today served an ultimatum to the government saying that it would launch a statewide agitation if the children were not released within 10 days.
Some of those kidnapped are below seven years of age.
“We have also submitted a memorandum to Governor Gen. (retd) J.J. Singh and chief minister Dorjee Khandu seeking their intervention in the matter to ensure the safe return of the 39 students,” All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union president Kanu Bagang told reporters. Sources said armed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) militants kidnapped 22 children at gunpoint from their houses at Wakka and Chingkhow villages under Ponchu police station on January 9. Exactly a fortnight later, militants descended on Khasa, Jagan, Konnu and Konsa villages under Longding police station and kidnapped 17 children.
“The militants came walking, forced the children out of their houses and walked away with them into the darkness,” a source said. Though FIRs have been lodged at the two police stations, police have remained tightlipped about the incident.
A police officer at Tirap, however, said 13 of the abducted children have returned but did not give any details. “I cannot say anything on this, apart from the fact that we are trying our best for the safe release of the remaining children,” he said. The Arunachal Pradesh students’ union said it did not have any information of any student’s release as claimed by the police.
The president of the organisation criticised the government for the deteriorating law and order in the state, especially in Tirap and Changlang districts bordering Myanmar and Nagaland. He demanded that the state’s border be sealed to prevent militants from sneaking in from Myanmar.
The student leader also urged the state government to deploy paramilitary forces to combat insurgency in the trouble-torn districts. The president of Wangcho Students’ Union, Ngamwang Wangham, too, has urged the state government to ensure release of the abducted children.
Viewpoint over elections in Nagaland- Nagaland Post
I had earlier written two articles on the dubious means used for establishing the Indian state of Nagaland in 1963 entitled: "The 16 Point Agreement: The Greatest Betrayal in Naga History" and "The Illegality of Indian Elections in Nagaland". I will therefore not repeat myself with details of how some of our over ground leaders sold away our historical political and legal rights to India for their own personal benefits. I would however like to present some few thoughts and also pose some pertinent questions to all my fellow Nagas as another General election dawns on Nagaland with all its promises of political stability, economics prosperity and peace in the land.
To begin with, some of our State politicians have been saying that Statehood under India was the best thing that has ever happened in the history of the Nagas. Here, we all must acknowledge that statehood had indeed brought a lot of developmental activities into Nagaland. But the questions that we must ask before acknowledging these facts are as follows:
1. Whose blood and sacrifices were used for negotiating this Indian Nagaland state into a reality?
2. Whose money has been used for developing this Indian state of Nagaland for all these 35 years?
The answers are obvious. In the first place, it was the blood and sacrifices of all the Naga patriots who died between 1947 to 1963 that were used for negotiating statehood for Nagaland. The number of these deceased Naga patriots clearly stands above 100,000. They died when in the 1950's; over 645 Naga villages were burnt to ashes and in the subsequent forced dispersion hundreds and thousands died from bullets, starvation and disease. They died refusing to bow down to the Indian lie that Nagaland is part of Indian Territory and that Nagas are Indian. Ironically and diabolically and with the collaboration of some traitorous Nagas, their blood and their sacrifices were used for merging Nagaland with India. (For further details refer to the earlier mentioned articles).
In the second place, all the thousands and thousands of Indian rupees that were poured into Nagaland from 1960 to the present are the Indian tax payer's money. Our over ground politicians and so called citizens of the Indian state of Nagaland did not contribute this money for Nagaland's development. No, it is the Indian tax payer's money that the Indian politicians have siphoned off to Nagaland to cover up their crimes committed against the Naga nation. This developmental money is therefore blood money used for covering up blood crimes committed all over the length and breadth of Nagaland over a span of 60 long years. Here, the honest Indian tax payer has every right to insist that his hard earned tax money should not be used for such ignoble purposes in Nagaland. After all, these Indian tax payers owe nothing to the Nagas and we Nagas also do not want to develop ourselves with somebody else's hard earned money. In the light of this unholy and precarious political and economic relationship between India and Nagaland, future Naga politicians and economists must seriously start pondering over the following issues:
1. With the Nehru era fading away into history, will Rahul and Priyanka's generation allow the Indian tax payer's money to be squandered in Nagaland for all times to come so that a family's blunders can forever be kept a secret?
2. What will happen to Nagaland's future economy if suddenly an anti-Congress and anti-Nehru religious political party comes to power and decides to cut off all future economic assistance to Nagaland? Will our economy then be able to hang on thin air? Will it then be able to be sustained by our minister's and bureaucrat's accumulated wealth?
3. Will a Dravido Aryan race forever spoon feed a Mongolian race for all times to come? Or as one of our former Chief Ministers recently said, Should we enter into another agreement with India to the effect that India would generously finance Naga economy for another 30 years? Also, what will happen after the end of those 30 years?
Now, in spite of all these damning political facts and dangerous economic future, as another election dawns on Nagaland, our state politicians are once again promising us political stability, economic prosperity and most of all justice and the rule of law. The question however is whether we can build a just Naga society on the sinking sands of such an unjust and treacherous political and economic foundation. Yes, the question is: Can justice, grow forth from a foundation of injustice and treachery?
I for one do not believe so. This is because, if justice can grow out of injustice, then justice has no meaning because it is rooted in injustice. For me, to expect that justice can grow from a foundation of injustice is no different from expecting a beautiful flower to grow out of a desert of sand and Sun. In fact, far from justice growing out of injustice, injustice will always produces more injustice. One glaring example of this fact is the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958/73. Only a very unjust state built on the foundation of injustice can produce such a heinous law that nullifies even a citizen's right to life. In the final analysis, the fact is one where, injustice will always beget more injustice.
In the light of all these facts, our nation's political and economic future does not lie in the hands of the Indian state of Nagaland or the government of India. Therefore, for our own sakes and for the sake of our children's future, let us stop worshiping a FARCE and a SHADOW. Instead of reveling and even killing one another over a farcical election which is only a shadow of the real thing, let us instead pray that God will raise up a new generation of honest Nagas who will build a new Nagaland on the firm foundations of historical facts, political truths and legal and moral principles.
As another election dawns on us, let us not make a mockery of our historical political and legal rights by asserting that we have a right to nationhood and on the other hand, spending all our waking hours cooperating and collaborating with a foreign government that was so unjustly imposed on us. Finally, let me end by stating that despite 35 years of statehood, there is still no water supply in Kohima town - the capital city of Nagaland. As for electricity, it has been going on and off for the past 35 years. And of course the roads in the capital city are still mud filled pot holes. Some state indeed! Some development indeed!
Kaka D. Iralu.
Prioritizing Crisis morungexpress
Today’s world for the Nagas faces no shortage of challenging crisis: identity, political conflict, militarization, HIV/AIDS, financial instability, corruption, water, electricity, roadways and transport, widening gap between rich and poor, unemployment, education, public health care, telecommunication, migration, sanitation, deforestation, development and democratic governance. Then there are issues of insecurity, indifference, patriarchy, parochialism, attitude towards work culture, and the many different faces that represent the ‘ism’ prevailing in society.
Day after day, year after year, these issues raise dilemmas which result in affecting the life and health of a nation. The question therefore is how to confront and address these crises in an affective manner that will yield to constructive change. While the process of prioritizing severity of crisis and its responses is fundamental, the question remains, how does one conduct a cost-benefit analysis of human tragedies like epidemics, armed conflict and parochial politics?
Given the fact that there are limited resources, it makes sense for the government and other institutions to prioritize the degree of crisis and the response required, so that it results in a positive impact. Yet, just prioritizing is insufficient. The present response sheds light on a critical shortcoming in how Nagas themselves think about the crisis they face. While it is true to say that there is shortcoming in easy access to critical and decisive information that enables informed decisions, it is fair to say that information is already out in the public realm. What is lacking therefore is the, context.
While news media provides information, they are usually disconnected and fail to provide a useful context that helps arouse an understanding and a conscience which propels a society to respond proactively in addressing crisis. Non-government organizations, particularly those whose agenda and objectives are not defined by the local people, but are decided by projects and their funders adds to the confusion. Such projects overlook the context of the crisis and are prone to responding only to the consequences of the crisis and not its roots. Then there are the political parties and their institutions that derive policies not based on the context but, on its supposed ideological promise.
When one takes into account these competing voices for influence, where does it leave the people? A truth that lies within the experience and historical context of the people is necessary to speak out against the power. An analysis that moves the discourse beyond emotion and electoral policies is required. Nagas cannot fix everything at once. It is a matter of fact that all institutions from the family to companies and governments operate within constraint of resources and hence it is unavoidable, but to evolve a democratic process that prioritizes crisis and their responses. They will have to get their priorities straight and maybe the process can begin with defining the context of the crisis in a non-partisan manner
Yin and Yang: The media's role in the Burmese peace movement Katie Meyer Morungexpress
The "Saffron Revolution" took hold in Burma, mobilizing monks and citizens in the country and alerting the world to the economic and political crisis without a spokesperson for the movement and without any official media covering the demonstrations. It was just too dangerous for either to operate openly. This was dreadfully underscored by the death of Agence Presse France journalist Kenji Nagai on 28 September 2007 at the hands of military troops as he was photographing the demonstrations. The Japanese government has since called for an official investigation into his death.
Despite nearly insurmountable barriers to press freedom and media access and serious danger, Burmese monks and citizens managed send their call for action across the country. They also managed to get the world's attention, making the story of the monks' protests dominate news headlines and inspire diplomatic intervention internationally. Only one percent of the Burmese population has access to Internet. Even when citizens or journalists in Burma log on they find it unpredictable --blocked, suspended and monitored by the junta. Since the crackdown, it has only been available sporadically for a few hours a day.
Information flow is further hampered by the impossible costs of information communication technologies (ICTs). An Internet hook-up costs the equivalent of two year's average salary - US$800. Purchasing a cell phone in Burma costs US$3000.
In the face of adversity, Burmese citizens have been getting creative. "Public mobile phones" - that is, cell phones that are rented out to individuals -- have become an important means of communication. These public phones also provide some security since a phone's multiple users make it more difficult for the junta to effectively monitor calls. These phones also allowed Burmese to take pictures and send them out to the world. "Citizen journalism" was being applied in Burma without people being conscious of what it meant, explains Roby Alampay, Director of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). "Young people knew how to get access and upload documents and images. They were sending information between their peers and to news agencies and contacts outside the country. If it weren't for those choppy, silent videos we wouldn't have had an idea about the movement going on inside the country."
SEAPA has been mobilizing international attention to the situation of Burmese media, in part through the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), a network of 81 free expression organizations worldwide. In October, the network struck a Burma Action Group and has been lobbying the UN Special Envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, to raise the issue of Internet access and the repression of all media inside Burma in his meetings with the junta. Alampay explains that before the crackdown there were thriving media houses that were pushing the envelope, albeit discreetly, in journalism dedicated to sports, astrology and entertainment. While the flow of information was very slow, at least Burmese could circulate ideas. Daily newspapers have been impossible to publish in Burma since each issue is reviewed by the Press Scrutiny and Regulation Department (PSRD) - the censorship board - which normally takes about a week.
However, since the crackdown, the PSRD have been overwhelmed by the need to scrutinize potentially controversial material, causing the private media to come to a standstill. The backlog at the department also means that the government is censoring itself, so very little information is circulating in the country. Difficulties have been further compounded for these existing media groups inside Burma since the junta banned the names of 20 authors from publishing in any media outlet. While all of these writers have been writing under pseudonyms, they are finding the ban crippling to their profession and are facing the challenge of developing new names under which they can write. But their reputations cannot be built again overnight.
Meanwhile, exiled radio, print and online media groups outside Burma have been a critical source of information for inspiring the monks, mobilizing the population, and alerting the outside world. Burmese peace activist in exile Nai Nai (a pseudonym used for her protection) explains that according to reports, one of the monks who initiated the demonstrations said that he was so moved by a media report wherein a young woman explained her decision to join the underground student movement and leave her young baby who was still nursing for the sake of the future of the country. It was after that interview that he decided to act.
Also, as a result of media coverage, monks from around the country got involved and the process by which they called for the government to ask for forgiveness and address the poverty and economic crisis in the country became transparent. "The crackdown situation has been incredibly important in making the Burmese realize the value of the Internet and of exile media houses for sending and receiving information," says Nai Nai.
Soe Myint, the founding editor of Mizzima.com, an online independent media house dedicated to covering Burma, has been training exiles in Thailand, India, and Bangladesh in journalism. These journalists work under extremely precarious circumstances without official papers or refugee status. Without the existence of media such as Mizzima.com and The Irrawaddy -- another exile media outlet -- there would be limited opportunities for Burmese journalists to access training and practice their profession.
Mizzima.com has also been building an underground network of sources for news stories under very dangerous circumstances. Soe Myint explains that it takes many months and sometimes years to establish information channels in Burma since Mizzima needs to build trust, train sources, and covertly send ICTs into the country. Even after the ICTs reach contacts, they need to set up covert places to access them. And then, sources keep a low profile for a while before any information can be sent out.
"The foremost challenge the journalists inside Burma face is safety because the junta is making all-out efforts to crack down the flow of information between inside and outside the country," says Soe Myint.International news organizations that have dedicated broadcasts into Burma have also been essential to mobilizing the population. Before the crackdown, the Voice of America, Democratic Voice of Burma and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had dedicated broadcast service of about an hour a day into the country, which they expanded to meet the population's needs for information. While not all Burmese have access to radio it is one of the cheaper and more accessible options, particularly for those living in rural areas.
While inside and outside Burma media proved to be an effective force for mobilization, it also came at a cost. Many journalists and activists have been arrested, gone missing, killed and jailed by the regime.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Ko Thu Ya Soe, a 30-year-old photographer who works for the German agency EPA, has been missing since the start of October 2007. He was last seen taking photos near the Sule pagoda in Rangoon. No one, not even his family, has any idea where he is. Win Saing, a photographer arrested on 28 August is also reportedly still under arrest. And while images of the protestors sent from cell phones alerted the world to the struggle for peace and justice in Burma, it also unfortunately gave tools to the junta to arrest and detain people based on their identification in these photographs. "International news agencies probably didn't consider the impact that exposing the faces of those protestors would mean for individuals who have since gone missing based on the publication of these photos," says Nai Nai. The "Saffron Revolution" happened as a result of the domino or spiraling effect that appears to be almost built into the monks' systems. My Buddhist Burmese friend Nai Nai explained it this way:
One monk can boycott or refuse someone who offers something ("his giver") if he feels there is something wrong or indecent in that giver's action. This can also occur if someone has acted badly - i.e. engaging in torture, verbal or physical abuse and/or is harming the community. When a monk wants to engage in a boycott he must go to the sacred area in the temple (the same place where monks are also fully admitted into that community) and chant his mantra. Upon hearing his boycott the other monks from the temple will also automatically come to the boycott. If not, monks that do not participate in support of the boycott will be relegated to the "unjust side."
In the case of the recent uprising, it occurred because monks in Upper Burma, upset with the people's poverty there, went out for their morning alms (this is when people come out and give offering to the monks early in the mornings since they live off the goodwill of the community and hence were themselves also suffering under the current economic crisis) but they only said prayers and did not take offerings. They sang chants in the streets and called for other monks to join. In response, the military came and beat those monks, tying them to lamp posts and hitting them with the backs of their guns. There are unconfirmed reports that one monk died as a result of torture.
This set of incidents, particularly the killing of a monk, gave the other monks a concrete reason for an official boycott against members of the junta military government. The boycott is significant because of what it means. If you are boycotted, the monks cannot perform important religious rites -- they cannot attend your funeral (so your spirit cannot be freed from your body) and you cannot offer alms to the monks and hence cannot really practice Buddhism.
Before starting the boycott, the monks gave a deadline of 17 September 2007 for the government to come and ask for forgiveness. When that did not occur, the boycott started on 18 September.
Because of the media's coverage, monks from around the country got involved and the process became transparent. The monks spearheaded the action by chanting in the streets during the first week of demonstrations. They did not allow the public to participate; they just drew the people's attention, binding people's hearts to the message and giving them courage to also act by their own bravery. People felt so moved by the action against the suffering that they also joined the demonstrations, first building a protective wall of people around the monks as they walked the streets and later fully joining in.
"The movement was based on peace in the hearts of monks, which was inspiring to the people." After the protests, the clear demands from the monks came.

A ‘Bodo village’ in Nagoya, Japan! From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
GORESWAR, Feb 4 – Three Japanese resource persons, who are well-known nature and culture lovers, visited Assam recently with a view to explore the Kaziranga and Manas National Parks including Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary for their natural scenic beauty and exquisite flora and fauna.

Kuniharu Tamai, Chubu Branch Chief Planner, planning, research, environment, consultant of PREC Institute Inc, Nagoya city, Japan, Yuri Nakagawa, vice-chief, Chubu branch Planning, Research, Environment and Consultant of PREC Institute, Naka-ku, Nagoya city, Japan and Dr Kenji Wako, Professor, Department of Environmental Design, Osaka University of Arts, Kanancho Osaka, Japan visited the State along with a cameraman. The team was led by Dr Kenji Wako from faraway Japan to Assam.

They visited the two National Parks and the Wildlife Sanctuary one after another and had a first-hand experience of the flora and fauna. During their visit to the National Parks, they were guided by Ananda Ram Boro, senior research scholar, Zoological Survey of India.

The Japanese scholars visited many villages of Assam mainly belonging to tribal people to study the varied cultural ethos and heritage of rural life in the State.

They found the villagers culturally sophisticated and that every village had a lot to offer. So these Japanese began to visit the villages of the Karbi, Dimasa, Boro, Rabha, Mising, Bengali and other ethnic groups with a view to study the status of life as against life in Japan. They found similarities in social customs and culture between the Bodos and the Japanese. They treasured various ideals of Bodo social culture on their journey back home.

They now plan to establish a Zoological garden in Nagoya city in Japan with similarities to the Kaziranga and Manas National Parks. According to their plan, they would be setting up tribal village (like the Bodos) around their proposed garden reflecting Bodo culture and ambience.

The team visited the Bodo villages such as Balahati, Kadamguri, Bagdoba, Gurmow and others in Goreswar area in Baksa district, BTC accompanied by Ananda Boro.

They were felicitated with ‘Arnai’ by All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) unit of Goreswar and welcomed with Kherai dance performed on ABSU office premises by Rwiswmi of Balabari village and Boro Rameha team under the aegis of Kamal (Hangama) Boro and Amar Narzary, president and vice-president, ABSU unit of Goreswar. The team while visiting Goreswar town interacted with reporters and public.

Hope floats for Bodo melodies OUR CORRESPONDENT Kokrajhar The Telegraph
Feb. 5: Folk artistes of the Bodo belt have come together to revive lost tunes and preserve the rich repertoire of music in its original form. Music Vision Kendra, a local NGO, hosted a 25-day workshop in the district with an aim to preserve the traditional Bodo tunes. The workshop concluded on January 29.
“The purpose of the project is to revive and preserve the Bodo folk songs and their original tunes, ” said the director of the organisation, Pungkha Mohilary.
At the workshop, some renowned folk artistes performed Bodo songs. The team from Music Vision Kendra collected and recorded several of these songs by these artistes and ustads. These songs will be transformed into notations to be included in Indian and English music systems.
A musician and lyricist, Mohilary expressed regret over the delay in organising the workshop. “We should have taken up the project a years ago. Some of the renowned artistes and ustads are no more. We could have preserved their creations. It could have been a treasure.”
Echoing him, numero uno Bodo singer Bigrai Brahma said there are some beautiful folk songs, which have become extinct. “We need to preserve these songs. The organisation will try its best to collect the songs of the ustads as soon as possible,” added Brahma, the president of the group.
Music Kendra also plans to publish a book on the evolution of Bodo folk songs. The team from the organisation visited villages of the district and met the artistes and ustads of Bodo jatragans. These jatragans, which were once a popular means of entertainment for the masses, are now dying a slow death.
Two women killed in Chandel IED blast, SF culprits claims UNLF The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Feb. 5 : At least two women died and one was seriously injured when a powerful IED exploded at around noon yesterday on the New Somtal Road under Molcham Police Station of Chandel district.

According to police source all the victims were labourers employed under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) who were involved in clearing and maintenance of the road.

Two of the victims identified as Paoneng Haokip 42 wife of Jamkhothang and Hoilem Guite 25 wife of Thangtinlen both residents of New Somtal Village reportedly died at the spot in the blast.

One of their co-workers, Lhingkhonem Haokip 45 wife of Thangkhogin Haokip of New Somtal reportedly sustained splinter injuries and she was taken to hospital at Imphal this morning after given first aid at the PHSC of New Somtal village last night.

The source added that the bodies of the two deceased women have been picked up from the spot by the Tengnoupal police and brought to Tengnoupal Police station. The bodies would be brought to either Lilong morgue or RIMS morgue for post mortem.

In the meantime, the underground United National Liberation Front, UNLF, has claimed that three women died while others were also injured in the incident, which it blamed on the security forces.

The UNLF in a statement issued by its senior publicity officer, Ksh Yoiheiba, said the UNLF and the MPA sincerely shared the sorrow of the bereaved families.

It also charged that the incident was part of the Indian security forces` nefarious tactics to alienate the public from the UNLF, stating that there have been many instances when bombs planted by the security forces had claimed civilian lives, but which was blamed on the UNLF/MPA.

This is evident from the fact that no such incident had taken place while the Indian forces were advancing to New Somtal, or during their occupation of the place, but only after their withdrawal, it said.