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02/09/2008: "AICC seal on integration - Poll manifesto breaks the mould OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

AICC seal on integration - Poll manifesto breaks the mould OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


A rally to support the Naga demand for integration
Kohima, Feb. 8: The AICC today endorsed its Nagaland unit’s demand for the integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas, seemingly unmindful of the potential for discord in the party units in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
The seal of approval came through AICC secretary Siddharth Patil, who is in Nagaland to oversee the party’s preparations for the Assembly elections on March 5. He said the Congress was committed to implementing the 16-point statehood agreement, including the controversial clause on integration, “in letter and spirit”.
Clause 13 of the agreement states that all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas will be yoked together under a single administration. Clause 2 of the same agreement seeks to place Nagaland under the external affairs ministry. Nagaland was under the external affairs ministry for seven years after being granted statehood in 1963. It was brought under the internal affairs ministry in the early seventies, when Hokishe Sema was the chief minister. Goa Governor S.C. Jamir, also a former chief minister, is the only living signatory to the controversial 16-point agreement.
The erstwhile Jamir government adopted several resolutions in the Assembly to pressure Delhi into bringing all Naga-inhabited areas under one administration, but the party’s central leadership was noncommittal on the topic. Patil said the Congress would strive hard to facilitate an “acceptable and honourable” political settlement of the integration issue.
Integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas is also a demand raised by the NSCN (Isak-Muivah). The militant group has been in dialogue with Delhi for almost a decade and the issue of bringing all Naga-inhabited areas under “Nagalim” has been the stumbling block because it involves carving out parts of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Congress’s manifesto for Nagaland, which was released today, reinforces what Patil said. The eight-page manifesto states that the Congress will continue to remind Delhi about the need to implement the 16-point agreement. “The Congress has always stood for peace, reconciliation, unity and social harmony. The Congress’s way shall be the way of dialogue, not discord.”
The manifesto also makes a case for reviewing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act, both of which are seen as “draconian”.
Former Speaker Lohe and team join forces with Rio Imtinaro Longkumer morungexpress
Sakraba, February 8 (MExN): In a clear proof that there is always an option in politics, former Speaker Z. Lohe and around 2000 of his supporter today resolved to resign en-masse from the Congress party and support NPF official candidate KG Kenye. More than 2000 supporters of Z Lohe from 17 different villages of 17 Chizami A/C in a general meeting held at Sakraba on Friday resolved to resign en-masse and support the said candidate, in the presence of former chief minister Neiphiu Rio today.
In its resolution, the former Congress members expressed deep resentment and disappointment at the way its veteran leader Z. Lohe who is one of the most loyal, trustworthy and dedicated among the present Congress leaders in Nagaland and also the contribution and sacrifices of his supporters who stood by him through thick and thin, were undermined. In other words, both the leader and his supporters was humiliated by being denied a Congress ticket by the AICC, the resolution stated.
Pointing out it is not hapless or desperate, the resolution stated that rather it has better options and went on to say that it was indeed an opportunity for them to join hands with the regional party and work for betterment of the people, ACCC 17 Chizami A/C Avekho Ruho and former President and former general secretary ACCC 17 Chizami A/C and Shekhoto Resuh stated. While stating that they have faith in the ‘capable and dynamic leadership’ of Neiphiu Rio, former chief minister of Nagaland and the ‘mature and stable leadership’ of Dr. ShurhozeIie, president of NPF, it has unanimously resolved to join NPF en-masse from today.
Addressing a rally at Sakraba, former chief minister Neiphiu Rio in his address at the rally thanked the supporter of Z Lohe and said that there is time for everything and that he believes that this change is for good. “Not only in this constituency but even in other constituencies the Congress party has deserted their loyal party men and accepted habitual defector for bringing down the DAN government”. Welcoming the resolution, he further stated that the resolution has built friendship and this friendship will strengthen the bond.
Continued on page 10
“We need to rely on ourselves and rule and we will come back to power by the people’s court in the forthcoming general election”, Rio added. Several other speakers on the occasion including former speaker Z Lohe and other former Congress activists expressed their resentment and castigated the Congress party for denying ticket to Z Lohe who is also one of the most sincere and dedicated leader to the party and declared that it will support the NPF official candidate K G Kenye and ensured that he win the election in the forthcoming general election. Meanwhile, peeved with the central leadership over the issue of party ticket the Phek Division Congress unit is scheduled to meet tomorrow at Pfutsero and decide the future course of action tomorrow.

Jamir ambush report sent to Centre morungexpress
Dimapur, February 8 (MExN): The union government has been forwarded a list of recommendations as follow-up action to the enquiry report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiring into the assassination bid on Goa Governor Dr. SC Jamir. The former Nagaland chief minister escaped a bid on his life on November 24, last year in Mokokchung. The Governor is informed to have ‘accepted’ the ‘recommendation,’ highly-place state officials disclosed.
The Governor’s office ‘accepting’ the recommendations made by the state government is observed to be a virtual final close in investigations into the ambush on Goa Governor Dr. SC Jamir. State officials, on condition of anonymity, implied that the recommendations may be viewed as bringing a close to the inquest since it is “inconclusive” and there is lack of “hard evidences.” While unable to disclose when the recommendations was made, it was informed that the points was submitted ‘as soon as’ the SIT submitted its investigation report. The recommendations were forwarded by the state government as a follow-up action on the report submitted by the SIT following more than one-month investigation into circumstances and events surrounding the November 24 assassination attempt. The SIT had submitted its report to the state government on January 10, after a series of deferment and request for additional time.
According to a state bureaucrat in the Home department only about four broad ‘recommendations’ are contained in the state’s follow up report forwarded to the Centre. These recommendations mentioned that due to absence of “hard evidences” the perpetrators, or their identities, could not be ascertained. This meant no further investigation could be taken forward and the only matter left to address was to take preemptive measures to deter attacks, the official implied. Also, the state’s ‘recommendations’ concurred that security to the Goa Governor was adequate. However, security arrangements for him may be enhanced and the item may be implemented by the state government. Any response from the Centre has yet to be received, the government official said. “As per report, there is nothing we can say for now. There is no conclusive evidence” a home department official said referring to who could be responsible for attacking Dr. Jamir.
Interestingly, while it was informed that the SIT’s report has culminated into the recommendations, the home department is “examining the report.” Mention may be made here that the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) report on January 10 stated to be in dark regarding the offenders responsible for the abortive attack on the former Nagaland chief minister. However, it had pointed to ‘some of our militant groups’ according to a security official closely associated with the investigation (The Morung Express, January 25).
The report had also ruled out the veracity of the allegations that Jamir staged the incident for political mileage and that there was lapse in the security or adequacy of security arrangements. However, it was also admitted by highly reliable sources associated with the investigation that information of Jamir’s movement was leaked out, most possibly by someone from within the governor’s own security assemblage. The Union government’s response is awaited.
Teachers say NO to poll duties morungexpress
Dimapur, February 8 (MExN): The Supreme Court of India had earlier ruled that teachers cannot be deployed for election duties and on this, the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) reminds the state election chiefs to uphold the judgment and exempt the teaching community. (Referring to the Supreme Court’s judgment that teachers cannot be deployed on election duty) “…the Supreme Court has upheld the Delhi High Court Judgment asserting that schools teachers cannot be deployed for election duty during working days” stated a letter from ANSTA addressed to Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer CJ Ponraj. The teachers reminded that a bench comprising of Justice SB Sinha and Justice HS Bedi had put their seal of approval on the Delhi High Court ruling by dismissing the appeal made by the Election Commission of India against the court’s verdict.
“As contained in the said judgment that deploying of school teachers in the election duty hampers the academic interest and career of the students (and) schools. It is worth mentioning that by nature, teachers’ assignment is duty bound to teach the students and complete the contents syllabus within the given time frame” the ANSTA informed through Kepelhoutuo Chusi, president and N Thungchio Shitire, general secretary. The association in this regard had also submitted a representation in this regard but the matter was not considered. “The reason being, when the Teachers are deployed as Presiding Officer and Polling Officer etc., they have to undergo electioneering training and requires number of days for polling arrangement to be carried out by neglecting their bonafide classroom activities” the teachers explained. The association requests the CEO to consider the said ruling of the Supreme Court and ensure that no school teacher is deployed in the coming state general election…so as to avoid the inconvenience of running regular classes as well as ongoing HSLC/HSSLC coaching classes of which the examination shall be held right after the election is over.”
Trade, Look East policy & NE Manoj Pant morungexpress
With the PM’s recent visit to Arunachal and announcement of a large infrastructure expenditure package for the state, the North-East (N-E) is really the flavour of the month. In a sense the PM’s visit is a continuation of an N-E policy which gained momentum as far back as 1996 when 10% of all central ministry funds were earmarked for the N-E with carry over provisions in every budget. The budget this year is likely to continue this trend. Actually, an N-E policy is driven as much by security considerations as pure economic reasoning.
While there is nothing wrong with this (look at China!) it is surprising why N-E ‘gurus’ have been unwilling to admit this. In the past, commentators on the N-E have tried to gloss over the external security issue in Arunachal in particular and only recently do we see some statements in this context. However, here we will concentrate on the trade aspects of what is now labelled India’s ‘Look East’ (LE) policy. But first, it is important to understand the genesis of the LE policy. Having worked on the economics of the N-E states for the past ten years or so, I tried to find out what exactly the LE policy means.
Talking to a number of retired bureaucrats in the MEA was no help: all of them claimed that they were the originators of the term but none could tell me what it implies. However, in general, one can place the origin of the term to around the early ’90s. That at least seems the general consensus. Let’s then look at the possibilities. LE could mean one or all of three things, the Indian economy looking East (to Asean, Japan, etc), the N-E looking East (to Myanmar, Bangladesh and beyond) or the Centre looking to the N-E. The first is a distinct possibility but does not necessarily have anything to do with the N-E.
One of the misconceptions among commentators on the N-E is the belief that the Centre can hardly look to the East without looking at the N-E. Presumably this refers to India’s attempts to boost trade with the East-Asian economies and diversifying away from a trade pattern biased toward the West. But to assume that this must mean any benefit to the N-E is invalid. It is equivalent to saying that India cannot trade with the EU without going through the Middle East! Today, sea transport (the dominant form) accounts for as little as 5% of the landed cost of any commodity. Hence, geographical closeness has little to with trade except in the limited border trade (trade in bulky items like cement, timber, coal, jute, etc).
It is not surprising that the much vaunted ‘international airport’ at Guwahati has been a complete non-starter with all its (now non-operational) cold storages being a mute testimony to faulty planning. So India’s trade with the Asian countries does not imply automatic gains to the N-E. What about the N-E looking East? Currently, the N-E’s trade with its neighbours is limited by policy to barter trade either with Myanmar or China. But, apart from policy impediments it is clear that the N-E economies (especially the hill economies) are largely subsistence agricultural economies (See the NIPFP Draft Vision 2020 document, Vol II on NEC home page).
Given the low income levels in bordering economies, economic theory tells us that trade between the N-E and its neighbours is likely to be mainly in basic agricultural goods. Yet, this itself could be a big boost to the N-E if not limited by the poor intra-N-E connectivity. It seems common sense that one can hardly expect farmers in the N-E to trade with bordering countries if they don’t first trade among themselves.
What this implies is that the infrastructure policy of the N-E must focus on road and rail rather than air connectivity. To put it differently, the LE policy is constrained more by the lack of trade among the N-E states rather than the infrastructure for border trade. More specifically, unless intra N-E connectivity improves, farmers will not produce more for the internal and external markets. This brings us to the third interpretation of the LE policy. The Centre must look to the N-E as the lack of local entrepreneurs implies that road and other infrastructure will not come up as a result of private demand. Hence, the primary emphasis must be on promoting internal connectivity in the N-E with public funds. This also addresses the equally important security dimension for the country as a whole. Today the problem is not that the N-E states are not trading with their neighbours but that they are not trading amongst themselves. The objective of the Centre should be to first create a market within the N-E rather than with the neighbours. Creating intra-N-E connectivity will link the farmers to internal markets. The bottom line? The economic approach to the problems of the NE seems to be based more on historical romanticism than cold economic facts. May be, the best thing would be to leave implementation of the LE policy to the ministries of infrastructure and agriculture rather than to the ministries of commerce and external affairs.
Jamir graces NSUP meet Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR: Former chief minister of Nagaland and present Goa Governor, Dr. S. C. Jamir, asked the Naga students' community in Pune to develop their intellectuality and remodel the educational system through their intellectual contribution in North Eastern Region making it a "paradise on earth" and letting Delhi look at it as the most potential region in India.
Addressing the Naga Students Union Pune (NSUP) at Symbiosis Institute, Auditorium, Kirkee, Pune, Jamir said, "Sooner or later, the peace will dominate in our region. Be brave like a lion with endurance and with that spirit, we can surpass the mainland India because we are the good people."
He also advocated the need for northeast people to come together and be "deeply involve in re-inventing the society, to be united, progressive and competitive, to compete with the rest of the world."
Stating that people of North East have more advantages than others for their looks and their comfortability in the English language Jamir said the Northeastern people could be good Ambassador in South East Asia.
He also said the dreams of Northeastern people cannot survive without coming together and urged the Northeast to come together as one regardless of state boundaries dispute.
"We the north east people need to look at the economic, political, cultural unit as one. Think of the extortion and killing going on at home. What a pity, what a sad thing," he said.
Answering to queries put to him by the students on if the "Look East Policy" would be successful without solving the insurgent problems in Northeast and if the region was neglected by the Central government for the last 40-50 years and as a result many insurgent groups had emerged Jamir said he was talking to the government of India for making Guwahati to be the economic hub of the northeastern region.
He also said that the northeastern region was neglected but expressed confident to have peace and development in the region.
Muivah’s politics not in the interest of the Nagas- Nagaland Post
Sensing frustration from being alienated by the Nagas, Th. Muivah has started playing factional politics by involving "ism" into Naga National movement. By terming NSCN leader Azheto Chophy and other leaders who were joint signatories for unification as habitual defectors, it is clear that Muivah is dead against Naga unification. After all the efforts made by the different factions and Naga civil society and frontal organizations to end bloodshed and killings among the Nagas, Th. Muivah has gifted the families of 6 (six), the dead bodies of their loved ones in Mokukchung, Dimapur and Phek. Muivah boasts of taking the Naga issue to the International level as well, but instead of playing factional politics, he should instead talk of Naga sovereignty. The Nagas made him a leader to speak for the Nagas, but even after several rounds of talks he has had with India, he still fails to spell out the Charter of Demands to the Nagas.
If Th. Muivah is at all, a true Naga leader, why would he involve in the Indian-sponsored elections as he has been doing in the past? The NSCN, GPRN has enough proof and evidence that he and his gang is actively supporting a political party in the coming elections in order to gain his interests. Muivah and his gang is blaming the unification group for being involved in kidnapping, extortion and illegal collections in order to cover up his anti-Naga activities through the media. But instead, he should pinpoint the actual facts, the involvement of his own erring cadres before throwing allegations on others.
Muivah should know that the Nagas' desire for unity is being realized and the GBs, DBs forum, tribal frontal organizations are working earnestly towards achieving this long felt need of the Nagas. But why is he violating his own Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu's desire for unity and reconciliation among the Nagas. Every Naga knows that Isak Chishi Swu's proclamations and declarations are being overruled and played down by Th. Muivah and that Muivah's politics is purely not in the interest of the Nagas. It should be the endeavour of all Nagas, irrespective of tribes, community or social organizations to support the unification process and as leaders of the Naga Nation, people like Th. Muivah should not defile the aspirations of the Nagas.
Hokato Vusshe, spokesman, Unified NSCN.
NNC Sumi Region on ‘imposter’ Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR: The Naga National Council (NNC) Sumi Region on Friday said that the Central body has not looked after the region in every aspect and have not taken up the issue seriously up to this date. The Information and Publicity Wing, Sumi Reion NNC in a press release said that as such the region have been facing untold "financial difficulties" for which it had decided to seek financial assistance in forms of contribution and donations.
It said the region approached few bodies, establishments in Kohima and Dimapur "as these two places happens to be the home of various Naga tribes in general."
Further the NNC Sumi region said in honouring the Sumi Hoho Kohima request to excuse schools and other establishments it had withdrawn the matter and "nothing have been taken or received."
Clarifying to a news item that appeared on February 7 under the headline "NNC informs on imposters" said the matter could be directly clarified from the Sumi Hoho, Kohima. It also said that this clarification was not issued in favour of an individual (K. Vikato Zhimo), it also asked all for any case or issues relating to Sumi Region to firstly officially consult or confirm it with the region.
'How Many Monks Must Die Before The UN Moves?'Marwaan Macan-Markar Inter Press Service

For one Buddhist monk from Burma, the brutal crackdown of peaceful street protests in the country last September was anything but a victory for the military regime. The force used by the junta exposed its true character to the world. “The international community really got to know how oppressive the Burmese military regime is,” said the monk, leaning slightly forward on the chair he was seated on as if to emphasise the point. “That is one of the advantages of our struggle.” “There were many people who were killed -- monks, students, the public - when the military brutally attacked the people who were demonstrating,” he went on. “It also showed why the military regime is responsible for the way Burmese Buddhism has been treated. The history is ugly.”
But the junta is not the only body that comes to mind as he reflects on what has happened over four months after the crackdown of street protests, the likes of which have not been seen in nearly two decades in that South-east Asian country. “I want to ask the U.N. Security Council how many monks and people have to be sacrificed before the U.N. Security Council intervenes,” he continues.
And the Ven. Ashin Kovida is the ideal candidate to speak out against both entities. He was in Rangoon when the junta ordered its heavily armed troops to fire at the unarmed demonstrators. He was also the head of the committee of monks that helped shape the march of thousands through the streets of Rangoon during that brief September cry for economic relief and political freedom.
The march that the 15-member Buddhist Monks’ Representative Committee led had over 100,000 people on to the streets of Rangoon, a large number of whom were monks from the former capital wearing deep maroon robes. According to the United Nations, 31 people were killed and hundreds were arrested during the crackdown. But opposition and human rights groups place a much higher casualty rate, with over 100 deaths and over a thousand protesters arrested.
The monks were among the victims, too, states one group, the All-Burma Monks Alliance. Three monks were killed, one of whom was beaten to death, while another died after being tortured, it revealed in late January. The fate of 44 monks and nuns who were arrested when the military raided 53 monasteries across Burma, also known as Myanmar, still remain unknown, it added.
Such oppression appears to have enraged an already beleaguered population. “The people have continued to suffer as they did before September,” Kovida said through an interpreter during an interview with IPS. “The struggle against the military regime will continue this year. There is a strong desire among the people to do so.”
Yet the likelihood of Kovida being in the forefront of new public protests against the junta appears remote. For after the September protests, he had to flee his country for the safety of Mae Sot, a Thai town on the Thai-Burma border, to evade arrest. It was a flight from oppression that took over three weeks. The thin, 24-year-old monk had to hide in a house some 40 miles out of Rangoon to evade the Burmese forces searching for him, with copies of his photograph in their hand. For his trip to the Thai border, Kovida had to let the hair on his shaved head grow, then have it tinted gold, and to complete the disguise of a hip teenager, he shed his robes for street clothes. He even sported a bracelet for added affect during the bus-ride to the border.
Currently, there are 23 monks in this border town who have fled Burma following the crackdown. They, like Kovida, are all young, in their 20s, confirming a view that gained ground during the September protests that it were the young angry monks from among the country’s 400,000-strong Buddhist clergy who led the way to challenge the junta. And 10 of them, including Kovida, have applied to the U.N. refugee agency to seek political asylum. But there is more to Kovida’s story than that of a young monk who dared to take on one of this region’s brutal regimes. It is a tale of political enlightenment of a Burmese who grew up in poverty in a small village of 20 houses in the western region of the country. When he arrived in Rangoon in 2003 to further his studies as a monk - his only route to education - he was marginally aware of the military’s notorious record since grabbing power in a 1962 coup.
“During my free time I began to learn English at the British Council and at the American Centre, and through some friends I was able to see videotapes of what happened in ’88,” said Kovida, referring to the bloody crackdown of a pro-democracy uprising in Burma in August 1988, where some 3,000 pro-democracy activists were killed by the military.
That political education beyond the walls of the monastery soon led to a new train of thought. “I started to ask why there was such a big difference between the poor people in my village and the rich in the city,” he said. “I wanted to know why there were so many poor people when Burma has so much natural wealth.” Before long, his journey of inquiry had led him to the obvious answer. “I realised that the fault was with our military government,” he revealed. “I felt very angry thereafter and felt I had to do something.” The junta’s decision to raise the price of oil by 500 percent overnight with no warning, last August, added to Kovida’s growing rage. “We began to see more people suffering, children who could not afford to go to school, more children begging for food on the streets,” he said. “Many monks could not ignore this because these were the people who always gave the monks food in the mornings.”
Then came the trigger that saw the transformation of Kovida from a Rangoon outsider to the protest leader in the city. In early September, Burmese soldiers clashed with monks who were protesting against the spike in oil prices in the central town of Pakokku. The soldiers dragged away 10 of the 300 monks who had been protesting and beat them with bamboo sticks. “The military regime failed to apologise for what was done in Pakkoku by the deadline the monks set, Sep. 17,” said Kovida. “We then start to organise for a protest in Rangoon but realised there was no leadership. A new committee had to be set up.”
It was out of such an atmosphere of rage and uncertainty that the Buddhist Monks’ Representative Committee was born. And young Kovida stepped forward when the monks in Rangoon called for a leader to head the committee. “Our plan was for the monks to start marching and lead the crowds,” he said. “We agreed that we had to be systematic. And the march had to be peaceful.”

Rebel Politics Keeps Nagaland Trade Hub On Boil NewsPost India
This commercial hub in India's northeast is on the boil with armed men killing, kidnapping and terrorising people, casting a shadow on the Naga peace process ahead of the March 5 state assembly polls.

Attacks against non-tribal traders began a few months ago and, despite heightened police and paramilitary vigil in Dimapur, a bustling town, armed militants lobbed a grenade at a hardware store on Wednesday, killing its manager and injuring two others.

Dimapur is the biggest town in Nagaland and the only place in the entire state to have a railhead. The supplies of all essentials and other commodities to the rest of the state originate from this commercial hub.

On Thursday shops and businesses were down in Dimapur in protest against Wednesday's attack that led to the death of a trader. The Dimapur Naga Students' Union took out a protest march through the town.

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland faction headed by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah (NSCN-IM) has blamed cadres of a small breakaway group headed by its former leader Azheto Chophy to be behind the attacks on non-tribal traders in the town.

'The authorities have chosen to turn a blind eye to these activities and this goes to indicate that the government of India is patronising the breakaway bunch of cadres,' V. Horam, a senior NSCN-IM leader, told IANS.

Horam said cadres belonging to the breakaway group have been indulging in kidnappings for ransom and have even killed a 'few people' for their failure to pay up.

Police said there was tension, but they were taking the required measures.

'Some tension is there and we have placed paramilitary troopers on alert in the city, besides round-the-clock mobile patrols and special operation teams in civvies to check any attempts at extortion,' Tukhavi (one name), a sub-divisional police officer of Dimapur, told IANS.

'We shall not allow anybody to take law into their hands.'

The NSCN-IM had clamped what it called 'an emergency' Jan 12 to stop an internal revolt after some 50 cadres left the group to form the NSCN (Unification) under Chophy's leadership.

The NSCN-IM, pressing for a Naga homeland in northeastern India, has been engaged in peace talks with the Indian government ever since entering into a ceasefire agreement with New Delhi in July 1997.

Over the years, the group appears to be keen on unifying the Naga-inhabited areas in the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with the Naga majority state of Nagaland.

The former NSCN-IM leader Chophy held talks with the rival NSCN-Khaplang group in December last year, announced the merger of the two factions, and renamed the outfit as NSCN. This development indicated that all was not well within the NSCN-IM and that the group was witnessing internal dissent.

The unrest in Dimapur is significant because Nagaland is currently under president's rule and is on an election mode with the polls fixed for March 5. The prevailing situation is likely to cast a big shadow on the coming elections that is going to see a fight between the ousted Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), and the Congress, which is desperate to stage a comeback.

China protests PM’s visit to Arunachal Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Feb 8 – Amidst warming of ties, China has taken exception to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh and his assertion that the state belongs to India, evoking a strong reaction from New Delhi, reports PTI. Almost a week after Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh and said the state was “our land of rising sun”, Chinese Foreign Ministry officials have conveyed to officials in the Indian Mission in Beijing that they were unhappy with the visit and his comments there.

Beijing feels that it was not appropriate for the Prime Minister to visit a state, major parts of which it claims are its territory.

In a sharp reaction, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee asserted that Arunachal Pradesh was part of India and the Prime Minister has right to visit any part of the country.

“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of our country. We are having regular representation in our Parliament elected by people of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the Prime Minister will visit any part of the country,” Mukherjee said in Mumbai.

Singh, during his maiden visit to Arunachal on January 31, had said that the state was “our land of rising sun”, in a clear message to China that it belongs to India.

The Chinese unhappiness comes more than a fortnight after Singh had a good visit to Beijing when the two countries agreed to expedite resolution of the boundary issue.

Chinese claim over Arunachal has been nagging the ties between the two countries for long. The issue gets flared up when the Chinese troops at regular intervals intrude into the Indian territory to demonstrate their claim on the land.

India has, however, been seeking to play down these incursions by arguing that these were a result of “differences in perception”.

The Special Representatives of the two countries are working out a solution as per the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles signed in 2005.

The Chinese objection was also protested to by main opposition BJP, which asked the government to “give a proper, effective and strong reply” to it.
From gunpowder to glad tidings - Militancy-ravaged village ready to go global, says it with flowers P. BRAHMA CHOUDHURY The Telegraph


Flowers in bloom at Kusumbil
Kokrajhar, Feb. 8: Flowers are now blooming where militant guns once boomed. Kusumbil, a village in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district that witnessed the worst of Bodo militancy, has blossomed into a riot of colours.
The villagers grow over 30 varieties of flowers, including roses, chrysanthemums, cosmos, silvia, dahlia and flox. The villagers, who do brisk business in Assam and at times in Shillong, and are now ready to export their colourful produce to the West.
“We are holding discussions with firms which export flowers to European countries,” said Surjamohan Biswas, a villager who started it all in 2005 with the help of a relative in Calcutta.
What started as a small venture by one man, has become the livelihood of over 50 families in the village. Every single household in Kusumbil now cultivates flowers not only in its fields, but also in kitchen gardens. It helps that the land is extremely fertile. The village is situated on the banks of the Gongia, which leaves behind rich alluvial soil every year during floods.
The government recently gave the villagers 40 spray machines and some tools for farming. An official of the state agriculture department said they would help the growers to find the “right market and the right price”. The flower village had also attracted the film world. A director of Bodo films said the colourful fields were the ideal location for shooting.
UNLF belies Somtal ‘success’ OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, Feb. 8: Within three weeks of the army declaring Somtal a “liberated zone” after flushing out United National Liberation Front militants from their Chandel stronghold, the rebel group today claimed that its “bases remain intact”. The claim was made in a statement issued by the outfit today, on the eve of the 21st raising day of the group’s military wing, Manipur Peoples Army (MPA).
“The two-month-long offensive by two brigades of Assam Rifles and the army could not reach our bases,” the “military affairs committee” of the outfit said. The statement said since November 15 in 1991, when its military wing started an armed campaign, it has fought 150 “battles” and seized 170 weapons from the security forces and the state police.
About the ongoing flush-out operation launched by the army in Somtal, the statement said the troops could reach only some areas in Somtal, but not the outfit’s base camp. It also said the MPA would not retreat and mount offensives on the troops from time to time to push them back.
The army launched its operation in Somtal, a Kuki-dominated tribal belt along the Indo-Myanmar border on November 18 last year to flush out UNLF rebels, which controlled the area for more than a decade. In January, the army declared Somtal a “liberated zone”. The UNLF claimed its militants killed 17 soldiers and wounded many others during the Somtal operation. It admitted to losing only one of its members and injury to five others. The army said 20 of its soldiers were wounded while detecting IEDs laid by militants and no soldier was killed, as claimed by the UNLF.
Will Thailand gain from lack of 'democracy and human rights' in Burma? Mungpi Mizzima News
Burmese political activists including members of the main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – contend that by maintaining a policy of noninterference on Burma and calling democracy and human rights internal affairs, Thailand is not serving its own interest as problems arising from a neighbouring failed-state would remain a burden.
Thailand's newly elected government on Thursday said democracy and human rights are domestic issues of Burma and that it will maintain a policy of noninterference on the military-ruled country.
In his first press briefing Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said while Thailand will work within the framework of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, it will not interfere in domestic issues and will respect Burma's sovereignty, a stand ASEAN has maintained.
"If working through an Asean framework can help Burma's democracy flourish, we will do it," Noppadon was quoted as saying by the AP. "We are not a headmaster who can tell Burma to do this or that."
Detained Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party – the NLD – however, said being neighbours, Thailand cannot escape the problems emanating from Burma due to lack of democracy and human rights.
"I am sure Thailand's statement is in consistent with ASEAN's stand. But that is not self-serving," Nyan Win, NLD's spokesperson said.
Unless Burma has a stable government that guarantees democracy and human rights, the region particularly neighbouring countries cannot be in peace, Nyan Win said. The NLD spokesperson added that ASEAN as a regional bloc, which has courted Burma as a member in 1997, could play a vital role in pushing the Burmese generals to implement political reforms.
He added that the failure to install democracy in Burma, and the mismanagement of the ruling generals has led to the deterioration of the economy of Burma that has forced millions of Burmese to seek exodus to find greener pastures.
As a neighbouring country that shares a porous border, Thailand has been forced to host millions of Burmese refugees and migrant workers, who are mostly employed illegally in various work fields including factories, fisheries, hotels and the sex industry.
The decades-long civil war, particularly in eastern Burma, has produced hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people as well as refugees who seek refuge in Thailand.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there are at least 140,000 Burmese refugees lodged in nine refugee camps along the Thai-Burmese border.
Win Min, a Chiang Mai based Burmese analyst, said under military rule Burma has seen severe economic deterioration, and it is predictable that more Burmese would come to Thailand if the ruling junta does not implement reforms – politically as well as economically.
Burma, which was regarded as the 'rice bowl' of Southeast Asia during independence, erupted in yet another protest, when the government suddenly hiked fuel prices. Analysts and experts said, the September protests, which was brutally suppressed, was the result of severe economic failure that has hit the common people hard.
"Thailand cannot stand aloof and watch the problems brought in by more refugees and migrant workers from Burma," Win Min added.
Beside refugees and migrants, Win Min said, the Thai-Burma border is used as a gateway and a safe haven for both human and drug traffickers.
Noppadon in his briefing said Thailand's new government will focus on issues that directly affect Thailand, such as drug trafficking, bilateral trade and illegal immigrants.
But Win Min said, without political reforms in Burma it is unlikely that there could be any effective control over trafficking as more people see dealing with drugs as a quick solution to economic difficulties.
Myint Thein, Joint Secretary (1) of the National Council of Union of Burma in exile, an umbrella conglomerate of Burmese opposition groups including armed rebels, said Thailand needs to reconsider its policy towards Burma as it is obvious that the military junta is not a good a neighbor in the long run.
While Thailand might enjoy temporary economic gains such as the right to extract oil and natural resources and invest in other businesses, with Burma's failing economy Thailand will have nothing but end up providing more shelter to millions more Burmese people, Myint Thein said.
"It is important for Thailand to reconsider its policy towards Burma, as without a stable government in Burma, Thailand will not benefit in the long run," Myint Thein added.