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02/20/2008: "Naga talks to resume after polls Nagarealm.com The Telegraph"

Naga talks to resume after polls Nagarealm.com


New Delhi, FEB19 [TI] : Naga peace talks will resume after the Assembly elections in Nagaland on March 5, an event where both “overground and underground” are expected to participate.

Contrary to the expectations, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan’s visit last week to Nagaland had nothing to do with the peace talks in Nagaland. Though Narayanan reportedly conceded that the peace talks have slowed down, the talks have also been dependent on who rules in the state. Even as UPA president Sonia Gandhi prepares to visit the state later this week, the Centre’s focus firmly remains on wresting Nagaland, a traditional Congress bastion that was lost in 2003.

Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu have been told to extend support to Nagaland Congress leaders during the polls, sources said. This is one of the reasons why Ibobi is seen to have received a breather from party leaders despite sustained opposition by fellow legislators. Following imposition of President’s rule in the state in January, Narayanan’s maiden visit is being seen as an attempt to understand the security scenario firsthand before the elections. Violence during the elections by militant outfits can be controlled if not avoided, with adequate security, sources said.

The change in the political climate over the past two months in Nagaland has come after the formation of another militant outfit, the NSCN (Unification) in November last with cadres drawn from both NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (Khaplang). In a parallel development, turmoil in the Neiphiu Rio-led DAN government on December 13 led to President’s rule months before the elections. [NISHIT DHOLABHAI]
‘Centre should review approach to NE’ morungexpress
New Delhi, February 19 (Agencies): The government should review its approach towards the northeastern region and, in order to solve the problems there, it should understand that each of the eight states is unique and so are their issues, said speakers at a conclave on Tuesday. The National Conclave of North Eastern States for Access to Justice to Women of the Region saw members of the legal fraternity, social activists and students of the northeastern region emphasising that it`s time one realizes that all the eight states of the region cannot always be clubbed together.
`It`s high time people understand that all the eight states of northeast India are very different from each other. So it`s natural that the problems faced also differ from one state to the other and needs to be handled accordingly,` said Roland Krishing, district member secretary of the Manipur State Legal Services Authority. `There is always a tendency to club the eight states - Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim - under one head, the northeast, even by the Centre. This approach needs to change,` Krishing said.
Similarly Meenakshi M. Rai, registrar general of the high court of Sikkim, said that its time all the eight states are looked at independently and not just clubbed together. `True, we are a part of the northeast India but then each of the states with their large number of tribes are different from each other, be it in their language, culture or tradition. The problems that each state faces is also different from each other and therefore, the solutions should also be specific.
`So when there is a case of human trafficking somewhere in this region, it`s wrong to say that the entire region suffers from the issue. Sikkim, for instance, has no such problem,` Rai said.
Most of the students of the northeast who have been staying in the capital for higher studies and visited the exhibition in the conclave also voiced similar thoughts.
`It`s a mindset which we should endeavour to change. In the locality where I stay in north Delhi, people hardly know the names of the eight states in the northeast. We, because of our distinct features, are clubbed together as being from the northeast. That`s it,` said Akhumla, an under graduate student of the Delhi University, hailing from Nagaland.
Krishing went on to say that different problems plague different areas even within a state. `Manipur has 29 tribes. Each with their own set of traditions and culture. Then the hilly areas of the state are dominated by the non-Manipuris and Nagas while the valley has more Manipuris.
`Therefore the kind of problems faced in different places, even within the state, is different and needs special approach,` he said. `We want to sensitise the central government about these issues which will go a long way in solving the problems, militancy, health or others, faced by every state in the region. They need to review their approach in all the states,` Krishing added.
Candidates requested to attend peace convention morungexpress
Dimapur, February 19 (MExN): All intending candidates are requested to attend the ‘Naga Peace Convention’ which is being organizing in accordance to the “devine revelation through Naga Shisha Hoho Prayer Centre Pruzie Kohima,” at the DDSC stadium from February 22 to the 24th under the theme ‘The moment of harvesting the fruit of peace’.
The main speakers of the convention are Rev Dr Wati Aier, Rev Phughoto Aye, Rev Dr Anjo Phom, Rev Dr Neilezhu Usou and Rev Dr VK Nuh. The convention will be attended among others by the Naga Hoho, ENPO, NMA, NSF, underground workers, intending candidates, UNC, ANSAM, Mother’s Naga Union Manipur, Human Rights organisations, church leaders, GBs, DBs and other frontal organisations from Naga inhabited areas .
Do Negotiations Work? Editorial morungexpress
In the last decade, we have seen the birth of two new countries, East Timor and Kosovo; both of which gained their independence not through negotiations but through internal processes where people sturdily asserted their call for independence with the active support and lobbying efforts of western countries. Irrespective of the super powers’ divided responses to Kosovo’s historic independence declaration as the 193rd independent country in the world, it is imperative for the international community to visit the politics of peace negotiations. Both of these countries’ participatory processes have proven to be more inclusive than negotiations which are usually more exclusive. While it remains uncertain whether Kosovo would fare better than East Timor in their reconstruction process to establish human security and political stability, it is certain that both Kosovo and East Timor have affected global politics and have definitely changed the face of the world map.
Within this same time frame, the international community has borne witness to the continuing failure of a number of critical peace negotiations, some of which have entirely collapsed and returned to war, while others are on the brink of resuming armed confrontation after having reached an impasse. The inability of the Israel-Palestinian peace process to arrive at a political settlement after years of negotiations has further destabilized the middle-east region; and the recent breakdown of the Sri Lankan-Tamil Tigers’ peace process brokered by the Norwegians has pushed the region into further chaos. Both these processes had been projected as possible ‘road maps’ by the international community; only to fail miserably. These failures seriously question the ability of negotiations as a method to solve political issues of injustice.
The Indo-Naga peace process is another example which in its tenth year has become the longest political negotiation in the region with no definite end in sight. The recent statement of the National Security Advisor (NSA) to the Prime Minister of India MK Narayanan that the Indo-Naga peace talks have “slowed down” and that it can make a forward movement “only” if the NSCN (IM) agrees “to accept a solution within the broad parameters of Indian Union” will only cast shadows on the peace process. The NSA’s affirmation that Delhi is ready to give “broad concessions” to the Nagas in which a “new arrangement for the Naga people with the maximum autonomy and freedom” can be worked out but “under the Indian Union” is ambiguous and will lead to further complications.
The NSA’s statement points to four broadly related implications. First, contrary to public perception that India has shifted away from its traditional position vis-à-vis the Naga political question, the position reflected in the statement indicates that India has not made any shift towards accommodating the rights of the Nagas. It has only created new ways of reaffirming and imposing a solution that will not be honorable. Second, though the central principle in the bi-lateral understanding that underlines the negotiations emphasizes that the talks will be “unconditional” the insistence that a solution can be reached only within the parameters of Indian Union indicates that India has belied and undermined the principles of the talks.
Thirdly, it’s a historical fact and a political reality that Nagas refused to be part of the Indian Union during the formation of the Indian state, and the contention that the solution should be within the scope of the Indian Union becomes ahistorical and apolitical. In order for the talks to progress it is absolutely essential that the political status of the Nagas needs to not only recognize the rights of the Nagas, but also ensure the political space where such rights can be exercised. It is in this context that the idea of outside-the-box solution becomes relevant; to ignore such an idea would only cause further distrust. The fourth and final implication is a sum-total of the above three points; that while India is quite satisfied to continue the ceasefire, it is not sufficiently prepared to move from ceasefire to solution. In other words, India is content as long as it can “manage” the situation. One can conclude that India’s intent is therefore conflict management, not conflict resolution or transformation of the situation. Is India therefore a willing and equal peace partner?
These implications have generated serious dilemmas. While eagerly extending the ceasefire on one hand, and causing a political impasse on the other hand, a stalemate has been created in which the situation can go neither backwards nor forwards. A negotiation process that once began optimistically moving forward, and as a possibility towards resolving a long standing protracted conflict, has now reached a stage wherein the players are now in a deadlock that is slowly draining their strength. It will require immense will and political courage on the part of the NSCN (IM) to be more creative, accommodating and imaginative in its thinking to wriggle itself out of this deadlock. The NSCN (IM) needs to reach out and talk to all the Naga factions and the Naga public so that a common understanding can build the Naga future.
To break the impasse which is suffocating the Nagas, the best option at this present time is to bury their divisions and to break from times in the past which have caused vicious cycles of hurt, anger and violence towards each other. The Naga political narrative must relocate itself and focus on political issues which will define the dignity and well-being of the future, and not on events that imprison the Nagas to its past.

Tml body backs Lim demand Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Feb 19: Even as strong opposition has been raised against the inclusion of the Lim demand in the election manifesto of the NPCC, the Senior Citizens’ Forum, Tamenglong has endorsed the integration of all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit, reports our Jiribam correspondent.
Secretary of the Forum, D Dikambui said that the decision was adopted on February 17 this year. Justifying the stand of the Forum, Dikambui said that the Nagas have been separated through artificial boundaries created by the British and later by the Government of India.
Since time immemorial the Nagas have been settling in their ancestral places, he asserted and added that the as-pirations of the Nagas is genuine. Dikambui also laud-ed the election manifesto of the Nagaland Congress, which has called for the integration of all Naga inhabited areas.
NPCC’s Election Manifesto of 2008 election Why Congress again? Okenjeet Sandham Kangla on Line
There are many reasons why the Congress remains unique among all political parties in India and especially in Nagaland. It is now crystal clear that the NPF led DAN Government miserably failed the people of Nagaland in all fronts in the last five years. A hotchpotch coalition of different political parties with distinct divergent views and ideologies, with each partner pulling in different directions and thus having nothing in common but the hunger alone for power had put them together in a common platform. Yet, it miserably failed to provide efficient, corruption free and cohesive government.

i. The Congress party, on the other hand, is capable of providing a stable, united and efficient Government that will deliver its promises. The antecedents, trustworthiness, reliability and track record of the Indian National congress with its steadfast commitment to secularism, had clearly shown that the Congress Party has always stood by its principles, ideologies and has never betrayed the trust reposed in it by the people of Nagaland.

ii. The time has come once again for Congress party to reclaim its rightful place. We remain the only political party that appeals to and derives its strength and support from each and every section of the people of Nagaland. The Congress follows policies that reflect and respond to the aspirations of the people of Nagaland.

iii. The Congress party is the only all India party in the country, the only national political force with a presence in each and every region of this vast country. Whether in power or out of power, the Congress is visible and tangible political force in villages, towns and cities all across India including Nagaland.

iv. The Congress Party is totally committed for an early and lasting solution of the Naga political issue which in honorable, beneficial and acceptable to all sections of the Naga people. The Congress has always stood for peace, reconciliation, unity and social harmony. The Congress way shall be the way of dialogue, not discord. The Congress way shall be the way of accommodation, not acrimony.

v. The Congress Party always placed the needs, concerns and interests of youth at the core of its agenda. The Congress fully recognizes that the youth are our country’s most precious and productive assets. They will get the Congress’ maximum political, social and economic support to realize their aspirations in education, employment and entrepreneurship. It was the Congress party which gave India a new education policy to equip them for a modern, scientific age. It was the Congress Party which had spearheaded India ’s entry into the computer, IT and telecom era. It was the Congress Party who gave our 18 year olds the right to vote. N

vi. The Congress party is the only political party that has provided for reservation in its organization for tribal people, minorities and women.

vii. The Congress Party had always stood for the all round development and upliftment of people in the rural areas, the common men and women, towards their economic prosperity and higher empowerment of women.

viii. The Congress party will take new initiative to provide rural people for economic empowerment and accountability.

ix. The Congress Party stands for protection of minorities in social, economic and culture.

x. The congress is the only party whose philosophy of governance combines economic growth with social cohesion, public investment with private initiative and meritocracy with equality of opportunity. Our governance philosophy is not captive to any dogma. Instead, it is anchored in a vision of a new Nagaland that ensures each of its citizens a better quality of life a life of dignity.

The desire for a permanent peace amongst the people of Nagaland is now more evident than even before. The people of Nagaland, belonging to all sections of society, want freedom from violence and killings. They want peace for economic development to accelerate, educational and employment opportunities for the youth to expand and a life of dignity, security and prosperity to be available to all Nagas. The Indian National Congress has striven with all sincerity for a permanent peace in Nagaland for over five decades. Though there have been periods of clam, permanent peace has been elusive. The Indian National Congress reiterates its commitment to a lasting and enduring settlement of the Naga political issue. The following principles will guide the initiative of the Indian National Congress.

The Naga problem is a political issue that has to be resolved through peaceful and painstaking negotiations and through good faith amongst all sides.

All sections of Naga society have to come together to strengthen the peace process in Nagaland. It shall be the endeavor of the Indian National Congress to enlist the support and cooperation of all civil society groups, church organizations and various Hohos, including the village councils.

It shall be the priority of the Indian national Congress to make the ceasefire a reality by ensuring the full implementation of the Ceasefire Ground Rules by the parties concerned.

The Indian National Congress has always been sensitive to the aspirations, views and sentiments of all sections of Nagaland’s society. The Indian National Congress has always been of the view that peace has to be not only permanent but also honorable. The Indian National Congress in Nagaland will convey at all times the perspective of the Naga people to the Government of India.

The Indian National Congress in Nagaland will continue to urge the Government of India the need to implement the 16-Point Agreement of 1960 in letter and spirit.
While reviewing, from time-to-time, the effectiveness of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Areas Act, the Indian National Congress in Nagaland would urge the Government of India to take into full consideration the views of the Naga people.

II. SOCIO-ECONOMICS:

I. The Congress Party believes that growth, stability and equality are mutually reinforcing objectives. That it is possible to mobilize resources for ambitious new programs in areas like employment, education, power including thermal power projects, health and infrastructure with special emphasis on road communication. The Congress categorically rejects the idea of growth accompanied by increased joblessness and inequalities that have been the hallmark of the NPF led DAN regime.

II. The Congress party commits itself to make agriculture with herbal and aromatic plants, horticulture, floriculture and livestock more sustainable. We shall ensure that Congress Party is pro-poor, pro-farmer and pro-rural.

III. The Congress will establish an agricultural growth center in all the blocks in Nagaland to facilitate a coordinated approach for agri and allied sectors in the State. We shall explore ways and means to provide a minimum support price to farmers for their products and to provide proper marketing facilities and linkages. A stable long term export policy for agricultural products and commodities will be formulated.

IV. The Congress will create new jobs and employment opportunities in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, afforestation, dairying and agro processing. It will be provided with new investment, credit, market facility and technology inputs.

V. The Congress will ensure every village in Nagaland to have an all weather road, drinking water, electricity, a telephone, a play field and their all round development. We will make efforts to increase the pecuniary benefits of the Village Guards/Home Guards and improve their facilities.

VI. The Congress party shall closely involve in the implementation and monitoring of the landmark National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) through mobilization of people and making them aware of their entitlements.

VII. The Congress party will ensure economic support for expansion of infrastructure of roads, hospitals, educational institutions etc. with a sense of urgency.

VIII. The Congress will prepare a detailed blueprint for development of Townships in the State and total sanitation programs for all Towns and Villages in the State.

IX. The congress shall approach the central government and the financial institutions for establishment of nationalized banks in all the blocks to encourage saving culture among common people and working capital for entrepreneurs.

X. The Congress recognizes the challenge that we have to expand employment opportunities for the increasing youth educated unemployed. In order to contain and fully utilize the potentialities of our youth the congress will set-up a special committee drawing members of expertise from all sections of people who will ensure comprehensive plans and strategies for the youth. We will establish professional and technical institutions in the State.

XI. The tourism development, including hotel industry, training of the people by expanding the infrastructure shall be a priority sector. The time has come to accelerate employment growth in the organized sector.

XII. The Congress shall work for promotion of handicraft products with technology infusion.

XIII. The Congress Party shall promote Bamboo and value added products.

XIV. The Congress party will introduce a system of health insurance to the rural people. A comprehensive measure to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS will be a priority.

XV. The Congress Part will emphasize on the scheme for the welfare of children. The proper implementation of the mid-day meal scheme will be insisted with quality and nutrition value. This scheme will encompass its main objective of retention of the pupils and health.

XVI. The Congress shall maintain the subsidies for the BLP (Below Poverty Line) families and also ensure a level of quality of food grains supplied to them. A full proof system not to deprive any section of the society who are eligible to be including the BPL family groups.

XVII. The arrangement for managing fair price shops like through the ex-servicemen cooperatives and women’s self help groups etc.

XVIII. The Congress Part shall formulate a clear cut and humane policy and approach to explore and extract our rich mineral deposits and oil.

XIX. The Congress party will formulate policies and take initiatives to enable our State to emerge as an information Technology powerhouse.

XX. The Congress shall take the ownership of the programs initiated by the Congress led UPA government and make sure that they are implemented transparently and efficiently in the State.

XXI. The congress party will work for the economic dimensions of social conflicts more carefully and take appropriate measures to deal with them. Undoubtedly, conflict and violence must be combated through effective law-and-order machinery but in many cases, underlying socio-economic causes must also be addressed meaningfully.

XXII. The State provides a rich treasure house of social identity and an effort will be given to maintain its traditional values.

XXIII. The Congress shall ensure separation of Judiciary from Executive keeping in mind the importance of the Customary Law.

XXIV. To have faster growth in our State Economy, special attention will be given to the special investment, technology, financial and marketing needs of the small-scale industry. The supply of venture capital for the growth of small and medium enterprises and businesses must expand substantially. The State shall be made conducive and more investor friendly.

XXV. The Congress will make all efforts to eliminate the revenue deficits and make sincere efforts to mobilize internal tax and revenue by streamlining the system more efficient and effective.

XXVI. It shall be our endeavor to make the administration at all levels more responsive, more people friendly, more accountable and more transparent to eradicate corruption and red-tapism.

The Congress Party stands to usher a new era of transformation having its roots in our common values and interests and committed to peace and development. Our unshakable commitment is to the politics of principles, to democracy, secularism, economic growth and social empowerment.

AN APPEAL We seek the support of the people of Nagaland to bring congress back to power under the dynamic leadership of Smti Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh. We invite all progressive thinking men and women of Nagaland, who share our concern and vision for a modern Nagaland. We, therefore, appeal to the electorate of Nagaland to support and vote for the Congress candidates in the 2008 Assembly elections to secure a stable, peaceful and prosperous Nagaland.

VOTE CONGRESS FOR NEW HOPE NEW VISION
Rebel camps in Bangla under scanner Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Feb 19 – New Delhi is likely to exert pressure on Bangladesh to mount a clampdown on militant leaders of the North-east including outlawed ULFA and NDFB, when the Chief of Bangladesh Army, General Moeen U Ahmed comes calling on February 24 on an official visit. The General, who was earlier scheduled to visit India last year, is slated to call on a number of leaders including the Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister, besides counterpart, Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor.

Much importance is being attached to Bangladesh Army Chief’s trip, as India plans to sort out a number of key security concerns. Considered the most important man and behind the scene mover, General Moeen’s visit is being treated as top priority engagement. South Block, however, is likely to leave the job of main negotiations on security matters on General Kapoor. While Gen. Moeen is sure to discuss the political issues, he is also expected to concentrate on bilateral relations and revitalise the military relations between the two countries.

The prime issue likely to be discussed are the existence of the rebel camps, free movement enjoyed by ULFA, NDFB, and Manipur separatist leaders, handing over ULFA general secretary, Anup Chetia, besides the rise of jehadi groups in the country.
New Delhi feels that a deal with the caretaker Government in Bangladesh is the best way to resolve the contentious issues. Dhaka has been officially denying the presence of the rebel leaders and their camps on its soil. Informally, however, it has expressed its willingness to look into India’s concern in exchange of a ‘favourable deal’, sources confided.

The caretaker Government also showed some signs of cracking down on the Islamic extremist organisations like the Jamaat-ul-Muslim Bangladesh (JMB). The JMB grew from strength to strength during the last BNP regime, has come under international scrutiny. India in particular is distressed after JMB hand was uncovered in the recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad and Mumbai.

The change in Dhaka’s attitude was noted by India during the various official-level discussions starting from the Home Secretary-level dialogue. Indian leaders had a chance to gauge the Bangladeshi leadership when Chief Adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed came to attend the SAARC Summit. India later sent out an invitation to the Army chief to visit New Delhi.

The growing bonhomie with the caretaker Government explains the tough stand taken by Delhi on the ULFA peace process. As it is, the South Block is very upset with ULFA for stepping up violence in Assam last year, landing the ruling Congress Party in a tight spot.

On the other hand, Bangladesh is looking for an assurance on the political and economic fronts. India has so far not made much of a hue and cry over detention of the country senior-most politicians. For one, the government is under pressure from both inside the country and from the international community to hold free and fair elections soonest possible. Dhaka is also looking at New Delhi’s reaction to the possible formation of an interim national government.