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03/31/2008: "Sumi Hoho appeals for restrain morungexpress"
Sumi Hoho appeals for restrain morungexpress
DIMAPUR, MARCH 30 (MExN): Sumi Hoho has appealed to all the National Workers of different groups to restrain and desist from killings, kidnappings and mud-slinging against each other, “as it shows a poor light of oneself”. The press release issued by president of the Sumi Hoho, Hokishe Yepthomi stated that at a time when the Naga people are crying for justice and healing amongst the people, the groups prophesying for Naga Nationhood and deliverance should not enslave its own people by adopting various methods and tactics.
“The Naga people have learned and realized the positive and negative effects and contribution of individuals, groups and different communities” he stated adding that convincing and creating confusion amongst it had no benefit for the people except for one’s own selfish interest.
Therefore, it said that for the greater interest of and welfare of the Naga people the Sumi Hoho strongly urges every responsible leaders and individuals to contribute towards achieving a peaceful and lasting solution to the Naga political problems.
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM
Office of the
Ministry of Information and Publicity
Press Release
31 March 2008
On 29th March 2008 am at 5th Mile, National Highway Dimapur, NSCN member Mr. Daile, ASO attached with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MRA) was abducted by Unification group. This is quite unbecoming of a group that is going the way of a unlawful goonda group on the look out for soft targets and victimizing innocent national workers just for the pleasure of making their presence felt. This is wrong and this is no way to justify their image as a force working for unification. Unconditional release should be initiated immediately.
Issued by: MIP/GPRN
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM
Office of the
Ministry of Information and Publicity
Press Release
31 March 2008
Who is against unification and who is against the Indo-Naga solution on the basis of the Naga peoples' political aspiration that has been made to go through baptism by fire for the period that has crossed 60 years? NSCN knows best the burning desire of the people and that was the reason why the government of India is finding the road tough during the last 10 years of Indo-Naga political talks, because Nagas refused to budge. But India resorted to the most despicable act of political immorality by engineering the rise of an obstructionist force against the might of NSCN forces but in the guise of a slogan for unification. A short live obsession was noticeable but lacking political legitimacy it is gradually fading away to damnation. Backed and brainwashed by the Indian intelligences groups the anti-unification forces in the under the name of unification group is desperately kicking to make its presence felt taking the name of unification and prodding other Naga groups to toe their live of action to fulfill the interests of the government of India who is finding the end of the road in dealing with the Collective Leadership of NSCN. This is the turning point of the Naga crisis that has arisen in the name of unification. India needs a person with NSCN tag but pliable to the dictates of the Intelligence agencies whose target is to sideline NSCN leadership and carry on the Indo-Naga talks with the amenable set of political thinking that will not clash with the Indian constitutional terms and conditions. But their game plan has been scrutinized by NSCN in particular and the Nagas in general and found lacking to meet the standard for Naga unification. History has been cruel to Nagas but Nagas learns quite a lot of lessons to guide their way through.
On the issue of unification the Nagas have to question unification group why they run away from the call of NSCN Chairman Isak Chishi Swu if they supported his proclamation of January 13, 2007. the simple answer that need no further probing is the realistic revelation that they are not the master of their own thinking but mere stooges to serve the masters' bidding that comes all the way from New Delhi. This is not a mere information for the Nagas but educative in the political interpretation lest the Nagas are outsmarted by the sweetly coated propaganda of Indian government using anti-Naga brand of unification that is confined within Nagaland and within the Indian constitution but made to appear as a integrated unification by exploiting Isak Chishi Swu.s brand of unification. But the Nagas cannot be fooled that unification can be brought about by deserting his master to serve the constitutional interests of India. This is the Unification group true standing today. And wiser should the Nagas be that leaving aside the absence of political justification where are these poeple moral justification? Nevertheless they are not in their own control and wisdom. They are simply used and nothing matters to them other than satisfying the purpose of their creation to undo the terms and conditions under the new situation to be forced on the Nagas under a new political dispensation. And that was the reason why the unification group was out in full strength in the recently concluded Assembly Election. Thank God, the political course was saved from going downhill at the hands of the India sponsor forces that was stopped in the midway, and hats off to the Nagas people for understanding who they are.
Issued by:
MIP/GPRN
Ops launched to flush out NSCN ultras By MANOJ ANAND Howrah News Service
Guwahati, March 30: The Meghalaya police has launched operations to flush out the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim-IM and Liberation A’chik Elite Force (LEAF) rebels from the coal belt of West Khasi Hills district of the frontier state.
The operation, which is said to have been launched in consultation with the home ministry, has succeeded in arresting at least nine LAEF rebels and sympathisers. The security forces in the operation, supported by special operation team, have also seized huge quantity of arms and ammunition from ultras.
The security agencies are concerned over the emergence of a fledgling militant outfit, the LAEF, allegedly backed by NSCN (I-M), for a "separate independent A’chik state" for the tribal Garos residing in Garo Hills areas of Meghalaya.
If security sources are to be believed, the NSCN-IM supplied the LAEF with as many as 15 AK-47s, 25 automatic M20 pistols and three highly powerful Universal Machine Guns, besides over a 100 hand grenades to carry out their operations in Garo Hills.
The nascent militant outfit has also set up its operational camp inside the Balpakram National Park with the help of the NSCN (I-M) to impart guerrilla warfare training to LAEF recruits.
The NSCN (I-M), considered to be "the mother of insurgency in the Northeast", was also instrumental in launching of two tribal terrorist groups — the Adivasi Liberational National Army and Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) — in Assam.
The NSCN (I-M) not only supplied them with arms and ammunitions, but also trained their cadres and according to arrangement between the militant outfits, in return the NSCN (I-M), however, holding ceasefire with security forces in Nagaland, is getting a fixed share in the money collected in extortion by these terrorist groups in Assam and Meghalaya.
The counter-insurgency operations of the Meghalaya police are aimed at checking the growth of such insurgent groups.
Both NSCN (I-M) and LAEF rebels have served extortion notes to coal mine owners, coal exporters to Bangladesh and truck owners.
In fact, Borsora, where the operations have been launched, is the second coal trading point between India and Bangladesh, about 200 km from Shillong, and is now the hotbed of the LAEF and NSCN (I-M), besides the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, which has its base in Bangladesh.
West Khasi Hills district superintendent of police H. Kharkrang told reporter: "Our combing operation against the militants is going on in full swing. Our mission is to clear the area and check the extortion spree of the militants."
He also admitted that militant outfits are finding it difficult to arrange fund for their subversive activities in Meghalaya but now with support of some militant outfits from neighbouring states are targeting the coal field sector which is in private hands.
"We are also keeping a close watch on coal exporters to ensure that none of them comply with the extortion demands of the militants," he said, adding: "The operation has boosted our morale with frequent breakthroughs (arrest of militants). We are closing in on some of the top-ranking leaders soon."
Naga women in political leadership? Y Merina Chishi Morung Express
Dimapur | March 30:The Governor of Nagaland recently expressed strong regret that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly do not have a woman representative; and with the women population outnumbering men, there is no reason to question the Governor’s regret. Naga women have long ceased to be mere voters and have made their fray into mainstream politics. The fact that women undoubtedly play a very significant role in decision making process, one cant help wonder why then they are not a part of it. What are the reasons that restricts the role of women in politics to just being Mahila presidents and party workers?
The eleventh legislative assembly election saw the participation of four women candidates from different political parties. The unquestionable thing happened and none of them were elected. Tiala Sapu, former NPF women wing president says that women have come to play a very important role in politics today but their due have not been given.
“We have contributed immensely during the campaign and have penetrated into areas where even men cannot,” Taila says, but she added that promises are only lip service and that all is forgotten after elections. There have been women active in politics for over twenty years and they still do not see any substantial reforms in context to accommodating women in politics. Hojeni H Achumi, NPF women wing president, Ghaspani I, says that her friends repeatedly keep asking her about the growth in the role of women in politics in Nagaland. It is almost stagnant she thinks. “Unless women themselves raise their voices and demand their quota, there can be no real change in their position,” Hojeni added. She also said that she has heard men saying that Naga women will go overboard with their demands if they are represented in the assembly and such reservations should not be tabled.
Women are loosing out on their share of facilities because they do not have a representative in the assembly. The bill for 33% reservation for women in the state assembly is yet to make headway and unless that happens, women will in no way be able to contribute nor have a say in the decision making process.
The Nagaland Women Commission is the only common platform that the women have and many see it as means to achieve that objective. “The Nagaland women commission should fight for this cause. It is a right that we are deliberately being denied,” Tiala said. She added that Naga women will be left behind if they do not use the commission as a pedestal to pass the reservation bill. Some Naga women professionals working in Delhi the also feel the need to have an elected representative in the assembly so that things can work at a different level. Something of what they call “only a woman can understand a woman’s problem.”
Interestingly, women are not the only ones that consider it their right to be a part of the decision making process. Former chief minister and congress MLA, KL Chishi lauded the role that women have come to play in every progressive society and Naga women too should follow that path. “Naga women should come out of their domestic shell and take wider participation in politics.” However, he mentioned that Naga women have not been able to make it as far as the assembly because they have certain limitations and do not have sufficient exposure. KL Chishi also made a point clear that women are less corrupt than men and therefore would boost the development of the economy.
For all of this to happen, the issue of gender must be looked at from a broader perspective and men need to be more accommodating. Most of the political parties give enough leverage to women, as is evident form the number of women representatives in other parts of the country and elsewhere. But the fact remains that Nagas have yet to revolutionize their attitude and bring about some equation and pave way for women in the decision making process. Women should also focus on groundwork where the masses can recognize and accept the contributions they can make to society. It is not possible to just win because of gender sympathy. It will need addressing issues and providing sound leadership to get into political leadership.
ANSAM condemns killing of Naga women NNN
Imphal, March 30 The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has on Sunday registered its condemnation of the killing of two Anal Naga women – Ps Snowy Anal and Lh. Esther of Charoiching village in Chandel district by armed persons in Thoubal district of Manipur on March 21.
ANSAM cautioned that failure on the part of the Manipur government to initiate ‘convincing action’ may ignite social turmoil. Reminding the state government to step up human rights protection while the state is running through barbaric killings of innocent lives, the Naga students’ body urged all armed groups to respect human rights.
The Naga students’I firmly stated that justifying any human rights violation by any agency – either state forces or armed groups – is unacceptable. It also stated that such incidents should not be repeated so as to maintain social harmony and peace in the region. The ANSAM also expressed heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family members of Snowy and Esther while praying for the departed souls to rest in peace.
Drive against NSCN (I-M), LAEF Correspondent Nagaland Post
Nongstoin (Meghalaya) March 30: Meghalaya Police launched flush-out operations against NSCN (I-M) and Liberation A’chik Elite Force (LAEF) activists in coal-belt areas of West Khasi Hills district.
At least nine LAEF ultras, including symphatisers, were arrested and arms and ammunitions seized, ever since police with assistance from a Special Operation Team launched their crackdown on the activists.
Both the groups had served extortion notes on coal mine owners, coal exporters to Bangladesh and truck-owners.
Borsora, the second coal trading point between India and Bangladesh and located about 200 kms from Shillong, is known as the hotbed of LAEF and NSCN (I-M), besides banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, which has its base in Bangladesh.
“Our combing operation against the militants is going on in full-swing. Our mission is to clear the area and to put them in our backfoot,” West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police H Kharkrang said.
The coffers of both the outfits have almost dried up and they are trying to replenish it by extorting money from the coal exporters, he said, adding that the police are keeping a strict vigil on coal exporters to ensure that none of them comply with the extortion demands of the outfits.
“The operation has boosted our morale, with frequent breakthrough (arrest of militants). We are expecting more positive results in the days to come,” Kharkrang said.
The LAEF, a relatively new militant outfit and believed to have close links with the NSCN (I-M), is fighting for a “separate independent A'chik State” for the tribal Garos residing in Garo Hills areas of Meghalaya.
Late last year, the NSCN (I-M) had reportedly provided the LAEF with as many as 15 AK 47 rifles, 25 automatic M 20 pistols and three highly powerful Universal Machine Guns, besides over a hundred hand grenades to carry out operations in Garo Hills. The nascent outfit had set up its operational camp inside the Balpakram National Park, with the help of the NSCN (I-M), to impart guerilla warfare tactics to new LAEF recruits.
NNC clarifies on merger Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR: The Naga National Council (NNC) has clarified the news item under the heading 'NNC Sumi Region Clarifies', in connection with the NNC Sumi region's merger with the unification camp that appeared in some local dailies twice.
A press release issued by NNC joint secretary, Sashi Aier, stated that the NNC was not aware of the particular person 'H. Chishi' of NNC Sumi region which appeared twice in some local dailies earlier. In regard to chairmanship of the president of the NNC Sumi region it stated that the NNC did not give any official approval to anyone after Ghoheto Zhimo took over the presidentship of the region.
The release also added that the presidentship for the region is yet to be finalized after it was kept under suspension due to leadership crises and certain political connected matters.
Meanwhile, the NNC joint secretary has also said individuals or few persons may join the unification (NSCN/GPRN) for the interest of the Nagas but added that there cannot be official merger as there are numbers of working Sumis working with the NNC.
The NNC joint secretary further added that NNC for the Naga unification but not partially or individually in the matter as far as the parent body is concerned.
NSCN factions proceed with caution in volatile Nagaland Assam Tribune DIMAPUR, March 30 – Utmost care has been the common policy for both the warring factions of the NSCN (IM and Unification) even as the simmering tension continues in Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur following the abduction of six NSCN-IM men, including a tartar (the outfit’s Member of Parliament) and a member of the steering committee of the outfit by the Azheto faction of the outfit on Friday.
The steering committee is the highest decision-making body of the NSCN-IM.
As various factions of the Naga underground organisations are on the cease-fire term among them, the initiative was fructified by the Gaonburas and Dobashis organisations of Nagaland. The public focus is now on these two elder fora of Nagaland to defuse the heightening tension.
In a late night press release issued to NNN on Friday, the NSCN-IM said Hangsing, who is a tartar and a longshen (member of the outfit’s steering committee) were kidnapped on Friday from their respective houses while the residence of NSCN-IM Cease-Fire Monitoring Cell convenor Phungthing was raided and two of their body guards of the NSCN-IM leader were also abducted along with their weapons.
However, a report in a Dimapur-based newspaper said that deputy kilonser of NSCN-IM Daniel had also been kidnapped by the Azheto-led NSCN (Unification).
The Azheto-led NSCN (U) has clarified that the abduction of the NSCN-IM men was an act of retaliation to the incident where the latter had kidnapped four cadres of the former on March 25. One of the cadres of NSCN (U) had been killed by NSCN-IM in the custody of the latter, according to Azheto faction.
Delay in NDFB peace process due to non-submission of demand charter By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, March 30 – Though more than two and a half years have passed since the ceasefire agreement was signed between the Government and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), talks on political issues are yet to start and the situation in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area is deteriorating because of clashes between the cadres of the NDFB and former BLT men. Official sources blamed the NDFB for the slow progress of the peace process and said that the talks were delayed because of the failure of the militant outfit to submit its charter of demands despite repeated requests. Following persistent requests from the Government, the NDFB promised to submit the charter of demands by February this year but the outfit once again failed to keep its word and the Government is not in a position to initiate political dialogues with the outfit without officially knowing the demands, sources added.
Sources expressed doubts whether the NDFB had signed the ceasefire agreement with the Government because of the pressure it had felt from the security forces. According to information available with the security forces, the NDFB was the worst sufferer of the operations launched by the Bhutan Army in December, 2003 to flush out the militants camping in the territory of the country and at that time, the outfit only had only about 250 cadres. Moreover, the Government of India was reluctant to sign a ceasefire agreement with the NDFB as the outfit had killed around 40 innocent civilians in three days before declaring a unilateral ceasefire, but the State Government had put pressure on the Centre to sign the agreement. Even after two and half years of signing of the ceasefire agreement, the chairman of the NDFB has not visited India to have talks with the Government and till date, the general secretary of the outfit has been representing the outfit in talks, sources pointed out.
The Government of India is also of the view that the State Government should take strong measures against the NDFB cadres involved in violation of the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement. Sources pointed out that immediately after the signing of the ceasefire agreement, the State Government had adopted a soft attitude on the NDFB, which resulted in the deterioration of the situation. The NDFB failed to submit the list of cadres immediately after the signing of the agreement and it took more than six months to do so. Finally, the outfit submitted the list of more than a thousand cadres, which, according to security forces, was an inflated figure.
As per the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement, all the cadres should stay in the designated camps and though the Centre provided funds for setting up of the camps, the State took a long time in completing the job and till date, a good number of cadres of the outfit are staying outside the camps. Only after the recent clashes in the BTC area, the State Government has decided to act tough and directed all the cadres of the NDFB to move into the designated camps.
Mainland’s attitude towards NE must change: economist
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, March 30 – There is an indifferent attitude, almost of a colonial type, in the mainland of India towards NE. This needs to be changed through an arrangement so as to remove the feeling of alienation that afflicts the psyche of the NE people and thus to save the integrity of the country. For the purpose, the Rajya Sabha should be turned into a true council of States with a decisive say on the Union Budget.
This was the observation made by Dr Ashok Mitra, one of the leading economists of the country and a former Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. Also a former Finance Minister of West Bengal, Dr Mitra was delivering the Foundation Day lecture of the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development here today on ‘Seven Sisters and Federal Polity’.
For the feeling of alienation of the NE people, he said, the people of the mainland and the country’s policymakers are to be blamed. There are, however, three distinctions geographical, historical and ethnic – which also distinguish the region from the mainland of the country, he said.
But if NE is regarded as a part of the country in all respects, then it should be allowed to enjoy all the facilities available for development. The NE region, which constitutes 15 per cent of the country’s landmarks with five per cent of the country’s population living in it, should be offered the same pledge and scope for development as has been made for Kashmir, said Dr Mitra.
At present, the region hardly makes three per cent contribution to the gross domestic product of the country. The North Eastern Council (NEC) has also failed to bring about a change in the situation.
The water resources of the Brahmaputra, one of the most magnificent of the rivers, have also not been harnessed for the agricultural development ofthe region. No body has bothered to apply his mind to use the rich forest resources of this region.
The road building operations carried out by different organisations in this region are meant to facilitate movement of troops, not to further its economic development. The priority in this areas is on maintaining territorial integrity of the country, not on accelerating development, he said.
In the political arena also, only a few personalities like Fakhrudding Ali ahmed, Devakanta Borooah, PA Sangma and Bijoy Bhagawati, were given national status.
There must be something wrong with our constitution. An important limb of the country is neglected in terms of development and political position.
Though the Constiution of the country has described India as a Union of States, the imagination of the makers of the Constitution dried up after taking up the nomenclature of the Rajya Sabha from the American model of the Senate, he said.
This is why, five per cent of the nation’s population has representation in the Rajya Sabha according to its size. The pledges of the Constitution makers to make the Rajya Sabha a forum to discuss the problems of the States and making it a House of elders have also been forgotten.
The convention that a person should be a resident of the State concerned to represent it in the Rajya Sabha has also been obliterated with a recent amendment to the Constitution.
Therefore, to keep the integrity of the country intact, there is a need to amend the Constitution so as to give equal representation to each of the States in the Rajya Sabha and also to give this forum the prerogative on the money bills (budget). This will provide the NE region with a better scope to assert itself, Dr Mitra said.
The Rajya Sabha should also be given the power to appoint the Finance Commission members and to determine its terms of reference. Besides, the Planning Commission should be made a Constitutional body and appointment of its members should be the prerogrative of the Rajya Sabha, he said.
The function was conducted by former bureaucrat Jatin Hazarika.
Ibobi licence to kill for cops - ‘Rebels scaring away investors, tourists’ OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, March 30: Militants must die for Manipur to be saved, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh said today in his first reaction to the outcry over the spate of encounter deaths, some of them allegedly staged.
“The government is being criticised for killing militants. But we have little choice but to kill them (militants) to protect lives and property,” he said.
The police have shot seven militants in “encounters” since armed groups killed 15 migrant workers and traders between March 17 and 19 and two teenaged girls and a youth at Heirok in Thoubal district on Holi.
There have been blemishes, too. On Wednesday night, police commandos gunned down a member of the Manipur Rifles in contentious circumstances. Maisnam Amu, 36, was a rifleman in the 2nd Battalion of the Manipur Rifles, though the police insist he had a militant connection.
The very next day, a police team allegedly killed an “innocent man” after picking him up from his Imphal East residence.
The chief minister said the government could not remain a spectator to militants killing, abducting for ransom and extorting money. He said attacks on migrant workers and traders could trigger a backlash against the thousands of Manipuris studying or working elsewhere in the country.
When groups of migrant workers tried to flee Manipur 10 days ago, the government held them back and assured them of safety. Although the settlers agreed to stay back, some of them said they would rather return to their native states than be cloistered in relief camps.
Ibobi Singh said it was a shame that militants were targeting even poor, illiterate workers who had come to Manipur to do menial jobs.
“These indiscriminate acts of violence are scaring away potential investors and tourists. The government has spent crores of rupees on security posts and barracks at vital installations. If the money spent on tackling militants were used for development, Manipur would not lag behind other states in the country.”
On whether the government would stop at nothing to wipe out militant groups, the chief minister said drastic situations called for desperate measures.
“Under the circumstances, they (the militants) will have to die.”
The selective killings one-and-a-half weeks ago had evoked statements of condemnation from some militant groups, too, including the People’s Liberation Army.
Police chief Yumnam Joykumar Singh named the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup as the culprit in at least two of the attacks on migrant workers.
Rebel chief in flip-flop OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
The bodies of three NDFB rebels killed in a clash
Kokrajhar, March 30: Bodo militant leader Ranjan Daimary today retracted his acceptance of Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary’s offer to end their feud through talks and even threatened to call off his group’s ceasefire with the government.
Daimary, the chief of the National Democratic Front of Boroland, accused Mohilary and the Tarun Gogoi government of going “all out to crush” his outfit.
“Hagrama Mohilary and his men, who were once fighting for separate statehood by dividing Assam, have now become the owners of Assam and shamefully in alliance with Assam police (are) killing members of the NDFB and innocent people just to serve their narrow political interest,” NDFB president Ranjan Daimary said in a statement.
The statement came less than a week after Daimary accepted Mohilary’s offer for talks to end the violence that has rocked the Bodoland in the recent weeks.
Much of the violence has been the doing of militants of the NDFB and former members of the Bodoland Liberation Tigers, disbanded after Mohilary signed an accord with Delhi and Dispur.
Daimary said he was still ready to sit for talks, but only if his outfit was given the freedom to put its point across in the manner it deemed fit.
“The NDFB will place the proposed agenda for political talks with the government of India in its own time and convenience, but not as demanded by Hagrama…We are not against the resolution of any issues or problems peacefully and democratically. We talked to Hagrama in 1999 and (are) also ready to talk to him again to save the lives of the innocent people.”
He accused Mohilary’s men of colluding with the police to derail the peace process. “More than the occupational forces of India, it is our own brothers (who) have been harassing, torturing and killing members of the NDFB and the peace and freedom loving people.”
The militant leader said the “conspiracy to derail the peace process between the NDFB and government of India” had plunged the Bodo heartland into chaos.
“If the members of the NDFB cannot maintain their public relations office and live freely even in our own land, we will have no other option but to reconsider the ceasefire. Tarun Gogoi and Hagrama should not force us to walk away from the ceasefire. But if they want us to pick up the arms we are prepared for it. We are ready to fight for our right for another 20 years.”
