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04/29/2008: "NSCN-IM seeks social organisations' intervention Nagarealm.com"

NSCN-IM seeks social organisations' intervention Nagarealm.com

Dimapur, APR28 [NNN] : Even as the factional related violent incidents are rising in Nagaland particularly in Kohima and Dimapur, the NSCN-IM on Monday said that the civil societies should point out the root cause of the present problem in Nagaland.


While putting the formation of the Azheto led NSCN-Unification as the main cause of the present problem, the NSCN-IM said that the civil societies should not feel afraid to point out the root cause of the problem. The outfit said that while NSCN-IM would appreciate every effort to establish the much sought peaceful environment in Dimapur or Kohima, the civil societies must act with a sense of responsibility and must not be afraid to point out the root cause or the provocative causes in a very perspective manner.

"To feign ignorance or failing to point finger at the right direction is unbecoming of any civil societies that carry the stamp of concern for the Naga's sociopolitical interests," stated the NSCN-IM today. The NSCN-IM then stated that the off shoot of "rogue elements" is directly linked to the infamous November 23 episode when the then GPRN Kilo-Kilonser (Home Minister) Azheto Chophy ran away from the outfit's Hebron camp to announce his 'version of unification, a copycat of the Collective Leadership's proclamation of unity through reconciliation".

"But found devoid of any legal or moral sanction in keeping with the political exigency to bring unity, it was discarded as a sugar-coated unification call with other sinister program as the hidden agenda," dismissed the NSCN-IM while adding, "And the present provocative style of functioning by this very group who calls for unity leave no room for doubt what exactly is their socio-political standing in the name of unification call. This is an insult to the Nagas by resorting to hegemonic political brinkmanship".

The NSCN-IM also stated that the responsibility also lies with the state government authorities for not playing the role in accordance with all legal proprieties to differentiate the role of the "rogue elements" and the recognized NSCN-IM organization that is in ceasefire with the government of India; "with the world at large keenly observing the ongoing Indo-Naga political peace talks that is running 11 years".
Peace eludes Nagaland as NSCN factions keep clashing Samudra Gupta Kashyap Indian Express
While the Opposition Congress has hit out at the Government for allegedly failing to control the situation, state Home Minister Imkong Limchen has said that the Nagas will finish themselves if the trend does not come to a halt.
Civil society groups as well as traditional groups have, in the meantime, appealed to NSCN factions to put an end to the clashes, with village groups asking them to keep away from violent acts in inhabited areas.
While most of the incidents have been reported from Dimapur district, the Angami Public Organisation (APO), an influential Naga tribal body, last weekend called for an end to the factional violence and extortions and abductions and asked the groups to sit together to resolve their differences.
A report from Kohima said the two NSCN factions were currently engaged in a battle for dominance over areas in and around Dimapur, the commercial capital of the state. While the NSCN(I-M) and NSCN(U) lost two cadres each in a clash at Tenyiphe-I on April 22, one jawan of 10 IRB constable was killed during patrolling at Diphupar ‘B’ road on April 25.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress has accused the DAN government of failing to protect human lives and properties and asked Chief Minister Rio to change his government’s perception on factional clashes. Congress Legislature Party leader I Imkong said in Kohima on Sunday that the government should stop sticking to the rhetoric that the ongoing clashes among Naga groups were a political problem, and instead should take concrete steps to provide security to the people.
“A government installed with the peoples’ mandate must provide security to life and property of the citizens. Instead, it was leaving the people to fend for themselves,” the CLP leader said. Complaining that incidents of killing, extortion, abduction and intimidation had gone up after the DAN came to power for the second time in March, the Opposition leader said Rio’s government had completely failed to control the situation.
A report from Tuensang quoted Home Minister Imkong L Imchen as saying the Naga struggle had now become a factional struggle and warned that if the present trend continued then the Nagas would finish themselves for good.
“In the name of Naga freedom, carrying AK-47, extorting money from the innocent for no cause, threatening and killing the innocent Nagas, is this Naga independence?” a newspaper quoted the home minister as saying.
IM seeks social organisations’ intervention Newmai News Network
Dimapur, Apr 28: Even as the factional related violent incidents are rising in Nagaland particularly in Kohima and Dimapur, the NSCN-IM on Monday said that the civil societies should point out the root cause of the present problem in Nagaland.
While putting the formation of the Azheto led NSCN-Unification as the main cause of the present problem, the NSCN-IM said that the civil societies should not feel afraid to point out the root cause of the problem. The outfit said that while NSCN-IM would appreciate every effort to establish the much sought peaceful environment in Dimapur or Kohima, the civil societies must act with a sense of responsibility and must not be afraid to point out the root cause or the provocative causes in a very perspective manner.
“To feign ignorance or failing to point finger at the right direction is unbecoming of any civil societies that carry the stamp of concern for the Naga’s sociopolitical interests,” stated the NSCN-IM today.
The NSCN-IM then stated that the off shoot of “rogue elements” is directly linked to the infamous November 23 episode when the then GPRN Kilo-Kilonser (Home Minister) Azheto Chophy ran away from the outfit’s Hebron camp to announce his ‘version of unification, a copycat of the Collective Leadership’s proclamation of unity through reconciliation”.
“But found devoid of any legal or moral sanction in keeping with the political exigency to bring unity, it was discarded as a sugar-coated unification call with other sinister program as the hidden agenda,” dismissed the NSCN-IM while adding, “And the present provocative style of functioning by this very group who calls for unity leave no room for doubt what exactly is their socio-political standing in the name of unification call. This is an insult to the Nagas by resorting to hegemonic political brinkmanship”.
The NSCN-IM also stated that the responsibility also lies with the state government authorities for not playing the role in accordance with all legal proprieties to differentiate the role of the “rogue elements” and the recognized NSCN-IM organization that is in ceasefire with the government of India; “with the world at large keenly observing the ongoing Indo-Naga political peace talks that is running 11 years”.
Police rebuts NSCN-IM Nagaland Post
Dimapur, April 28 (NPN): Nagaland Police Monday dismissed as “false” the claim of NSCN (I-M) that Constable Hamji Konyak was killed in retaliatory firing.
A press release issued by Deputy IGP (Hqrs) and PRO, PHQ, L.L. Doungel said the claim by NSCN (I-M) that it was a case of mistaken identity was also not tenable as the incident occurred during day time when there was sufficient natural light to distinguish individuals. The release said the Constable was shot on the head and it would not have been possible if it was not a targeted shooting.
The release said on that day the IRB patrol was designated to Ikishe and Sovima villages by the SP, Dimapur, to restore public order and instill confidence in the minds of people following the tension and general insecurity prevailing in the areas in the aftermath of a factional clash.
The release said the IRB personnel by patrolling in the area did neither violate the ceasefire ground rules nor did they commit anything wrong or illegal as the area was not a designated camp of any faction. The release pointed out that the NSCN (I-M) activists had no justifiable reason to be “having a meeting” in the area.
Earlier on April 25, the release said NSCN (I-M) was intimated about deployment of the IRB patrol party when some of its functionaries had contacted a senior police officer. Besides, the SP had also informed a member of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell.
The release described the shooting on the IRB personnel despite these communications as a “display of arrogance and total disregard to the authority of the State”.
The release said there was further provocation in the evening of April 27 when some IRB personnel were fired upon at Purana Bazar.
The release said the State police had always respected and honoured the ceasefire ground rules and would continue to abide by them because of the conviction that “whatever shades of opinion or camp, we are but one family”. The release called upon all groups and factions to desist from “false and untenable claims and accusations”.
Plea to declare Dimapur ‘peace zone’ Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, APRIL 28 (NPN): A joint meeting of various tribal hohos, GBs Union Dimapur, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD), Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), chairmen and secretaries of colonies and villages, convened under the aegis of Naga Council Dimapur Monday appealed to all underground groups and factions to declare Dimapur as a “peace zone” and to honour and respect the separate ceasefire agreements made by different factions with the Government of India as well as the Nagaland GBs & DBs Joint Forum.
Condemning the factional clashes in public places and civilian populated areas including institutions, residential areas and markets, causing loss of civilian lives and property besides creating fear psychosis, the members in the meeting also resolved not to extend cooperation to any faction going against the wish of the general public.
Naga Council acting president T Bangerloba Ao and general secretary W Lemba Chang in a press release also informed that the house decided to tackle any kind of situation that might arise, under the banner of Naga Council Dimapur and if needed, to endorse to Naga Hoho for further “necessary cooperation and initiation.”
The house further appealed to the State Government to take serious note of the prevailing situation and to deploy adequate security forces in and around Dimapur.
Around 300 leaders and representative of various organizations including chairmen and secretaries of 52 colonies and villages in and around Dimapur town attended Monday’s Naga Council Co-ordination meeting held here at Town Hall.
Four kidnapped construction company employees released The Hindu
Haflong (Assam) (PTI): Four abducted persons, including three engineers, were released by their unidentified captors at Dimapur in Nagaland after remaining in captivity for more than a month.
Police sources said here the three engineers, overseeing construction work of Mahasarak East-West Corridor, and their security officer were released on April 26 but the fate of another person, the driver, was unknown.
The Project Manager, his deputy, an engineer of P L Valecha Engineering Company along with the driver of their vehicle and their security officer were abducted on March 12 from a place between Mandardisa and Hatikhali in Assam when they were travelling in a car.
The four were admitted to a hospital at Dimapur after their release and the police were yet to interrogate them to ascertain details about the kidnap.
The four were Project Manager Umesh Sarma, Deputy Project Manager Jugoprasad Deka, engineer Dhrubajyoti Choudhury and the Personal Security Officer S Timung.
The basis for Naga unity- Nagaland Post
The Nagas have been desperately in search of unity through the process of reconciliation and peace among the factions for half a century with much success. What has made the Nagas so difficult to unite? Is it because the factions have gone too far in their excesses against each other? We fail because our search for unity is focused on the narrow aspects of uniting the factions only.
The search for unity, need to involve a step-wise, bringing together divergent groups; between the underground groups, then between over-ground groups and finally, between the underground and over-ground Nagas.
The search for Naga unity should have a basis. The 1951 plebiscite can be that basis because it made a clear policy statement on geo-political stand of the Nagas. It is our road map. It defined our political aspiration and declared our natural right on our own land based on historical fact. It demarcated the extent of Naga inhabited areas of land. The plebiscite is the mandate of all the Nagas. It was voluntary plebiscite observing all the norms in which, 99% Nagas had united and anticipated. It preceded all the causes of discord. The plebiscite manifested the height of Naga unity. This can serve as the meeting point.
The call of the hour is unity. The time seems to be running out for Nagas. With fast diminishing element of patriotism our struggke has come to such a stage and a situation in which, if something is not done now, chances are that the Naga political struggle may meet a natural death. The increasing public uprising against the national workers in reent times poses a threat for self defeat. Poverty of political philosophy can lead our freedom struggle to a humiliating end. Dr. K. Hoshi, Phek Town.
Killing of IRB jawan unfortunate: nscn-im morungexpress
Dimapur, April 27 (MExN): In the wake of the killing of an IRB personnel on April 25 in Dimapur, the NSCN (IM) today termed the killing of ‘IRB constable Hanji Konyak of 10 NAP (IR) as unfortunate’; however, it asserted that the police version of IRB being ambushed holds no validity.
An MIP press release received here today, while saying that the killing of the IRB constable was unfortunate, informed that ‘somewhere somebody committed the blunder to bring about this tragic incident’.
However, the release asserted that ‘on the part of the NSCN firing at the IRB constable, there is nothing deliberate’ and maintained that the exact identity of the victim as constable of IRB came to light after the incident.
“It was retaliation on the spur of the moment when they were fired upon. And for the mistaken identity under such pressing circumstances, the NSCN express regret and treat the matter as very unfortunate. We condole this unfortunate killing,” it stated.
However, it asserted that a ‘big question’ remains to be answered by the Nagaland Home Ministry and the state police authority ‘as to who gave the order to the IRB personnel to fire at the Naga Army of NSCN’.
In this regard, the release asserted that the “NSCN’s intelligence was in the knowledge of the Unification group moving around in the Dimapur disguised in IRB uniform”, and that the alarm bell had been sounded to the Town Command of NSCN to remain vigilant at all times and at all places.
“It was in the context of this suspicious atmosphere that the police authorities were also intimated and not to dispatch IRB personnel around the area where the NSCN were having meeting lest unnecessary provocation and firing takes place. This was the extent the NSCN went to avoid any unpleasant incident,” the release stated. However, it stated that it was under such heated atmosphere that the IRB personnel appeared on the scene in Diphupar ‘B’ and “fired at the NSCN”.
In this regard, the release maintained that “the police version of IRB being ambushed hold not validity,” and added that the questions that follow is whether the IRB is looking for NSCN that is in ceasefire with the government of India or “the illegal organization of the unification group that is functioning nothing less than rogue elements”. “What really provoked the IRB to fire at NSCN? If it is a case of mistaken identity the truth should has to be admitted and sincere apologies tendered to set at rest the public conscience. Because the rogue elements should not be place in the same footing with the legitimate organization as NSCN,” the release stated.
The NSCN (IM) also asserted that the IRB burning down of one Gypsy belonging to NSCN is not a thing to be appreciated.
“Law enforcing agencies are expected to exercise modesty when not dealing with anti-social elements. The Gypsy did not belong to rogue elements,” it stated.

‘Sgt Zaimi died a martyr’
Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) has said that the ‘Sgt. Zaimi Hongray of Naga Army’, whose body was found on April 26 at Chumukedima village and Sukhavi village, was attached with the ‘Dimapur Town Command’ and that he was abducted on April 9.
“To die fighting is the normal course of life for any soldier. But to be abducted and killed in isolated place in the jungle, and left to rot as carcass, is inhuman- unbecoming of any military ethics around the world. Nevertheless, a place of honour is always reserved, and Sgt. Zaimi Hongray died a martyr at the hands of the traitors who respect no human norms that governs any army disciplinary set-up,” said an MIP press release.
It further informed that the mortal remain of Sgt. Zaimi was retrieved from the jungle near Sakhuvi village with the help of the Sakhuvi and Chumukidema villagers. The body of ‘Sgt’ Zaimi Hungray has been sent from Dimapur to Ukhrul to the bereaved family members, it added.
South Nagas condemn ‘dictatorial’ Cabinet morungexpress
DIMAPUR, APRIL 28 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Naga Student’s Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights strongly condemned the recent cabinet memo regarding Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project), terming it as “dictatorial and totalitarian style of governance by the Government of Manipur” In a press release issued by Samson Remei, Grace T. Shatsang, Adani David Choro and Phahrhing Sengul, the presidents of UNC, NWUM, ANSAM and Convenor of NPMHR respectively stated that the government, instead of choosing to resolve the issue through democratic means of “legitimate demands made by the affected people of Mapithel Dam” has decided to “intimate and suppress voices of affected people by use of military forces.” The release said that this move of the Government of Manipur will never bring any positive outcome.
Protest use of military force at Mapithel DamThe release also pointed out that the government of Manipur with order no.20/1/2005-IFC (Pt) dated 18.01.2008 and No. 20/1/2005-IFC (Pt) dated 04.02.2008, had constituted an expert review committee to look after the affected people of the Mapithel Dam and also had four rounds of meeting with the affected people. “However, deadlock appears when the government remain adamant to move ahead with the term of reference put forth by the affected peoples” states the civil organisations. Meanwhile, it is disclosed that the government decided to take a stringent military measure to go ahead with the dam construction activities.
In such as backdrop, the release urges the government of Manipur to act with “pro-people policy” to the affected people, rather then pursuing a complete subservience strategy through military might. “We will uphold the inherent and inalienable rights over land, forests and other natural resources at any cost” it stated adding that in the event of any untoward incidents the government of Manipur would be solely held responsible.
Burmese Prime Minister arrives in Bangkok By Mizzima News


Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will tonight host Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein at his residence, taking the opportunity to prepare a personal meal for his Burmese counterpart.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that during the visit the two premiers will discuss Burma's upcoming constitutional referendum, drug smuggling, border controls and migrant workers.

After an official meeting tomorrow, the two ministers will proceed to pay their respects to His Majesty Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Nation, a Bangkok-based newspaper, reports they will also ratify the construction of a rubber factory and palm oil mill.

"During his first visit to Thailand, Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein will discuss construction of the Davoy deep water jetty," added the Thai Prime Minister.

On Thursday they are scheduled to visit agricultural projects in Chiang Rai Province, a part of the legendary golden triangle and abutting Burma.

Last month's visit of the Thai Prime Minister to Burma witnessed the signing of an investment defense treaty between the two countries. Prime Minister Thein Sein was due to arrive in Thailand today, a visit that is expected to last three days.