[Previous entry: "NSCN-K rejects meeting with I-M Nagarealm"] [Next entry: "India's Naga rebels say govt hurting peace process Biswajyoti Das Reuters"]

05/08/2008: "NSCN Council of Kilonsers reconstituted Correspondent Nagaland Post"

NSCN Council of Kilonsers reconstituted Correspondent Nagaland Post

(NPN): In a significant development, the two NSCNs - NSCN (K) and GPRN/NSCN - have formed their government with reconstitution of "Council of Kilonsers" under collective leadership S.S. Khaplang, the president; N. Kitovi Zhimomi, Ato Kilonser; and Gen. Khole, C-in-C, Naga Army. The list of Council of Kilonsers is as follows:-
Hevukhu Yeptho Speaker National assembly, Azheto Chophy Kilonser Home (kilo)
Kughalu Mulatonu -do- Finance (chaplee), C. Singson -do- Foreign (Alee Affairs)
A.Z Jami -do- Education, Athrom Konyak -do- food (Lota)
V. Tuccu -do- Forest, Environment & Natural Resources (Western Division)
"Major" (Retd) Joshep Anal -do- Revenue (Southern Nagaland)
Major" (Retd) R.M Lotha -do- National Social Welfare, Chowangsin Pangmi -do- Religious Affairs
N. Panmai -do- Medical, Angkan -do- Forest, Environment and Natural Resources (Eastern Division).
Vitoyi Aye -do- Public Relation and NGOs, P. Nihoto Chishi -do- Law and Justice
Hothrong Yimchunger -do- Transport and Communication, Longshem Khiamniungan -do- not allotted.
Shikato Chishi Dy. Kilonser Home (Kilo), Wangtin Naga do, Seochem Sangtam -do- Finance (Chaplee)
Jack Jimomi -do- -do-, Shampai Khiamniungan -do- Law and Justice
Hekheto Zhimomi -do- Religious Affairs. Kiyekhu Awomi -do- Defence (Keeya), Akato Chophy -do- -do-
Tikhat -do- Information and Publicity, Alezo Chakhesang –do, Hojei Swu -do- Public Relation and NGOs
Yimto Yimchunger -do- -do-, Meren Nokpu -do- Transport and Communication
Hokugha Achumi -do- Forest, Environment and Natural Resources, Neiton Konyak -do- Medical
NSCN(I-M) leader asked to study Constitution MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati, May 7: National Socialist Council of Nagaland general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has been asked to study the Indian Constitution which has necessary provisions to address their grievances placed before New Delhi.
Responding to the charges of the NSCN leader that the government of India was not sincere about the ongoing peace talks, highly-placed security sources told this newspaper: "The NSCN(I-M) leadership has been told categorically that the Indian Constitution has enough space to address their grievances."
An authoritative source in the home ministry said: "We are waiting for the NSCN(I-M) leader to complete his study on the Indian Constitution to restart the peace talks."
Meanwhile, ongoing factional clashes among the Naga groups in Nagaland has started taking an ugly turn, with the NSCN(I-M) fast losing its support base on the ground to the breakaway Unification Faction. The factional fights have been raging since April 15, killing more than 19 people so far.
It is likely to aggravate further with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) rejecting the reconciliation process initiated by a Naga church leader between the Naga warring groups. "We’ll not attend the meeting nor will be part of the reconciliation process," said Kughalu Mulatonu, a senior kilonser (minister) of the Khaplang faction. The meeting was initiated by Rev. Wati Aier, a prominent Naga clergyman who heads the Naga Reconciliation Forum, and was scheduled to be held at Chingmai in Thailand in the last week of May, the Khaplang group said in Dimapur.
The ceasefire between the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre completed 10 years and during this period, over 50 rounds of talks were held for finding an acceptable and honourable solution to the Naga political conflict.
The inordinate delay in the peace process has also changed the ground realities in Nagaland and now attempts are on to isolate NSCN(I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah among the Nagas of Nagaland. The breakaway unification faction and the Khaplang faction have joined hands against NSCN(I-M). If independent observers are to be quoted here the unification faction has virtually taken over the control of majority of the areas in Nagaland. The failure of NSCN(I-M) on unifying the Naga-dominated areas of north-eastern states has given strength to the argument of the Khaplang faction that Mr Muivah is an outsider in Nagaland.
Though, Khaplang himself is from Burma, the outfit considers Mr Muivah and his people to be non-Nagas. It even asked Mr Muivah to leave Nagaland or face consequences for all his wrong doings to the Naga people.
Naga issue taken to UN Permanent Forum morungexpress
Dimapur, May 7 (MExN): The United Nations was today suggested a number of recommendations by the Naga people's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) as means to pressurize India to take bold and active steps to addressing the Naga political issue. Among the recommendations included the suggestion that the UN Special Rapportuer and UN experts visit Nagaland and the insurgency-torn region.
Athili Sapriina, executive member of the NPMHR, in his May 2 statement to the 7th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, suggested that the UN forum, PFII, urge the Government of India to take bold positive steps on the Indo-Naga issue towards an acceptable and just settlement of the political issues. The PFII may also urge India to halt her policy of using the Media, intelligence agencies and not resort to using the Military Civic Action (MCA) and Army Development Group (ADG) to engage counter-insurgency. Further, the UN Special Rapportuer and UN experts may visit Nagaland and the region, a region having experienced the longest-running political insurgency.
The suggestions were made following the NPMHR's highlighting to the August House the state of affairs of the Indo-Naga political issue. "Human Rights are indivisible and inalienable and encompass all. We do not believe in transforming conflicts within the existing State structures and therefore, shall continue to confront the attempt by dominant societies to impose solutions, backed by psychological schemes" the Naga Human Rights body said.
The State of India continues to use means to divide the Naga people and urging the people to unit India continues to divide, the forum was informed. "This is a contradiction. However, our struggle is with the Indian and the Burmese State, not so much with their peoples, from whom we have received solidarity and continues even today. Government of India has been in a dialogue with the Naga people's representatives since a ceasefire came into effect in 1997. While the Nagas have come forward, India has not taken positive steps" the NPMHR stated.
"Our history is clear. We were never part of India, either by conquest or consent. India is driven to these 'dialogues' and 'negotiations' partly to further her Look East Policy (LEP) which aims to link the economies of South Asia with South East Asia" the NPMHR said.
It was lamented that while a dialogue process is "apparently on," the Indian state has not been able to stop the works of her intelligence agencies who continue to monitor the Naga people, especially the leaders, NPMHR informed the forum. "They have used the media and propaganda machinery to create fissures amongst my peoples by planting rumors and thereby creating divisions" the NPMHR said.
For these, the NPMHR urged the agencies having a direct bearing on the people to undertake a more direct inclusive process in planning, implementation and monitoring of projects, which otherwise gives primacy to the Nation States which refuses to involve Indigenous Peoples. "They include World Bank, ADB, IFAD, UNITAR, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF. We also wish to request for raising our ability to participate in the Human Rights Council and also benefit from such committees such as CERD, etc. Mega-dams, mining, bio-fuels, oil extraction and development projects are being undertaken in and around Nagaland. A high degree of militarization and military presence, entry of international financial institutions and health issues such as HIV/AIDS continue to engage my peoples, especially the youth. This is a phenomenon not peculiar to my peoples alone."
In a separate but likened agenda, the executive member also said nation-states have devised ways to misdirect and engage the youth, using propaganda machinery particularly the media and intelligence agencies. "They continue to monitor our movements and create divisions using people who have been co-opted within the existing systems and structures. We do not believe solutions to contentious issues of Indigenous Peoples always lie within the structures of existing State Systems. Political dialogues have often been used to further dominate us" she stated. She cited the instance of political accords signed by nation-states with Indigenous Peoples in Asia, which have not been honored.
In cases such as the Indo-Naga issue, India has not taken sufficient steps to allow the negotiations to move forward since a ceasefire was signed in August 1997, NPMHR informed. "Madam Chair, our struggles do not only aim to liberate ourselves, but also those who have historically trampled upon our lives and hurt our dignity. We repose hope and faith in the ability of nation-states and dominant communities to be bold in taking actions that will promote Just Peace. We denounce nation-states who promote some organizations in the region claiming to represent Indigenous Peoples while they are not. We welcome support from them, while we urge them that they do not usurp our voices and not contribute to the marginalization processes" the address added.

Naga organizations to resist against Dam
Dimapur, May 7 (MExN): Four prominent Naga peoples organization in Manipur namely United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM) and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) visited the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project) site on May 6 and interacted with the affected villagers at Riha village. This consultation with the affected people was done "following our submission to the Chief Minister of Manipur dated 28th April, 2008 with regard to the April 24, 2008 cabinet decision" stated a statement issued to the media today jointly signed by K.Marigold, vice president NWUM, Reisangpem shaiza, General Secretary ANSAM and Phamhring Sengul, Convenor NPMHR South.
The joint statement asserted that they "will resist construction of the Dam until the following demands are addressed by the Government of Manipur". The three point demands are "to properly conduct environment impact assessment; to come out with a Comprehensive rehabilitation and Resettlement policy of the State government as per the Terms of Reference (ToR) and to come out with a contingency plan for the downstream areas".
Expressing serious concern on the manner in which the project was undertaken since 1980, the statement mentioned "we would like to point out that there is no comprehensive Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) policy for the affected villagers so far despite the completion of the same project is slated for the year 2009. The affected villagers are experiencing tremendous anxiety as they will be displaced and so far there is no plan for their survival, livelihood and habitation".
The consultation reported that "86% compensation was only for 20% of the total affected villagers" besides leveling serious allegations against the state government of "violation of the memorandum of Agreed Terms (MOA) of 1993, payment to the land owners for direct purchase (mutual transfer) started only in the year between 1996 -2003 and could not be completed till date whereas according to Agreed terms, payment of land compensation has to be completed within two years 1993-94 and 1994-95".

‘Violence in Naga family must cease’
Naga Students’ Union, Delhi endorsed the NSF Press Release

As it is always proverbially known that the students’ union is the beacon of future leadership of the people, it is a genuine concern of the Naga students to bring the deep anguished shared among the Naga population over the ongoing relentless violence in the Naga country.

Naga Students’ Union, Delhi (NSUD), strongly condemns any sort of crime committed one another among the Nagas in the name of the Naga national cause for liberation. It is also our earnest appeal to all the concern Naga national workers to avoid overindulgence with the civilian lives, particularly the student community.

NSUD is deeply saddened to learn the recent killing of Mr. Mayoyang Muivah, 19 years, student of P.U. (commerce). The Union strongly condemns against this nonsensical killing of a student, and would like to appeal the wisdom of the Naga national workers that the very intimidation to the lives of the student community is a psychological corruption to the future of the Nagas.

Therefore, the Union would like to bring to the notice of the concern group committing the heinous crime against the civilian and the student community to halt the violence at once and for all the good of our hard earned cause of “one people, one nation”.

NSUD appeals once again to all the national workers to preen the political rationality in resolving the problems rather than attempting to fratricidal crimes. The Union also calls to the public wisdom, and various civil societies to stay responsible against any undue crime.

The Naga Students’ Union Delhi is also indistinguishably amazed by the irresponsive attitude of the state – custodian, for the uncontrolled violence taking place right on the face of the largest claimed democratic country. The Union appeals the government of India to take immediate step in keeping the civil rights available to the Naga population in India.

Kuknalim.

Sd Gideon Shadang /- Sd/-Saturwie S Nyusou

President General Secretary
Naga Students’ Union Delhi Naga Students’ Union Delhi

NBCC cries with the people- Nagaland Post
In recent times abduction and killing have been on the rise. Several times in the past the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has made public condemnation on such evil phenomenon. If our people who engage in such defying fight would not repent, surely God will visit them in His wrath. It does not matter whether or not people or organizations condemn the killings taking place in our land, because God has already condemned it. We do not want to even mention them except to leave the matter to God. The people engaging in warfare are not 'national workers' but 'nation destroyers'. We strongly assert that this is not the way to political sovereignty. It is fantastic on the part of these people to believe that they have the support of the people. By going against the wishes of the people, and in terrorizing, they have cast off sympathy people once have had on them.
At the same time, we appreciate the venture of the various societies taking initiative in peacemaking. On many occasion we have said that NBCC never consider itself as the only custodian of peace ministry. While we undertake the task of understanding, healing and reconciliation, we extend our blessing to endeavor of any organization or society taking initiative for peace. We believe that there is more than one way to peace making. On several occasions, we have stated before the public that the NBCC never seeks recognition or credit in the works we involve. While we continue our own course of programme, we would be very happy to see the Naga Hoho or any civil society, or any group work out a lasting peace to a troubled-torn Nagaland. Therefore, we hereby dispel the notion that without NBCC it is not possible. We pray and deep from our heart convey our wish to all.
Centre should show 'sincerity' in resolving Naga issue: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio Rev. Zhabu Terhüja, general secretary, NBCC. PTI
Centre should show 'sincerity' in resolving Naga issue: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio




New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today blamed the Centre for the ongoing clashes between Naga rebel groups and said the government should show its "sincerity" in resolving the six-decades-old insurgency problem in the northeast.
"Definitely, the delay (in talks between NSCN-IM and Centre) is the cause of all the problems. It is getting multiplied. We want to see the sincerity of the government of India and the underground groups to resolve it," Rio told PTI after meeting Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil here.

Rio said he apprised Patil about the law and order situation in Nagaland and the recent clashes between rebel factions.

From Dimapur, which witnessed a series of armed clashes in the recent past, the turf war between NSCN-IM and NSCN- Unification has now spread to other parts of Nagaland.

Two activists of the newly formed group NSCN-Unification were killed near a forest range office at Merapani in Woka while two youths, including one NSCN-IM cadre, were shot dead and another was critically injured in two separate shooting incidents in Dimapur town yesterday.

Rio said he had asked the Home Ministry whether the new group called NSCN-Unification had been in touch with it and sought direction in dealing with the situation.

"The Home Ministry would be giving certain directions," he said, adding the state government got "sandwiched in between".

Asked whether he had requested Patil to provide additional forces to deal with the clashes, Rio said "When it is required, we will ask for forces. There is no immediate demand for more force."
Factions clash at Diphupar Staff Reporter Nagaland post
DIMAPUR, MAY 7 (NPN): Suspected NSCN (I-M) and NSCN Unification cadres clashed at Diphupar 'A' village near the office of the ceasefire monitoring cell (CFMC), NSCN (I-M), Wednesday afternoon at around 3.30 p.m., police said.
However, there was no report of any casualty on either side. Police, quoting villagers of the area, said around 6-7 suspected NSCN Unification activists came to the area near a private house when suddenly there was exchange of gunfire, which lasted for about ten minutes. It was not ascertained which faction fired the first shot.
Later, police recovered around 15 empty cases from the site of the clash.
It may be mentioned at least 11 persons including four civilians were killed in factional-related clashes in the past one week.
On May 1, an NSCN Unification activist and two civilians were killed in a factional clash at Showuba off Dimapur. The two civilians died after being caught in the crossfire.
On May 4, two activists of the NSCN Unification were killed in a factional clash with rival NSCN (I-M) near the Office of Forest Range in Merapani on the Assam-Nagaland border, while one NSCN (I-M) activist was killed at Burma Camp, Dimapur. Police also recovered the bodies of two NSCN (I-M) activists in Dimapur on May 4.
On May 5, three persons including one from NSCN (I-M), a student and a civilian were killed in separate incidents in Dimapur.
NDFB political dialogue yet to start: Centre From Our Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, May 7 – A day after the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) announced its plans to hold a massive rally on Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has clarified that preliminary discussion with the militant outfit is yet to start. Confusion over the status of the political dialogue with the militant outfit today prompted the MHA to clarify its position. Assam Government’s discomfort over the issue may also be one of the reasons that led the Ministry to clarify its position.

Official sources told this newspaper that the meeting on May 1 held at North Block with the militant outfit was not part of the political dialogue process. The meeting chaired by Special Secretary (Internal Security) ML Kumawat was also attended by Joint Secretary (North-east) Navin Verma and other senior officials of the Ministry.

Sources confided that at the meeting, the five-member NDFB delegation led by its general secretary Govinda Basumatary handed over a sealed envelope. The envelope was not even opened in their presence, hence the question of holding preliminary discussions doesn’t even arise, sources said.

“We have been pressing NDFB to submit its charter of demands since the past three years, however, there has been little progress in this regard,” sources said.

The only contact the MHA had with NDFB was the Joint Monitoring Committee meetings, which reviewed the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of the ground rules, sources added.

The two sides had entered into a suspension of operation pact on June 1, 2005.

NDFB continues to remain a banned militant outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, sources added.

The fan fare with which the NDFB has been ‘celebrating’ the handing over of the charter of demands in the form of a memorandum to the Centre has obviously rattled Tarun Gogoi Government more than the Centre. The Congress is running an alliance government with BPPF, the rival faction.

The NDFB has announced its plans to hold a mammoth rally at Udalguri on May 10. The Bodo militant outfit has been tightlipped about its charter of demands. The release it issued was vague about its demands. The memorandum was a reflection of the Bodo people’s historical rights, the long-cherished hopes and aspirations as well as the principles and ideology of the NDFB, said information and publicity secretary of the outfit, S Sanjarang.

According to reports, Dispur has already cautioned the Centre over the possibility of initiating a dialogue on the basis of the demand for a separate country of Bodoland, pointing towards other militant outfits like ULFA, which are waiting in the wings with similar demands.

Moreover, the stated policy of the Union Government is not to entertain any demand for a dialogue, which is outside the purview of the Constitution. All discussions have to be within the four corners of the Constitution.

In fact, the prime reason behind the collapse of the ULFA peace process is the outfit’s insistence on discussing the ‘core issue’ of sovereignty of Assam.

Even the NSCN peace process has now boiled down to the unification of the Naga-inhabited areas spread over the three States of Manipur, Assam and Arunchal Pradesh.
Talks with ULFA within statute: Centre
GUWAHATI, April 18 – The government is prepared to hold talks with the ULFA but it should be within the framework of the Constitution, a Union Minister said here today, reports PTI. “Unity and integrity of India is non-negotiable. Under no circumstances would the talks with ULFA or any other insurgent groups will be outside the framework of the Indian Constitution”, Minister of State for Industry Ashwini Kumar told reporters.

“The government is prepared to talk within the framework of the Constitution but no question of talks outside the framework of the Constitution”, he said.

On a media report that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had agreed to discuss ULFA’s core demand of sovereignty, the Union minister said, “I don’t think a chief minister would ever say that”.

Kumar said violence could never be an acceptable mechanism for achieving any goal.

Asked if the coming Lok Sabha polls would be on time, the union minister said, “the Lok Sabha will complete its full term and the government will also go to its end”.

The thrust areas of the UPA government for the Northeast region was dairy development and tea export, he said.

On the measures taken for controlling price rise, Kumar said, “whatever steps necessary the government has taken...dehoarding drive, stopping of cement and steel export. There has been a rollback of the inflation rate. Some time will be required as the price rise is a global situation. The rise in crude oil price has a cascading effect on the prices of all other goods”.
Anarchy tag on Ibobi ‘village army’ OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, May 7: Citizens’ groups in Manipur today rose as one to oppose the arming of villagers even as the Okram Ibobi Singh government initiated the process for selecting another 200 special police officers (SPOs) for Chajing in Imphal West.
The organisations demanded a rollback of the government decision to arm civilians when director-general of police Yumnam Joykumar Singh visited Chajing today to conduct a preliminary survey for the recruitment process.
The state home department had screened youths from Heirok in Ibobi Singh’s home district of Thoubal on Monday to select 300 SPOs.
The government decided to open SPO units after militants killed villagers in Heirok and Chajing in the recent past. During Joykumar Singh’s visit to Chajing, representatives of various organisations, including Apunba Lup, human rights and women’s groups, gathered at the Manipur Press Club auditorium to discuss the issue of “arming civilians and its likely impact”.
The panel discussion organised by Manipur Forward Youth Front, a rights body, proceeded under a tense situation as police allegedly tried to take away the front’s president, Sapamcha Kangleipal, after his keynote address. But he ran back inside the auditorium. Even as he sat inside, a police team remained stationed outside.
Later, the police arrested him tonight and booked him under Sections 124 (B) IPC, 9 Punjab Security Act and 8 (B) of Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act.
A police officer said Kangleipal had made seditious remarks during at a news meet on Monday and the case against him had been taken up on the basis of newspaper reports.
Reports had quoted Kangleipal as demanding the resignation of the Ibobi Singh government, stating that arming of civilians negated the purpose of an elected government. He also asked what would happen if the people demanded arms from militant groups against atrocities by security forces and if the rebels granted the demands.
Today’s deliberation came a day after the state cabinet decided to make setting up of SPO units a government policy and raise them all over the state, despite opposition from coalition partner CPI.
The panel members who addressed the gathering included senior lawyer Khaidem Mani Singh, Manipur University economist Ch. Priyoranjan Singh and the editor of a local vernacular daily, Brozendra Ningomba.
All the resource persons rejected the idea of arming civilians and called for a concerted effort to find a permanent solution to militancy through political dialogue.
They also called on armed groups to honour and respect human rights.
In his keynote address, Kangleipal cautioned that arming of villagers would mark the beginning of anarchy in the state.
The Apunba Lup will hold a mass rally in Imphal on May 11 against the government decision.