[Previous entry: "SPEECH OF MR. ISAK CHISHI SWU, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL SOCIALIST COUNCIL OF NAGALIM, IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UNPO HELD AT 16/17 May in Brussels BELGIUM."] [Next entry: "Swu hints at snapping truce pact with Delhi Internecine bloodshed Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network"]

05/19/2008: "16 killed in Dimapur factional bloodbath; NSCN(IM)`s ceasefire cell stoned, houses burnt, situation voilatile, Congress calls Nagaland bandh The Imphal Free Press"

16 killed in Dimapur factional bloodbath; NSCN(IM)`s ceasefire cell stoned, houses burnt, situation voilatile, Congress calls Nagaland bandh The Imphal Free Press

Dimapur, May 16: In continued factional violence, 16 people including 14 from the NSCN-Unification and two civilians were killed while three others, all civilians, were injured in three separate factional incidents in Dimapur on Friday.

In the first incident, 14 NSCN-Unification cadres were killed after being ambushed by rival NSCN(IM) cadres at Seithekima-C village near Patkai College at around 6 am on Friday. The incident occurred when the NSCN-Unification cadres were returning after executing an attack on the rival cadres. Thirteen cadres died on the spot while another, who was seriously injured in the clash, succumbed to injuries later.

In the second incident, two civilians died while two others, also civilians, were injured in a firing incident in front of the NSCN(IM)`s Ceasefire Monitoring Cell at 4th Mile area in Dimapur.

Earlier in the day, at around 12.30 pm, a large number of people congregated at Dimapur`s Diphupar police station when the bodies of the 12 NSCN-Unification cadres were brought there. The people shouted slogans in protest against the killings while another group of people gheraoed the NSCN(IM)`s Ceasefire Monitoring Cell. The crowd soon became agitated and started pelting stones at the cell, followed by setting fire to it.

Some petrol bombs were also lobbed at the NSCN(IM)`s cell as a result of which a thatched structure on the rooftop of the two-storey cell caught fire. A youth was also seen climbing up the cell along with a pistol and firing shots at those holed up inside. However, it could not be ascertained whether he was from any faction or a civilian.

Around 20 IRB personnel, who reached the spot, were intercepted by the public, mostly women.

While all this was going on, shots were fired intermittently by NSCN(IM) cadres who were holed up inside the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell. The violence continued for nearly two hours. At around 2.45 pm, some armed NSCN (IM) cadres arrived at the scene and fired indiscriminately in which the two civilians were killed and two others, both civilians, injured. Later, some from the NSCN-Unification cadres also arrived at the scene that led to a gun battle which continued till 5 pm.

Meanwhile, the irate mob burnt down three houses in the vicinity. The houses were that of two NSCN(IM) functionaries and a civilian, all from the Tangkhul tribe.

In the evening, another group of people set fire to two houses at Wungram Colony, followed by an exchange of fire between the two factions in the area. A civilian was injured in the crossfire here.

The district administration has clamped Section 144 Cr.PC in and around Dimapur till Chumukedia area until further orders. The siruation is extremely volatile in the town.

Meanwhile, peeved over the rising violent cases in Nagaland and the unusual inflation of essential commodities, the Nagaland Congress has called for a 12-hour dawn to dusk Dimapur bandh on May 19.

Addressing a press conference, Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Leader, I. Imkong revealed that the decision was taken in today`s CLP meeting held at his official residence at Kohima to discuss on the reports submitted by the Committees on price rise and law & order problem.

Expressing grief over the killing of more than 14 persons, including a civilian woman in today`s factional at Dimapur, Imkong viewed the situation as nothing short of anarchy as the administration has totally failed to defuse the situation.

He also expressed surprise at the State Government`s inability to control the deteriorating law and order situation inspire of appeals from the Congress Party to wake and take actions as per the directions of the Central Government. He also revealed that the Centre has already give Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) to the Government to act to control such situation.

On State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio`s statement that factional clashes are political in nature, the Congress Leader questioned how could clashes be termed a political issue when the civilians are involved and their lives and properties in danger.

The Congress was apprehensive of a civil war in the State unless the prevailing situation is arrested immediately.

Dwelling on the inflation of essential commodities, Imkong expressed surprise over the difference of prices in neighbouring State of Assam and Nagaland. He pointed that prices in Nagaland is almost 90% higher than that in Assam.

He also revealed that the CLP had called on the State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio and also submitted a memorandum to the Governor, K. Sankaranarayanan this evening on the two issues.

MLA Deo Nukhu expressed surprise that Rio Government even after saying that peace talks are moving in the right direction has started blaming the Centre for the law and order situation in the State. "We are for unity and peace of Nagas and don`t want any killing among the Nagas," he added.

Veteran Congress leader, H. Chuba Chang stated that the Government was not sincere to help the public by taking stock of the situation because of which the public are coming out to defend themselves.

Meanwhile, the CLP through the memorandum submitted to the Governor expressed that the State Government is neglecting and ignoring the duties and obligations to be undertaken in the areas of inflation and law and order problem.

The CLP was skeptical about the luke warm attitude of the Government headed by Neiphiu Rio and blamed him for the deteriorating law and order situation and exorbitant price rise.

"We are inclined to believe that Rio`s Government is directly or indirectly patronizing some factions of Underground to escalate the situation which is endangering and jeopardizing the innocent lives of the public," the memo said, adding that with so many forces under his (Rio`s) command it is his bounden responsibility to protect the lives of the innocent.

The memo of remarked that under the situation in turmoil, people of Nagaland have lost the confidence in the administration of Rio`s Government while also expressing strong conviction that if this (DAN) Government is allowed to continue further there will be further deterioration of the entire situation which will turn into a state of anarchy.

Therefore, the Congress appealed that the Governor should ask Government of India to step in to save the State and its people. "The total constitution break down must be controlled and saved at all cost," the CLP memorandum added.
FCONDEMNATION OVER RECENT ‘KILLING INCIDENT’ MORUNGEXPRESS
NBCC The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) through a press note stated that it heartily welcomed the ceasefire agreement among all the Naga groups signed on December 7, 2007, under the aegis of the joint forum of GBs and DBs. According to the NBCC, it had high expectations that this significant pact would bear fruits through honest conversation, admittance of ones own mistakes, forgiveness, healing, understanding, reconciliation and unity. However, to their utter disgust, “the NSCN (IM) killed three NSCN(K) cadres on January 14 at Longmisa which is a clear violation of the agreement,” and since then, “media and armed confrontation and loss of lives continue to mount among rival groups reaching the killing of 14 NSCN(K) cadres and one civilian on May 16,” the press note mentioned. The NBCC has further stated that it is extremely unhappy for the killings including innocent public. “In spite of appeals and condemnation, the NSCN cannot renounce the doctrine of bloodshed since “power through barrel of gun” is being enshrined in their manifesto,” the note further stated. The NBCC has also urged NSCN to amend their political philosophy and transform their mindset to conform to truth, peace, pro-life and seek peoples’ welfare.

DNSU The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union says that it is saddened by the situation that is prevailing in and around Dimapur and the state in general. A press note from the office of the DNSU appeals to the warring factions to give up gun culture and bring back peace in the society. The office also appeals to see that educational institutions are not disturbed and the lives of students are not endangered with all the factional clashes, as it has created fear psychosis in their minds and also to preserve the sanctity of all educational institutions which is to be respected by one and all.
ENSUD The Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union, Delhi (ENSUD) has appealed to all the Naga national workers to refrain from shedding any more of each other’s blood. “Incidents like the killing of fifteen persons in Dimapur on 16th May - the day when 47 years back, we, through a plebiscite took a concrete stand regarding our political future - will only further fuel division, suspicion and fear among ourselves”, stated a press note issued by Impung Chang, General Secretary ENSUD.
Pointing out that it was the objective of every occupying state to divide the people of an occupied region, create fear and suspicion amongst them, so that they could be effectively ruled, the press note stated that the “Indian state is not an exception to this” and that in this light, it was important that Nagas remained vigilant about this fact and not fall prey to it. “Shedding each other’s blood will not bring about any solution. It would only gladden the hearts of those who would like to see us divided. Therefore, it is vital that we remain united and vigilant in order to work towards a just political solution”.

TUCT On behalf of the citizens of Chumukedima town, the Tribal Union of Chumukedima condemns the factional clashes among brothers. A press note issued by the union president, Khuluvi Assumi mentioned that the factional clash that took place on May 16 at ward-I near Patkai Christian College affected thousands of students who were appearing for their final examination. Hence, the union appeals to all the factions to stop fighting.

UNMM Stating that bloodshed will not bring any solution and peace but will only bring destruction thereby suffering among brethrens, the United NGOs Mission (UNMM) Manipur has expressed deep concern over the violent conflict in Nagaland predominantly in Dimapur and has appealed to put an end to all killings.
ANCSU The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) through a press note has come out strongly against the recent killings among brothers. The union note has stated that though they extend full support and solidarity to, “the national workers who are fighting for a better tomorrow, it is unfortunate to say that we are not in a position to accept a future with fear psychosis and bloodshed among ourselves.” The ANCSU has in its strongest term appealed to all factions to restrain from bloodshed and create an atmosphere of reconciliation. Further, the ANCSU informs all the principals and students of both secular and theological collages within Nagaland to extend full cooperation and participate in the peace rally to be organized by the joint forum of GBs and DBs on May 20.
Fourteen dead in NSCN gunbattle in Nagaland The Hindu
Kohima (PTI): In continuing turf war between rival Naga underground groups, at least 14 people, including a civilian, were on Friday killed in a gunbattle near Dimapur and a mob ransacked an NSCN(IM) Ceasefire Monitoring Cell office there.
Villagers said there was a heavy exchange of fire between two groups of NSCN in the morning at Seithekim-C village about 15 km from Dimapur.
The police, along with villagers, recovered 13 bodies of cadre of GPRN/NSCN (Unification) but did not find any arms on the bodies, which were believed to have been taken away by the rival cadre. A spokesman of NSCN (Unification) told newsmen that its members, who had gone to ascertain if the rival group had set up any camp in the area, were ambushed by a large group of NSCN(IM).
Gangsters warfare condemned- The Nagaland Post
On the strength of understanding reached in the meeting of Central Executive Council (CEC), Naga National Council (NNC) held on 15th May 2008 at Kohima this press release is being issued in the interest of the Naga people and Naga nation. The meeting gratefully acknowledged and thanked to Almighty God for the leadership of the past leaders led by A.Z. Phizo in the formation of the NNC in 1946 and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) in 1956 by bringing together all the Nagas through Federation. The meeting viewed these historic national landmarks as providential and timely. Therefore, it is urged all Nagas to honour and uphold the Naga national foundations as enunciated by the Naga national Council in the interest of solidarity and integrity of the nation.
Inspite of the size of Nagaland, the Nagas defended the freedom and sovereignty of Nagaland under the banner of the NNC/FGN when the aggressor India invaded Nagaland in 1954. No doubt Nagas have been facing severe ups and downs in political situation, yet the NNC never deterred from the Naga national stand at any point of time in the past more than five decades. This is to reiterate that NNC shall continue to safeguard the sovereignty of Nagaland at all time. Unfortunately later part of 20th Century up to these few years of 21st Century Nagas suffered heavily and lost many precious lives, wealth and time. As a result some renegades setting up sectional organizations like that of the so-called NSCN formed in 1980. It is vividly seen that such organizations are causing more and more blood shed and violence these days in Nagaland that are destroying Naga people and Naga national life. This sort of gangsters warfare is condemned and must be stopped immediately by the Nagas. Let us all understand that this kind of behavior is not going to bring any benefit to the Nagas.
W. Shapwon, Sessional Chairman, CEC Meeting, NNC.
‘Communal fang displaying ugly head’ morungexpress
Dimapur, May 17 (MExN): The National Socialist Council of Nagalim has stated that “unprecedented in the history of the long Naga struggle, fanaticism and communal fang is displaying its ugly heads, a sheer madness of overbearing attitude by giving priority to communal and sectarian interests over Naga national interest”. Responding to the series of incidents in the wake of yesterday’s bloody gun battle, the MIP stated that the “en route of mob culture is a direct challenge to undermine the main issue of the Naga people under the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process” while pointing out that it “is also to be treated as an effrontery that will only boomerang”.
The MIP note stated that “no communal force with its hawkish mindset will ever succeed in its futile attempt to put the Indo-Naga issue at the wrong hands of illegal organization” and that “no sane Naga individual or society will take a step forward to make any alignment with such force that abused the Indo-Naga issue from communal angle”.
The MIP note stated that the “tragic incident leading to the loss of 15 precious lives will continue to haunt Azheto Chophy for a very long time to come, the real culprit in any sense of the term”. The MIP further stated that this was a “fight between two rival groups, a reluctant fight back for the NSCN to teach Azheto group not to go overboard, sacrificing many souls for a lost cause”.
The MIP note stated that the “demonstration of protest against the killing on the line of communal mob is uncalled for and against the spirit of justice and social cohesion”. “This is nothing less than senseless intervention bereft of any spirit that encompasses the interest of the whole Nagas”. It also stated that “making rough-shod over the Indo-Naga issue of such dimension with uncivilized killings of innocent Nagas on communal line is a shame that cannot be erased easily” and that “significantly, making a communal issue of killing as a result of factional fight of serious nature as provoked and started by Azheto is a mockery of highest order”.
The MIP note also termed as interesting that “human and inhuman way of looking at the killings is visibly seen, as hue and cry was raised for any killing falling on the side of NSCN's rival” but that “killing of public and NSCN members were just scorned at, and laughed away as if they are worthless animals”. “Is this not an act devilish deception that has come to exist under the shadow of Azheto?” the MIP note questioned.
The MIP note stated that “a coward and hypocrite in the incarnation of national worker or sympathizers under the stolen name of NSCN have become the most dangerous elements and history will judge the folly of this madness”. “There is no use focusing on the notoriety of Azheto with the usual hyperbole. The diversion of the Naga's energy and time should not go headstrong but rationale”, it stated.
A dozen killed in rebel fighting in India www.chinaview.cn Xinhua




GAUHATI, India, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people have been killed in fighting between rival rebel factions in India's Nagaland state bordering Myanmar, according to the police on Friday. The police said 12 bodies had been recovered from a village in Nagaland state.
The all 12 dead were believed to have taken part in a gunbattle between rival factions of the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagaland, the police said.

UN AWARDS NAGALAND FOR PROMOTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION NAGALAND MATRIMONIAL BHARATMATRIMONY.COM/
India's first Wish Town. Get all that you could wish in a house!
PhD, MA, and short courses Institute of Social Studies Holland Press Trust Of India Hindustan Times


Nagaland government has owned United Nations' Public Service Awards for promoting community participation by handing over the ownership and management of schools, hospitals, electricity, water supply and tourism to the villagers.
The award coming under the category of fostering participation in policy-making decisions through innovative mechanism would be given on June 23 at New York, Chief Minister's office said in a release.
Nagaland government is the lone winner in Asia Pacific region. It is one of the 12 awards selected globally in various areas of public services.
This was communicated to the Chief Minister's office by Union Steel Secretary and former Nagaland Chief Secretary R S Pandey, the brain behind the programme.
Keeping in view that the Naga society still possesses strong community spirit, communitization of public services was introduced in 2002 instead of privatization, resulting in improvement in delivery system in rural areas.
Forces split over Jewel - Army, cops differ on plan of action OUR BUREAU The Telegraph
May 14: Serious differences have cropped up between the army and Assam police over dealing with the Jewel Gorlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah after police’s spadework for revival of the peace process with the outfit has almost been jeopardised by a “proactive army”.
A police officer said the army had fallen prey to a ploy of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim that aimed at disrupting the peace process with the DHD (J). He also backed the outfit’s claim that troops gunned down a dozen of its cadre on Saturday. The army, however, said it had not found a single body despite a massive search.
Contesting the army’s claim that last week’s gun battle took place within the North Cachar Hills district, the officer said the encounter took place in Manipur and added that the army had been tipped off by the Naga outfit about the presence of the DHD (J) militants at Tamei in Manipur.
“After last month’s meeting with the Gorlosa faction, we asked its cadre to lie low. Accordingly, they withdrew from civilian areas and started holing themselves up in areas adjoining the border the NC Hills shares with Manipur,” the officer said.
The army’s hardcore line towards assorted militant gangs was drawn up after Brig. Ashoke Kumar Sarkar joined as the commander of the 57 Mountain Artillery Brigade posted in Haflong for counter-insurgency operation against the Dimasa rebels.
The outfit called off the unilateral ceasefire it had announced after the army went on an offensive against it and raided its hideouts four times in the last one month.
The ceasefire offer was made after two leaders of the outfit met a senior officer of Assam police’s special branch in Guwahati last month.
The army pointed out that in the past the state government and the police had accused troops of being soft towards the rebels operating in the NC Hills and even raised the issue at the highest level.
The relation between DHD (J) and the NSCN (I-M) had soured over the Gorlosa faction’s demand for change of name of the NC Hills into Dimaraji, meaning Dimasa homeland, in the eight-point charter of demands it submitted to the police last month.
The troubled district has a large Naga population. According to the NSCN (I-M), a change in nomenclature will hurt the sentiments of the Nagas living in the district.
Formed in 1993 with the NSCN (I-M)’s help, the DHD fell out with the Naga group in 2000 over division of extorted money. Their relationship worsened after the DHD’s founder chief Jewel Gorlosa, who was accused of being soft towards the NSCN (I-M), broke away to form his own group. The outfit after waging 10 years of guerrilla war entered into a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2003. But the truce led to a bitter internal conflict between a group led by Gorlosa and another by Dilip Nunisa.
The conflict eventually resulted in a split in 2004 and Dilip with the help of Pranab Nunisa upstaged Gorlosa from the outfit. Gorlosa soon renewed his old ties with the NSCN (I-M) and formed his own group, DHD (J). The group is also referred to as Black Widow.
SPEECH OF MR. ISAK CHISHI SWU, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL SOCIALIST COUNCIL OF NAGALIM, IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UNPO HELD AT …………, BELGIUM.
DATE………………..

Respected chairperson, members of the house, ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, I bring greetings to you all gathered here in this august house from my Naga people. I also would like to convey Naga people's high appreciation and admiration for the positive role of the UNPO vis-à-vis the cases of its member nations. Naga people have big trust in it and hope that it will give more effort to strive and plead for the cause of the justice-denied peoples and nations in the days to come too.

UNPO being the apex political organization of the member nations, it should be political. Every member nation should also give more attention to strengthening and consolidating the position of UNPO. It requires of us to work out political and economic strategy for course of action so that the dying organization is rescued from being succumbed to the policy of the adversaries.

The authorities of the UNPO should take more pain in advocating for the cases of the member nations in the UN, EU and USA as resolved in the last assembly. The case of the Nagas has become a matter of great concern that requires of utmost attention. Even if we are deeply committed to negotiated settlement we cannot see any tangible result from eleven years negotiation with the Government of India mainly on account of lack of political will on the part of the latter. It is so because while officially talking with NSCN the Government of India is covertly or overtly lending its support to the illegal and un-mandated armed groups who are standing in the way to peace process and solution. I hope and trust that our UNPO authorities are closely observing situation in Nagalim.

Our people are apprehensive of a large scale human rights violation in Nagalim in the event of breaking down of cease-fire. We are heading towards explosive situation. In such critical juncture UNPO must not remain a silent spectator.

To enable UNPO serve more effectively and meaningfully it is being suggested that it is expedient to set up branch offices-- one in Asia and another in Africa.

Naga people will stand solidly behind UNPO in all weathers till to the last. All dominated peoples and nations unite for a higher cause.

GOD BLESS YOU
Messages on the occasion of Naga Plebiscite Day- Nagaland Post
I send my warmest greetings to our people on the occasion of the 57th Anniversary of the voluntary Naga Plebiscite on 16 May.
Since 1954, year in, year out, our people in Nagaland stoically endure Indian occupation army brazen bully and trampling on our freedom. But the democratic will of the freedom loving people of Nagaland cannot be denied by neighbouring India forever. Now that the world is fast accessible by the advent of the internet and open borders, image shy Indian aggressors could no longer conceal the unremitting Indian occupation army militarised tyranny in Nagaland. From ancient time, our resilient Naga people live in Nagaland and just as any sovereign nation would defend, the Naga nation is determined to be free of foreign occupation army and its camp followers.
The people of Nagaland much understand that a political climate of divide and rule under foreign occupation army can never be compatible with peace and normalcy. Similarly, the prevailing woeful sectarian violence of mindless killing, kidnapping, intimidation, and extortion, perpetrated by a depraved section of Naga people against Naga people in Nagaland under false pretences betray the Naga stand and has nothing to do with freedom of Naga nation. On the contrary, upon close scrutiny, there can be no doubt about who is behind the sheer evil designs of the gang running amok inflicting untold sufferings and miseries on Naga people for the sake of domination. Delhi cannot carry on flagrant denial of compelling evidence of its connivance to undermine the Naga National Council (NNC) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) and thereby distract the core issue of the conflict between the two nations. Under Geneva Convention, India is fully responsible for any atrocious act or omission against civilians and non-combatant national workers while its massive army illegally occupy Nagaland. Nevertheless, all along in the interest of mutual respects and peace, NNC has been telling India to quit Nagaland in a friendly manner.
Our people in Nagaland, whatever ones personal opinion, universally acknowledge that arising from the historic voluntary Naga plebiscite held on 16 May 1951, the Naga National Council has the immutable mandate of Naga nation and further, entrusted to uphold the independence of Nagaland. Heretofore, the Naga people were invariably known by their distinct unconnected community identity and seldom communicate with one another. Significantly, Naga community representatives led by A Z Phizo, on behalf of the Naga people, unequivocally declared to the world on 14 August 1947 that Nagaland will stay independent, a day ahead of the Union of India independence granted by Great Britain. The existence of modern Nagaland, the cohesion of Naga society, and the integration of independent Naga communities as a nation, would certainly be devoid of historical basis in the absence of a point of reference. Any publication on modern Nagaland ignoring the fundamental historical truth, however found inconvenient, will unlikely enhance the author's reputation, in particular, on intellectual rigour.
Following 16 May mandate, undaunted by previously untested political consciousness of Naga communities in the East, NNC President A Z Phizo reached out our people he named, 'Free Nagas.' His political vision for Nagaland soon won over hitherto isolated communities. Thereafter, the newly expanded Naga common vision culminated in an organic integration of the then 'Naga Hills District' and 'Free Nagas', duly enshrined in the First Yehzabo (Constitution) of Nagaland in 1956. The Yehzabo of Nagaland vested in the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) with full legal authority.
Nagaland and India never share a common history and for modern India to claim Nagaland in any manner as part of India has no foundation, none whatsoever. Prior to the invasion of Nagaland, the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru loudly stated in 1953, "We want no people in the territory of India against their will and with the help of the armed forces. We want no force marriage or force union. This great Republic of India is a free, voluntary friendly and affectionate union of the state of India." At the same time, the Indian leader inexplicably ordered the naked invasion of Nagaland the following year. As a consequence of the brutality of the Indian army over 100,000 Naga civilians lost their lives. NNC consistently uphold the Naga stand based on historical facts and the democratic will of the Naga people. From the outset, NNC consciously eschew fundamental differences between India and Nagaland on culture, race, religion, and ideology, as a basis of Naga just cause and nothing can falter NNC stand on Nagaland to be free. The people of Nagaland will never forget the many thousands Naga patriots who unflinchingly defended and sacrificed their lives for our freedom. To date Nagaland refuse to yield to Indian bully.
I call upon our people in Nagaland to remain steadfast and confidently look forward together to attain our Naga leader vision for the people of Nagaland " to be a Man among men and to be a Nation among nations."
May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie
Adinno Phizo, President.
Nagaland cabinet asks forces to enforce CFGR UNI
The Nagaland Cabinet has directed all the security forces, including the Assam Rifles, CRPF and state police, to fully implement the Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGR) strictly and efficiently as per the provisions of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Nagaland Chief Secretary and Cabinet Secretary Lalhuma, in a release issued here today, said the Cabinet, which held an emergency meeting yesterday, condemned the frequent factional clashes.

The Cabinet also condemned yesterday's clash at Seithekema 'C', attack on the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell office of the NSCN-IM at Diphupar and the killing of civilians in the incident.

The Cabinet endorsed its earlier resolution of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to strictly enforce the CFGR, signed separately by the Centre with the NSCN factions.

The Cabinet also decided that the violation of the CFGR should be brought to the notice of all the factions, the public the police and the security forces responsible for enforcement of the rules of CFGR.

No further violence, but situation tense in Dimapur Newmai News Network

Dimapur, May 17: Although there have been no further reports of clashes between the warring NSCN factions today, things remained quite tense with most of the shops and other business establishments closed on Saturday as a fear psychosis gripped the people here.

With an uneasy calm prevailing in the Nagaland commercial hub, Dimapur looked empty on Saturday with few people venturing out in the open fearing further clashes.

Meanwhile, the NSCN(IM) in a statement indicated that Saturday`s mob was communal in nature.

Mention may be made that the mob had targeted houses belonging to a particular community on Friday after the clashes between NSCN factions took place with casualties occurring only on one side alone.

"Unprecedented in the history of the long Naga struggle, fanaticism and communal fang is displaying its ugly heads, a sheer madness of overbearing attitude by giving priority to communal and sectarian interests over Naga national interest," said the NSCN(IM) on Saturday.

The outfit said that the mob culture is a direct challenge and undermines the main issue of the Naga people under the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process. "This is also to be treated as an effrontery that will only boomerang. Because no communal force with its hawkish mindset will ever succeed in its futile attempt to put the Indo-Naga issue at the wrong hands of illegal organization. No sane Naga individual or society will take a step forward to make any alignment with such force that abused the Indo-Naga issue from communal angle," stated the NSCN(IM) in a statement today.

It also said that the tragic incident leading to the loss of precious lives would continue to haunt Azheto Chophy for a very long time to come, the real culprit in any sense of the term. "This is a fight between two rival groups, a reluctant fight back for the NSCN to teach Azheto group not to go overboard, sacrificing many souls for a lost cause," cautioned the NSCN(IM) statement.

The NSCN(IM) statement also said that riding roughshod over the Indo-Naga issue with uncivilized killings of innocent Nagas on communal lines was a shame that could not be erased easily. Significantly, making a communal issue of killing as a result of factional fight of serious nature provoked and started by Azheto was a mockery of highest order, added the outfit.

"Interestingly, human and inhuman way of looking at the killings is visibly seen, as hue and cry was raised for any killing falling on the side of NSCN`s rival. But killing of public and NSCN members were just scorned at, and laughed away as if they were worthless animals. Is this not an act devilish deception that has come to exist under the shadow of Azheto?" asked the NSCN(IM) today. It also said that a coward and hypocrite in the incarnation of `national workers` or sympathizers under the stolen name of `NSCN` had become the most dangerous element and history would judge the folly of this madness.

"There is no use focusing on the notoriety of Azheto with the usual hyperbole. The diversion of the Nagas` energy and time should not be headstrong but rational," affirmed the NSCN(IM) in a statement dispatched to the media in Dimapur on Saturday.

Tangkhul bodies appeal: Meanwhile, the frontal Tangkhul social organisations and the students of Ukhrul district along with the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), an umbrella body of civil societies, have shared the grief and sorrow of those killed and hurt in the Naga clashes yesterday and said they never expected things could come to such a stage among the Naga brotherhood.

The TNL made an appeal and prayed that such riots and factional killings end.
UN AWARDS NAGALAND FOR PROMOTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
saga of unending conflicts in South Asia Ramachandra Guha Source: India Together
Over the past few decades, the nation-states of South Asia have been home to some of the most bitter and costly conflicts of the modern world. Women have opposed the domination of men; subaltern classes have resisted the hegemony of the elite; regions on the periphery have protested exploitation by the centre. Ramachandra Guha /
To class and gender and geography have been added the fault lines of language, caste, religion, and ethnicity.
South Asians are an expressive people, and so they have expressed their various resentments in an appropriate diversity of ways - through electing legislators of their choosing; through court petitions and other legal mechanisms at their command; through marches, gheraos, dharnas, hunger-strikes and other forms of non-violent protest; through the burning of government buildings; and through outright armed rebellion.

The record of our nation-states in dealing with these conflicts is decidedly mixed. Some conflicts, which once threatened to tear a nation apart, have been, in the end, resolved. Other conflicts have persisted for decades, with the animosities between the contending parties deepening further with every passing year. Charismatic JP In search of an answer, let me first turn to some forgotten episodes in the career of a man who might be considered a paradigmatic South Asian, Jayaprakash Narayan (JP).

Narayan was an Indian patriot, but he retained close links with the republican struggle in Nepal as well as the socialist movement in Sri Lanka. He worked actively for conciliation between India and Pakistan. And he was an early supporter of the Tibetan people. Within India, JP is known and celebrated for his role in two major movements: the Quit India struggle of 1942, and the 'Indira Hatao' movement of 1974-5.
Both those struggles saw Jayaprakash Narayan in, as it were, an uncompromising mode. In 1942, he was a charismatic young leftist, who sought to throw the British out and rebuild India on socialist lines. In 1974-5 he was a charismatic old radical, who sought to throw Indira Gandhi out and bring about a 'Total Revolution' in India.

Thirty years after his death, JP is still remembered for his part in the upheavals of 1942 and 1974-5. What is now forgotten is his equally interesting and, in my view, even more noble work in the decade of the 1960s, when he tried heroically - if, in the end, unavailingly - to resolve the two civil conflicts that have plagued the Indian nation-state since its inception. These conflicts were at either end of the Indian Himalaya - namely, Kashmir and Nagaland.

Bangladesh Let me now move to a civil conflict in another South Asian nation. In 1967 the rulers in New Delhi were too nervous to allow Sheikh Abdullah to conduct a provincial election in Kashmir. Three years later the rulers in Islamabad permitted a radical Bengali politician to contest a national election. To their great surprise, and shock, his party won a majority. What were they to do now? In 1952, bloody riots broke out in Dhaka after the police fired on a demonstration of students demanding equal status for the Bengali language. (Ever since, the Bengalis have observed the day of the firing - February 21, as mother language day).

In 1954, Bangla was recognised as one of the state languages of Pakistan, but the feelings of being discriminated against persisted. Between 1958 and 1970 Pakistan was under military rule. Towards the end of 1970 General Yahya Khan called for elections. Apparently, the General hoped that the ambitious West Pakistani politician Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto would become Prime Minister, and allow him to continue as President.

But these calculations went awry. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won 167 out of 169 seats in the more populous eastern part of the country. The Awami leader had skilfully played on Bengali sentiments of being excluded and discriminated over the years. After the elections, Mujib's party had a majority in the new Parliament. Its platform included a federal constitution, in which each wing would manage its social, political and economic affairs, with only defence and foreign relations in the hands of the Centre.

The proposals to reform the constitution were deemed unacceptable by the Generals as well as the politicians of West Pakistan. In any case, the self-proclaimed martial Punjabi could not abide the thought of conceding power to the allegedly effete Bengali. Another reason for spurning Mujib was the large presence of Hindus in the professional classes of East Pakistan. As one General put it, if the Awami League came to power, 'the constitution adopted by them will have Hindu iron hand in it'.
Rather than honour the democratic mandate and invite Mujib to take office, Yahya Khan postponed the convening of the National Assembly. (In this he was encouraged and abetted by Bhutto). The response was a general strike in all of East Pakistan. Now, the Pakistani army decided to settle the matter by force of arms. But with the Indians choosing to ally with the Bengali dissidents, the task was made much harder than they had anticipated. Eight months of episodic fighting culminated in a full-fledged war in December 1971, which led to the defeat and dismemberment of the nation of Pakistan.

Sri Lanka In 1956, the year the states of India were reorganised on the basis of language, the Parliament of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) introduced an Act recognising Sinhala as the sole official language of the country. This made Sinhala the medium of instruction in all state schools and colleges, in public examinations, and in the courts.

The new Act was opposed by the Tamil-speaking minority who lived in the north of the island. 'When you deny me my language', said one Tamil MP, 'you deny me everything'. 'You are hoping for a divided Ceylon ', warned another, adding: 'Do not fear, I assure you [that you] will have a divided Ceylon'. An opposition member, himself Sinhala-speaking, predicted that if the Government did not change its mind and insisted on the act being passed, 'two torn little bleeding states might yet arise out of one little state'. The protests were disregarded. The insecurity of the Tamils was intensified by riots against them in the capital city, Colombo, in 1958. Then, in 1972, Sinhala was confirmed as the official language of the state, and Buddhism added on as the official religion.

Now, the Tamil youths became disenchanted by the incremental, parliamentary methods of their elders. In the decade of the 1970s several paramilitary groups were formed, these known by their abbreviations or acronyms, to wit, EROS, PLOTE, ERPLF and, not least, LTTE. Nagaland Jayaprakash Narayan was concerned not just with a honourable solution in Kashmir, but with the restoration of peace in Nagaland. This too had been a most troubled part of the Indian Union. In 1946, a Naga National Council had been formed; this was undecided as to whether to join the soon-to-be free India. Then, in the early 1950s, one faction decided to make a compact with New Delhi. The other faction, led by A.Z. Phizo, held out for an independent Naga state.

This was not acceptable to India; as a consequence, an armed conflict broke out in the Naga hills, with the Indian Army on one side, Phizo's guerillas on the other. As ever, the main casualties in the conflict were the villagers caught in between. Finally, in 1964, after a decade of civil war, a cease-fire was declared between the NNC and the Indian Government. A three member 'peace mission' was formed, consisting of the Anglican missionary Michael Scott, the Gandhian nationalist B.P. Chaliha, and Jayaprakash Narayan.

Tragically, the mission collapsed within a year, and the rebels returned to the jungle. It was at this stage that JP wrote an extraordinary if still little-known booklet in Hindi, based on a speech he delivered in Patna on Martyrs Day, January 30, 1965. The booklet is called Nagaland mein Shanti ka Prayas (The Attempts to Forge Peace in Nagaland). While ostensibly about a dispute within a single small state of the Union, it is actually a meditation on the meanings of democracy everywhere. Narayan recognised the distinctiveness of Naga cultural traditions. While both East and West Pakistan bore the impress of the Indic civilisation, 'what we call Indian culture has not made an entry into Nagaland'. That said, JP thought that the Nagas could not sustain an independent country, what with China, Pakistan, and Burma all close by and casting covetous eyes on their territory. Why not join up therefore with a democratic and federal India? When New Delhi could not dominate Bihar or Bengal, how could it dominate Nagaland? Were the rebels to come over ground and contest elections, said Narayan, they could give their people the best schools, hospitals, roads, and so on.

Around the world The conflicts I have dealt with here had their origins in an inflexible state, but were often exacerbated by recalcitrant rebels. If such conflicts are to be successfully resolved, then they require both the state to be flexible, as well as the rebels to be more accommodating. That, certainly, is the lesson to be learnt from the most successful peace negotiations of contemporary times, which led to the demise of apartheid and the birth of a democratic South Africa. Had President De Klerk and his National Party not begun a dialogue with the African National Congress, and had Nelson Mandela and his comrades not turned their backs on the gun, there might yet be a civil conflict raging in that beautiful land.

Looking further west, South Asians may also take heart from the political transition that took place after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Once run with an iron hand from Moscow, countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have emerged as vigorous democracies. After the hold of the Soviets was loosened - largely through a voluntary abdication initiated by the visionary Mikhail Gorbachev - the different sections of Polish, Hungarian and Czech society eschewed the politics of revenge and retribution. Instead of turning on one another, communists and anti-communists formed political parties of their own and fought elections based on universal adult franchise. Autocrats became democrats, while rebels became governors (most famously, Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel). Who, in 1960, or even in 1980, would have imagined a transition as painless and productive as this?

Narmada Bachao Andolan To return, however, to South Asia, and to move on from political conflicts to social ones. Consider the controversy over the Sardar Sarovar Dam in central India. The benefits of this project flow wholly to one state, Gujarat; whereas the costs are borne disproportionately by another state, Madhya Pradesh.

When it is built to its full height, the dam will displace close to 200,000 people, a majority of whom are tribal. From 1989 the oustees have been organised under the banner of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), whose leader is the remarkable Medha Patkar. Between 1989 and 1995, the NBA organised a series of satyagrahas to stop construction of the dam. Their struggle won wide appreciation, both for its principled commitment to non-violence and for its ability to mobilise peasants and tribals. By now, several scientific studies had been published calling into question the viability of large dams. The struggle and the science notwithstanding, the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam proceeded. Now, a group of engineers based in Pune advocated a compromise solution. Given that the dam had already come up to a height of about 260 feet, clearly it could not be stopped.

But its negative effects could be minimised. Thus, the Pune engineers had designed a model of a dam smaller than that originally envisaged. The reduction in height would greatly reduce the area to be submerged, yet retain many of the benefits that were to accrue from the dam. The drought-prone regions of Kutch and Saurashtra would still get water. At the same time, many fewer families would be displaced. Unfortunately, the compromise was rejected both by the Gujarat Government and by the NBA. The former insisted that the dam had to be built to its originally sanctioned height of 456 feet. The latter insisted that the dam must be brought down.

In retrospect, it must be considered a pity that the NBA did not adopt the dam of lower height proposed by the Pune engineers. Had they advocated the alternative energetically, it is just possible that public opinion would have veered more strongly in their favour, and that the Supreme Court - to whom appeal had been made - would have given a more favourable verdict.
The case of Sardar Sarovar forcefully brings home the need for social movements to be flexible in their strategies. What seems feasible and plausible in Year 0 may no longer be so in Year 5 or Year 10. (As John Maynard Keynes liked to say, 'When the facts change, I change my mind').
This is an abridged version of the essay. To read it in full, please click the source below.