05/28/2008: "Swu and Khaplang: On speaking terms?"

28 May 2008
NSCN leaders break 20-yr ice - Swu calls Khaplang on unification OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph

Swu and Khaplang: On speaking terms?
Kohima, May 27: It’s been exactly 20 years since they spoke to each other.
After his talks invitation to his rival group’s chairman, S.S. Khaplang’s deputy went unanswered and even the Church’s efforts at unification fell flat, NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu went that extra mile and called up his former comrade in the undivided NSCN to talk peace.
Sources told The Telegraph that Swu spoke to Khaplang to accelerate the reconciliation and unification process between the Naga militant outfits. This is for the first time since the split in the NSCN in 1988 that the two top militant leaders from the rival groups had a conversation. The talks come in wake of rising factional clashes in Nagaland.
Before the conversation with Khaplang, Swu had invited the NSCN (K) army chief Khole Konyak to Bangkok. The apex Naga tribal body, the Naga Hoho, too, confirmed the telephone conversation between the two leaders.
Kevilietuo Angami, vice-president of Naga Hoho, said there were at least two telephone conversations between Swu and Khaplang. He said the NSCN (I-M) chairman had called up Khaplang from Chingmai in Thailand, recently. Sources said Khaplang was eager to push forward the ongoing reconciliation and unification process between the two NSCN factions. “There were at least two telephone conversations,” a source said, adding that Khaplang had even agreed to attend the recently concluded Chingmai Naga conclave sponsored by the Naga Reconciliation Forum but was prevented from doing so because of “differences” in his own group.
However, sources said contact between the top leaders of the two factions would continue. The Chingmai Naga reconciliation conclave was also attended by several foreign organisations from the US and the Philippines to broker peace and unity among the warring Naga groups. Representatives of various Naga organisations also attended the meeting.
Recently, a senior kilonser (minister) of the NSCN (K), Kughalu Mulatonu, said there was no point going to Thailand to attend the reconciliation meeting as the Nagas were already united.
He also criticised the “reconciliation forum” of trying to help Muivah escape from India. The NSCN (I-M), however, skipped today’s meeting of Naga organisations and factions held in Kohima under the aegis of the Joint Forum of gaonburas (village chiefs) and dubashis (chiefs of Naga customary courts).
The joint forum has called for a yearlong ceasefire between the Naga factions with immediate effect. At a similar meeting on December 7, the factions, in the presence of gaonburas and dubashis, agreed to a six-month truce but failed to keep their commitment.
Today’s meeting was attended by gaonburas and dubashis of all the 11 districts and representatives of Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation.
Quoting NSCN (I-M) members, a senior official from the joint forum said the outfit skipped the meet because of a prior commitment but agreed to abide by whatever decision was taken today.
Joint Forum for 1 year ceasefire extension Correspondent Morungexpress
Kohima | May 27: The joint forum of GBs and DBs and civil society today expressed willingness in a resolution to extend the “ongoing inter-factional ceasefire” between the various Naga undergrounds factions by another year and asserted that all the factions must agree to it. The joint forum undertook the resolution after holding a meeting with representatives of various frontal organizations and Naga underground workers at the conference hall, Red Cross building today afternoon.
While appealing to all the underground factions to maintain peace among themselves and to create conducive atmosphere for peace in the land, the resolution also stated its oft-reminded assertion that ‘any violation of the ceasefire by any group shall be dealt with as per customary law through the district forum and at the state-level.’
The resolution was appended by joint forum chairman K. Vikuto Zhimomi, convener, A. Taku Longkumer, vice chairman T Siyang Chang and secretary Lungrahei Herie. The ceasefire extension is envisaged to come into effect from June 7, 2008 when the ongoing 6-month inter-factional “ceasefire” that was signed between representatives of the Naga underground factions earlier, expires.
The forum reaffirmed its earlier Five-Point resolution that fratricidal killings and bloodshed among the factions and killings of innocent civilians during clashes must stop. The forum, also condemned such acts of violence amongst the Naga undergrounds.
The forum also resolved to undertake initiatives to bring the top leaders from all groups together into a meeting under the umbrella of the forum of GBs/DBs to work towards a ‘harmonious and peaceful approach’ to the Naga issue, during the inter-factional “ceasefire”. Further, it resolved that “ceasefire” ground rules must be implemented in letter and spirit by the enforcing agency in concern and that the forum would give full support for its implementation. The same resolution will be brought to the notice of all the underground factions, Naga civil society and churches for their support, the forum said.
Earlier, Commissioner for Nagaland HK Khulu, IAS, addressed the meeting which was attended by representatives of GBs/DBs from all districts of the state, frontal organization and Naga underground workers. Naga Hoho vice-president Keviletuo, ENPO president Tongthang, representatives of the NBCC and the groups NNC, FGN and “NSCN/GPRN” also spoke on the occasion.
Moreover, messages of support from the Naga Mothers’ Association and the Naga Students’ Federation were read. Also the house was informed of a message from the NSCN (IM) conveying its inability to attend the joint meeting in person due to their “central meeting” however, they are to be a party to ‘the decision.’

ENPO and Sumi Hoho appeals to shun violence morungexpress
DIMAPUR, MAY 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has come under the criticism of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of ENPO and Sumi Hoho for what it called as the “non-involvement and indifferent attitude of the NBCC in the peace, reconciliation and unification process”. While reviewing the overall situation on the current initiatives “of the Nagas” and the role of the Naga civil society, on May 25 at Dimapur, the Joint Coordination Committee felt that the non-involvement and indifferent attitude “was unbecoming on the part of the NBCC” and added that this was “completely opposite to the basic principles of the foundation of NBCC as an apex organization of the Naga churches.”
NBCC’s “indifferent attitude” questioned
In a joint press release, the JCC made a fervent appeal to all Naga underground factions “to eschew all forms of violence since it is against the principle of peace, reconciliation and unification.” It informed that the meeting took a serious note of the targeting of civilians and public leaders which have led to “lawlessness and breeding of unwanted violence”. The JCC further appealed to all the groups “to restraint from using defamatory and inflammatory language in their write ups.”
The JCC stated that the May 25 meeting reaffirmed “its earlier resolution at Thahekhu on January 8, 2008 basing on the 18th December 2007 Summit Resolution of the ENPO at Tuensang, that in order to bring about peace and reconciliation in the Naga society, all the Naga underground factions must unite before any solution is brought about in the Indo-Naga political issue.” The committee expressed belief that “unless and until Naga are united, there will only be more apprehensions, mistrust and will eventually lead to more violence and hatred amongst the Naga family in the future years ahead of us.”
Another jolt to Mapithel Dam morungexpress
Dimapur, May 26 (MExN): The construction of the controversial Mapithel Dam in Manipur received another jolt with opposition from the Thoubal Multipurpose Project (Mapithel Dam) Downstream Affected Area Committee (TMPPDAAC) based in Moirangpurel, Manipur who have resolved to protest further construction of the Mapithel Dam. It declared that it would defend the land, forest and river and has cautioned that it will resort to all possible means available to us to realize the above resolutions.
The TMPPDAAC stated that it has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur on February 29, 2008 regarding its grievance; however it lamented that the state government has ‘chosen to remain silent all these days’ and termed it as ‘irresponsible, unaccountable and a disregard of all democratic call of its citizens’.
The TMPPDAAC stated that the Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project which began in early 1980 was built without the due knowledge and consent of those who live at the downstream of the dam, and also without any downstream impact assessment and accompanying Resettlement and Rehabilitation.
It asserted that the downstream villages Tumukhong, Moirangpurel, Moirangpurel (II), Etham, Laikhong, Bewlaland, Saichang, Molkon, Bongyang etc have been kept in the dark about how this dam can cause immense and irreversible impact on the riverine ecosystems, and socio-economic and cultural relations arrangements of those living downstream of the dam. In this regard, the release maintained that the information about the affects of the dam construction has been hidden from the people for more than 25 years by the project proponents who maintained that the Mapithel dam will contribute positively. “We consider this as a crime that calls for justice,” the release stated.
However, the release affirmed that from their own learning, the Committee is now aware that ‘dams do create severe downstream impact such as dam break due to lack of poor quality and earthquakes and impacts on downstream such as on water flow regime and ecosystem change, decline of fisheries, crops due to change in water flow and reduced nutrients, and pollution of water’.
Besides, the release asserted that the Mapithel dam construction has already caused air and water pollution. It also stated that the coffer dam which is already installed, downstream villages is already experiencing water scarcity for irrigation and household use. Sand and boulders mining which is also a source of income has dwindled at an alarming rate that will jeopardize an important livelihood source for downstream villages. The release alleged that the Mapithel dam has been built with poor safety norms as ‘clearly indicated’ by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). This also has been substantiated by testimonies of dam workers and corroborated by the recent break on the spillway wall, the release stated.
The release stated that militarization and an undemocratic mindset of the Manipur government will not only prove to be disastrous for the dam and downstream inhabitants but also a doom for the whole of Manipur. “Democratic space even on development debates has now been squeezed and we are deeply pained by this degradation,” the release added.
NSCN leaders break 20-yr ice. Swu calls Khaplang on unification Nagarealm.com

Kohima, MAY27 [TI] : It’s been exactly 20 years since they spoke to each other. After his talks invitation to his rival group’s chairman, S.S. Khaplang’s deputy went unanswered and even the Church’s efforts at unification fell flat, NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu went that extra mile and called up his former comrade in the undivided NSCN to talk peace.

Sources told The Telegraph that Swu spoke to Khaplang to accelerate the reconciliation and unification process between the Naga militant outfits. This is for the first time since the split in the NSCN in 1988 that the two top militant leaders from the rival groups had a conversation. The talks come in wake of rising factional clashes in Nagaland. Before the conversation with Khaplang, Swu had invited the NSCN (K) army chief Khole Konyak to Bangkok. The apex Naga tribal body, the Naga Hoho, too, confirmed the telephone conversation between the two leaders.

Kevilietuo Angami, vice-president of Naga Hoho, said there were at least two telephone conversations between Swu and Khaplang. He said the NSCN (I-M) chairman had called up Khaplang from Chingmai in Thailand, recently. Sources said Khaplang was eager to push forward the ongoing reconciliation and unification process between the two NSCN factions. “There were at least two telephone conversations,” a source said, adding that Khaplang had even agreed to attend the recently concluded Chingmai Naga conclave sponsored by the Naga Reconciliation Forum but was prevented from doing so because of “differences” in his own group.

However, sources said contact between the top leaders of the two factions would continue. The Chingmai Naga reconciliation conclave was also attended by several foreign organisations from the US and the Philippines to broker peace and unity among the warring Naga groups. Representatives of various Naga organisations also attended the meeting. Recently, a senior kilonser (minister) of the NSCN (K), Kughalu Mulatonu, said there was no point going to Thailand to attend the reconciliation meeting as the Nagas were already united.

He also criticised the “reconciliation forum” of trying to help Muivah escape from India. The NSCN (I-M), however, skipped today’s meeting of Naga organisations and factions held in Kohima under the aegis of the Joint Forum of gaonburas (village chiefs) and dubashis (chiefs of Naga customary courts). The joint forum has called for a yearlong ceasefire between the Naga factions with immediate effect. At a similar meeting on December 7, the factions, in the presence of gaonburas and dubashis, agreed to a six-month truce but failed to keep their commitment.

Today’s meeting was attended by gaonburas and dubashis of all the 11 districts and representatives of Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers’ Association and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation. Quoting NSCN (I-M) members, a senior official from the joint forum said the outfit skipped the meet because of a prior commitment but agreed to abide by whatever decision was taken today.

Centre backing rival groups: NSCN(IM) Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, May 20 – Even as the situation in Nagaland is highly charged following the increasing cases of factional clashes among the Naga underground groups, NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu hinted the breaking down of ceasefire while accusing the Government of India of supporting the rival groups. Isak Chisi Swu also predicted that “we are heading for explosive situation” while adding, “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 exlosive situation. In such critical junction UNPO must not remain a silent apectator”.

The NSCN-IM chairman said this while delivering a speech at the IX General Assembly of the Unrepresented Nations People's Organisation (UNPO) held at Brussels in Belgium from May 16 to May 18.

The speech of Isak Chisi Swu which was dispatched to Newmai News Network last night appealed the UNPO not to remain a silent spectator at this juncture.

“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 also because while officially talking with NSCN the Government of India is covertly or overtly lending its support to the illegal and unmandated arms 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,” alleged the NSCN-IM chairman.

Before touching the serious note in his speech, Isak Chisi Swu greeted the leaders of UNPO by saying he would like to convey Naga people's high appreciation and admiration for the positive role of the UNPO vis-a-vis the case 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 nation in the days to come too,” said the NSCN-IM leader while adding, “UNPO being the apex political organiisation of the member nation,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 organisation is rescued from being succumbed to the policy of the adversaries”.

Mr Swu then suggested that 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 Nagas has become a matter of great concern that requires of utmost attention,” added the worried leader.

“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,” concluded the histotic speech of Isak Chisi Swu at the Belgium meet.

Rally for Peace Held in Ukhrul by R.S.Mayori and Lemyao Shimray
Ukhrul,28th May 2008: A huge rally is organized in Ukhrul by the The Tangkhul frontal Civil Organisation, Tagkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong(TKS), Tangkhul Shinao Long (TSL), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL) and Tangkhul Wungnao Long (TNWL) with the endorsement and co-ordination of the United Naga Council (UNC) on 28th May 2008.
The rally is for peace and reconciliation rally held at Ukhrul head quarter, Where The rally is to once again expressed the unreserved support to the on going Indo-Naga peace initiative in New-Delhi and for ushering in peace through political dialogue under the time tasted collective leadership of Isak Chishi Swu, Khudao Yanthan and Th. Muivah while re-iterating the stand of the Naga Hoho and the resolutions adopted by the people of the sixth consultative meeting in Dimapur. The organizations on behalf of the people therefore urge both the negotiation parties to take the peace talk forward to bring an honorable solution.
It also points out that the Government of India is responsible for the factional clashes and mushrooming of factional groups which have claimed many innocent Naga people and property. Should the situation go worst the Government of India should take the responsibility of it. UNC representative talks about the issue of the present situation which has political implication and he also strongly said that Nagas should not give space to any organization or media is not for the people. The organization will submit a memorandum to the Prime-Minister of India and Chief Minister of Nagaland and Manipur.
Something better than 16 Point Agreement?- Nagaland Post Opinion
Challenge has been thrown again and again on Nagas that any political solution in future should be better than 16-point Agreement. What's better than 16 Point Agreement? What's so special about it?
There are points of argument between underground and over-ground leaders on the issue. Some over-ground leaders argue that, but for statehood the Nagas couldn't be at the helm of power and enjoying the fruit of development today. It saved the Nagas, they argued. On the other hand the underground leaders argued that, but for national struggle led by then, Naga National Council (NNC), Naga People's Council (NPC) couldn't have achieved anything. Both sides seem right in their own way. The fact however remains that at that point of time the N.P.C made a bargain of the sovereignty for statehood against the wishes of the Naga mass or at least, the freedom fighters.
Should Nagaland be destined to remain within the Union of India? The 16 Point Agreement was without any dispute a landmark achievement for Nagas. Else, Nagas might still have remained Naga Hills district in the State of Assam. It made a good bargain by protecting the Nagas from socio-cultural invasion and prevented the Nagas from the threat of complete submerge or sublimation. Without it, we might have lost our identity.
If however, Nagaland is pre-destined to become a sovereign State it betrayed the Nagas because it decided the fate of the Nagas prematurely. There will be people to argue that the interim agreement best suited the Nagas at that point of time. I would say the clauses in the agreement too suited that period of time. The need for review of the clauses is imperative giving the fact that they have outlived the applicability of their own time.
In its present form, 16 Point Agreement made the Nagas neither wholesome Nagas nor Indians. It left us in between. It protected the Nagas from some inherent customary rights but deprived the Nagas of many of the citizens' rights enjoyed by mainland Indians. Clause 7 (4) of the agreement protected the right of ownership and transfer of their land and its resources under Article 371 (A). But it denied the common man (Nagas) from availing any substantial credit facility on the pretext that our land can't be mortgaged.
Clause 16 (Inner Line Permit - 1873) that was aimed at protecting the Nagas from exploitation and submersion in fact further alienated the Nagas. It's true that, had it not been for this clause there could have been unprecedented infiltration from across the border or even by mainland Indians for various politico-socio-economic reasons. It prevented cross-border infiltration to some extent but at the same time it also denied genuine Indian citizens of their right to live and trade in any part of India; that is to say, if Nagaland is really considered an integral part of India.
The British-India legacy of Inner line regulatory (ILP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) systems still in force in the State further proved that 16 Point Agreement has outlived its time. Surprisingly, no real attempt was made to bring out new monitoring mechanism to suit the present time. These age-old regulatory systems strangulated the Nagas economically. Even some Indian citizens long living in the State and fed up of ILP renewal went so far as to confess that, either Nagaland is taken as Indian State in its entirety or leave it totally. These systems prevented Indian citizens to judiciously invest in Nagaland except for encouraging them to drain the State's economy. Else, do we have any big industrial house in the State?
Imposition of inhuman Acts like Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 and Disturbed Area Act in the State of Nagaland under whatever pretext further alienated the Nagas and proved that Nagas are not taken as equal citizens on equal footing.
Clauses 12 (Consolidation of Forest areas) and 13 (Consolidation of contiguous Naga Areas) were only wishes included for the sake of recording as it remains to be seen as far as the implementation of these clauses are concerned.
At best, 16 Point Agreement corrupted most Nagas in high places; made the rich richer and the poor poorer. The wonder and reality of sixteen point agreement and statehood was that it made a Naga, partially Naga and partially Indian. It made an Indian coming to Nagaland a second class citizen or a foreigner.
In sovereignty point of view, had it been translated into reality, nine point agreement placed the Nagas on better footing as it gave the option to Nagas to choose their own destiny on completion of ten years. The Nagas are fighting for sovereignty and the nationalists would agree with me (with due apology of the State's architects) that; to nationalists, something better than sixteen point agreement would only mean sovereignty and nothing less. Fact of the matter is that, whether it's statehood or sovereignty the Nagas are divided. That puts us in a situation then, that no durable solution for Nagas can be found without building a consensus between the underground and over-ground Nagas.
The 16 Point Agreement could have been a great achievement had the Nagas lived true to their commitment instead of pursuing the affairs for self-interest. Sadly, we have too many people preaching honesty after amassing public wealth by taking advantage of the statehood when majority of the Nagas were then ignorant. Corruption in high places ruined the Nagas. Instead of giving direction to the Nagas the reality of statehood compounded the Naga political problem because some people were busy making hay while the going was good for them. The 16 Point Agreement and statehood became a blessing for only those who were within the reach. In general, it divided the Naga society into "haves" and "not haves". Hence, if not for political reason this great socio-economic divide will always be a cause for unrest.
The 16 Point Agreement might have been good to serve the purpose of its own time and generation. Yet, it's not good enough to serve the purpose of the present time. Sovereignty may seem untenable to some Nagas. But has the reality of statehood solved our problem? Giving the length of our struggle we certainly deserve better and more than what we have today should even sovereignty be delayed or denied.
Dr. K. Hoshi, Phek Town.
LET TRUTH PREVAIL Morung Express Neikolie Kuotsu
This write-up is in response to the article “Factional Killings in Nagaland: The Clash of Ideologies.” by a certain Jagdamba Mall in The Morung Express dated 16th May 2008. The Mokokchung Miktar for Indigenous People’s Rights and Issues has already put across a timely rejoinder, the like of which is still few and far between. My intention is not to supplement this but to contribute to social discourse. Hopefully a tradition of mature and positive debate and criticism will flourish in the days to come.

Premise
I attempt to base my response on rationality and without the preconceived ethnic-religious-political bias that Jagdamba’s article reeks of. For the record, it may be mentioned that any religion regardless of creed consists of radical elements that unfortunately typify the entire faith in a negative light. The very manner in which Jagdamba begins his commentary gives away his chauvinistic Hindutva credentials. It read like this “There are four major ideologies….. Except Hindu, all the other ideologies are expansionist, intolerant and violent by nature. Hindustan has suffered at the hands of all these intolerant forces”. To make a sweeping statement like this only works against him because it reflects his narrow and shallow knowledge of history and political outlook. He is either unaware or overlooks the colourful history of ancient India which had witnessed successive waves of migration and integration. I am not trying to pass off that Ancient Indian History is devoid of violence. However India has had a long tradition of heterodoxy and various sources of culture. The dominant religion in India was Buddhism for about a thousand years and in the first millennium BCE many other religions competed with each other. The Vedas (ancient sacred books), which date back to at least the middle of the second millennium BCE, paved the way to what is known as Hinduism today. The term Hindu was initially used by Persian and Arabs borrowed from the name of the river Sindhu or Indus. There is no evidence in history that India had a national religion at any point of time.

Demystifying Hindutva
The Hindutva movement is a relatively new political phenomenon. The Sangh Parivar is the umbrella organization of the various militant wings such as the RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is their political wing that ran a coalition Government (NDA) between 1998 and 2004. To write about their fundamentalist propaganda that had been and continues to be unleashed on Indians would resemble an epic. The infamous distortion of History in school textbooks during their regime speaks volumes about the Parivar’s divisive ideologies. Jagdamba Mall should realise by now that the practitioners of Hindutva ideology are no less intolerant.
The Indus valley civilization dating from the 3rd millennium BCE preceded the earliest Hindu literature, the Vedas (mid 2nd millennium BCE). This archaeological and historical evidence threatens the very foundations of the bigots who like to believe that the original settlers of India were Hindus. Hence they attempted to manipulate NCERT and distort history in school textbooks to suit their myopic ideology. Thankfully it failed.
The Indian population comprises of 80 percent Hindus. The fact that the BJP managed to garner only 26 percent of votes in the last Indian parliamentary elections indicates the popular choice of the electorate. Hindutva literally means ‘the quality of Hinduism’. Talk of quality and we are reminded of the quality of life that the Indian populace had to incessantly contend with. The pervasive poverty in rural and urban India, the politics of caste and gender discrimination is something that most Indians are familiar with. For millions of Indians, quality of life translates to social and economic security rather than a chauvinistic and distorted version of the preservation of ‘the quality of Hinduism’. The concept of ‘Indianness’ is an overrated rhetoric abused by radical elements that have no concern for the welfare of the people. Remember the BJP’s ‘India Shining’ campaign that came as a slap in their face.
The BJP indulged in stoking communal passions in the run up to Parliamentary elections during the late 1990’s. The widespread communal tension led to arson and deaths that still haunts and divides the nation. All these were done to gain political mileage in the guise of promoting ‘Indianness’. What a blotch in the annals of contemporary Indian history! The people of India are traumatised even today to have witnessed the lowest levels one could stoop to in the name of religion. Such moral and ideological bankruptcy does backfire. Jagdamba’s irrational claim of Hinduism being non-expansionist can be easily debunked considering the material and ideological support of Indian diaspora abroad towards the Hindutva cause.

Conclusion
Jagdamba’s statements are self-contradictory in many places and his perception of the general Naga public is seen through the narrow prism of hatred and communalism. To set things right, the statement “Nagas embraced Christianity and with this, secessionist armed uprising began” is totally unfounded. Statements like these crops out of diabolical minds with vested interests that derive pleasure in fomenting social unrest. The Naga National Movement was a consequence of the violation of their territorial, social, cultural and political rights by the Indian Government. Christianity continues to be a binding factor of the Nagas and the Church regardless of denomination strives to uphold this.
I do not deny that there have been excesses and lapses on the part of the Government and the Naga Polity. However, to the Nagas any element internal or external, regardless of ideology or cause that seeks to challenge their right to life and freedom is equally loathsome. To pass comments based on personal bias, religious zealousness and distortion of facts is nothing short of bigotry. The frequency at which Islamic fanatics commit acts of terror in Indian soil can probably trace its roots to the communal rift caused by Hindutva activists. The ramifications of communal intolerance espoused and executed by Hindutva zealots abound for all to see. Therefore one ought not to pass comments that intend to polarise the society.

Two slain, police claim one was NNC other PULF The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 27: The family of a slain man today refused to receive his dead body lying at the morgue refuting the police charge that the person was a militant and killed in an encounter on Sunday night.
Police said the identity of the youth killed by Imphal west commandos late evening on Saturday at Langol Tarung village was established today as that of a member of the Naga National Council (NNC).

In another protest rally over the killing of another youth Md Abdul Wahid, 29, from Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai in Imphal east, protesters rubbished the police allegations against the slain youth insisting he was an innocent man. Earlier a sit-in protest was also staged by the local womenfolk under the banner of the JAC against the Brutal Killing of Md Wahid

Mention may be made that a youth who was later identified as one Md Abdul Wahid, 29, son of Md Barik hailing from Porompat Muslim Leikai was shot dead by a team of Imphal east commandos at Keirao Manjor Leikai under Irilbung police station on last Sunday night at around 11.30 pm.

Police who suspect the youth was a cadre of the militant group People`s United Liberation Front, PULF, said that they recovered a 9 mm pistol with some live ammunitions in it and a letterhead of the militant outfit, PULF from the slain man. The dead body was lying unidentified at the RIMS morgue where police deposited it after retrieving it from the encounter site.

According to locals, family members at first could not recognize the deceased as the clothes he went out of home in were found changed.

Wahid wore a lungi and a black colour inner shirt when he went out from home on the fateful night, according to the family members. But the dead body at the morgue which was later confirmed to be Wahid`s was dressed in trousers and an orange colour T-shirt.

Contradicting the police claim that Wahid was a suspected PULF cadre, the families and locals said that the slain youth was an innocent man earning a livelihood by running a passenger service auto-rickshaw. He was the main breadwinner of the poor family after his father expired many years back, locals said.

He went out in a lungi at around 8 pm in the night, after he informed the family that he had received a call through his mobile phone from his friend Santosh from Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai asking to meet him. Wahid was carrying three mobile handsets for reselling, said the family. He was doing a small time business in selling second hand mobile handsets, they added.

Today`s rally marched towards the chief minister`s bungalow as usually done by the protestors in the state to submit a memorandum demanding appropriate action against the personnel involved in the killing of Wahid. Placards displaying slogans like, `Punish the killer police commandos`, `We condemn brutal killing of Wahid`, `We want justice in the killing of Wahid`, etc. were also carried by the protestors.

Police blocked them at Sanjenthong before reaching the chief minister`s bungalow and allowed only some representatives of the local joint action committee formed in connection with killing of Wahid to proceed. In the memorandum, the JAC demanded legal action against the personnel involved in the killing of Wahid, payment of Rs. 10 lakhs considering that he was the breadwinner of the family and an appropriate government job to a member of the family.

They also said that till the government fulfilled their demands the dead body would not be received. In the memorandum they also threatened to launch several forms of agitations with the support of civil bodies in Manipur. On the other hand, the identity of the suspected militant who was killed during an encounter with a team of Imphal West police commandos at Langol Tarung under Lamphel police station on May 25 night was established today by the family at RIMS morgue.

He was member of the Naga National Council, NNC, named Chahotliangbao Abonmei alias Chahotbao, 35, son of A Paonambao of Tamei sub-division. According to the family source, the deceased was a member of the NNC outfit and now leading a normal life by doing small timber business. He is survived by his wife and six children. The locals of Langol Tarung, in the meantime, staged a dharna against firing of guns in the populated area.

Nagalim.NL News

05/28/2008: "Swu and Khaplang: On speaking terms?"