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06/04/2008: "14 killed in NSCN factional fight in Nagaland The Hindu"

14 killed in NSCN factional fight in Nagaland The Hindu

Kohima (PTI): At least 14 Naga militants were killed in gunfight between rival NSCN groups in two separate places in Nagaland on Wednesday, police said.
Twelve NSCN/GPRN cadre were killed in a heavy exchange of fire with rival NSCN-IM group which continued for hours in Seithikima area, about 17 km off Nagaland's commercial town of Dimapur since early morning.
The bodies were retrieved by the activists and taken to nearby Nihoto village and later buried in the presence of villagers.
In another incident, two NSCN-IM cadre were killed and another was injured in Dimapur this evening, police said.
Last month, Seithikima area saw factional clash leading to the death of 14 GPRN/NSCN cadre. On the same afternoon angry civilians attacked the NSCN-IM ceasefire monitoring cell office at Diphupar and set it afire.
Nearly 50 people, including civilians, were killed in and around Dimapur in the stepped-up violence by rival NSCN groups in the past three months.
Both the state government and locals had asked the militants to vacate civilian populated areas and stay in their respective designated camps.
11 killed in factional fight in Nagaland The Hindu
Kohima (PTI): At least 11 Naga underground cadres were killed on Wednesday in a fierce gunfight between rival groups of NSCN on the outskirts of Dimapur in Nagaland.
Police said cadres of rival NSCN (I-M) and GPRN/NSCN led by S S Khaplang exchanged heavy fire in Seithikima area, about 17 km off Nagaland's commercial town since early morning and that continued for hours.
However, police were yet to ascertain the identity of the dead cadres but NSCN(I-M) claimed that they had killed 10 activists from the rival group.
Police and district administration officials have rushed to the spot.
Last month, a factional clash led to the death of 14 cadre of GPRN/NSCN. On the same afternoon angry civilians attacked NSCN(I-M) ceasefire monitoring cell office at Diphupar and set it on fire.
Nearly 50 people, including civilians, were killed in and around Dimapur in the stepped up violence by rival NSCN groups in past three months.
Both the state government and public had asked underground cadre to vacate civilian populated areas and confine themselves to the respective designated camps.
12 killed as separatist gangs fight in Nagaland ICT by IANS
Dimapur (Nagaland), June 4 (IANS) Twelve tribal separatists have been killed and one injured in warfare between rival gangs in northeastern India’s Nagaland state Wednesday, police said. A police spokesman said heavily armed militants belonging to two factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) attacked each other with automatic weapons early Wednesday, killing 12 and injuring one near village Keloshe, about 15 km from Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.
“Clashes broke out between the NSCN’s Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) faction and the NSCN-Unification (NSCN-U) and continued for about four hours in which 12 militants were killed and another wounded,” Liremo Lotha, police chief of Dimapur, told IANS.
The immediate provocation for the attack was not immediately known, although police official said the clashes broke out for territorial supremacy in the area.
“We have started a massive combing operation in the area with militants of both the groups retreating,” the police official said.
Last month, 12 militants of the NSCN-U were killed in a similar gang war with the NSCN-IM near the same village. About 50 militants were killed in the past three months in fratricidal clashes between the two warring factions.
The NSCN-U was floated last year after some NSCN-IM leaders severed links with the parent group and formed the NSCN-U The police are yet to identify those killed.
“We are not in a position to say immediately which group the dead militants belong to,” Lotha said. The Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN is operating a ceasefire with the Indian government since August 1997 and is engaged in peace negotiations. The NSCN-U does not have any ceasefire with the government.
All the NSCN groups are fighting for an independent Naga homeland comprising the Naga inhabited areas in India’s northeast.
Group clashes have intensified after the formation last year of the NSCN-U after some leaders and members of the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN broke away.
Until then, there was just another NSCN faction headed by S.S. Khaplang or the NSCN-K. Like the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN, the NSCN-K too is on a ceasefire with the Indian government since 2001 although the latter has not begun peace negotiations with New Delhi.
Naga faction vows to continue fight against New Delhi Thai Indian News
New Delhi, June 3 : National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has said the group would keep up its agitation as no alternative solution was in sight.
"Nagas will have to go on fighting for their rights. This is a hard reality. So, we will have to go on resisting," Thuingaleng Muivah told Asia News International (ANI) in an interview.
Muivah said the NSCN (IM) would not accept unilateral imposition of any agenda; "The government sought to impose their constitution on us. We will not accept any imposition on us. We will accept any solution that is honorable to both," he said.
He said both the sides would have to work out a federal relationship with each other for any lasting peace.
"We can be a part of each other in the sense a federation of India on one side and Nagaland on the other working out a clearly a kind of relationship between the two," he said.
The NSCN-IM leaders and Indian officials have met more than 50 times over the past ten years to end the conflict.
The NSCN split into two factions in the late 1980s and the breakaway group, NSCN (Khaplang) claims to be backed by the government.
The two groups regularly fight against each other, but in recent months the Khaplang group had the upper hand, in which dozens of militants from either side have been killed. (ANI)
“No solution within Indian Constitution” MIP/GPRN
This is response to the statement made by highly placed official of the Government of India published through R. Dutta Choudhury in the Assam tribune on May 14, 2008 on the position of Indo-Naga peace process. Be it informed that at no point of time, NSCN and the Government of India has never agreed to work out solution within the parameter of India constitution. NSCN has repeatedly said that Indian Constitution in no solution to the Indo-Naga political issue. It is a political issue, not constitutional. That’s why from the very outset, it was mutually agreed upon that the talks will be held on the basis of without condition, at the Prime Minister level and in third countries. The NSCN leadership has also made it clear that Nagas are not demanding sovereignty from India or any other countries. The sovereignty of a people is not a commodity to be given or taken away by any power. Both the parties subscribe to the concept that sovereignty is with the people. Sovereignty of the Indians lies with the Indian people. And there should be no doubt about it that sovereignty of the Nagas lies with Naga people. Ours is a case of invasion and we are defending our sovereignty against the aggressors. We will continue to do so in the future too.
We all know that the global political problems are settled through negotiation. We believe in negotiated settlement. The eleven years long negotiations would be only wastage of time, money and labor if the talks were meant for acceptance the Indian constitution. There is no denying that the talks have been going on in the spirit of working out mutually acceptable solution. But we are opposed to imposition of one’s will upon the other. The informal discussion between TH. Muivah, Ato Kilonser, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim and Mr. MK. Narayanan, Special National Secretary Advisor to the Prime Minister of India was confined to the explosive situation in Nagalim particularly in Dimapur only. Comparative study of the world constitutions including that of the Indians and other relevant agreements and accord papers of the nascent states for working out the best acceptable solution should not be misconstrued. It is so because we want to be apart of solution, not problem.
We are strongly opposed to the logic of demanding land from others. Nagas have no reason and right to demand land from India or any other countries. The Nagas have their own right to demand land and they have been living in their own land since time immemorial. People and land are inseparable. Nagalim is the priceless inheritance of the present Nagas from their fathers. Nagalim is our-everything and no power can take it away from us.
Since it is Indo-Naga political issue, we are talking with the Government of India. The Nagas have no issue to talk with others. Therefore, it is un-conditional and irrelevant to talk with others out of context, while the issue is being discussed between two rightful parties.
Viewing from the context of the present situation people are bound to think that Government of India is trying to backtrack the mutually agreed terms of talks by using anti-Naga people’s elements and Indian mass media. The publication of the Assam tribune’s concocted versions is a revelation of wicked and treacherous policy to impose the will of India upon the Nagas. But for the NSCN, we are deeply committed to negotiated settlement if war is not imposed on us. We will abide by our commitment.

Press Release Issued by: MIP GPRN
At a time when the socio-political scenario is passing through a very critical period, the role of the press become all the more important when the print media is carried away by the situation and went overboard in its reporting it could upset the whole fabric of journalism with damaging blow to the factual picture of the issue in question. NSCN comes under pressure when the Calcutta based 'The Telegraph' 22nd May provoked unwarranted and undesirable flare-up of tension affecting the image of certain tribal group in Manipur. The Telegraph reported that it was Poumai people who have formed the already dainted UNPC quoting Brig. Phungthing Shimrang, Convenor, Ceasefire Monitoring Cell. Unbecoming of the press obligation to issue corrigendum for the publication of fabricated statement, the paper never went beyond giving verbal word that it will be rectified. According to Brig, Shimrang such statement was never said by him to the Telegraph reporter.
"Sensationalizing the UNPC issued is highly regretted"- Shimrang. Strongly reacting to the Kohima based reporter Shimrang said "This is not the time to create such confusion". He blamed the reporter for going overboard, charging him that he will be held responsible for messing up the issue. In upholding the national principle NSCN holds each tribe equally responsible and no tribe is undermined in this aspect under any situation. Brig Shimrang has been playing a facilitating role to be bring better understanding among the different communities that constitute Naga family. In this context NSCN appeal to the press to be cautions while reporting on sensitive issue, and never put words into somebody's mouth to magnify news. This is not a good practice among the press.
‘Reconciliation without forgiveness is no Reconciliation’ morung express
...A LETTER TO THE FATHER....Citizens pray for healing, forgiveness, reconcilation and peace during the prayer crusade in Dimapur today. (Morung Photos/Bonnie Konyak)
Dimapur, June 3 (MExN): IN a clear indication that the urgent need for peace has touched every section of the society, Janath, a driver in the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) eagerly lend his voice to shouts of Hallelujah! and Amen! during the inter-denominational city-wide Prayer Crusade at City Tower Junction this evening. Despite the incessant rain, the crowd was determined to express their solidarity and demonstrating the eagerness for peace, in one of the most responsive crowds Nagaland has seen in a long time.
Speaking on the occasion, Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Maongwati Aier called upon the gather not to be “afraid or dismayed” because the peace that God gives “surpasses all understanding” and is “eternal.” He underscored the need for Nagas to reconcile with God before a reconciliation among Naga brethren could be achieved.
Rev. Dr. Shiwoto, principle of Living World Bible College, opined that the more Naga talked of peace, the most elusive peace was proving for them. He observed that this was because, peace, in the Naga context, was being pursued in the wrong direction and hence accentuated the need to redirect this trail for peace through Jesus Christ. Rev. Dr. Shiwoto especially pointed out that “Reconciliation without forgiveness is no reconciliation” and without forgiveness, there could be no love, unity or peace either.
While assuring the people that God “will surely answer the prayers and cheers of Naga people,” Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, principle of Oriental Theological Seminary expressed his fear for God’s slow response to Naga’s prayer for peace. “I fear that perhaps God is not willing to answer the Nagas because we may not be right” he said. Identifying this need to get right with God and the common Nagas, Rev. Dr. Wati especially cautioned the Naga underground workers that once the judgment of God comes upon them, they would not be able to bear the sentence.
Clarifying the meaning of reconciliation, Rev. Dr. Wait said that mere reconciliation between God and individual was insufficient and incomplete since the meaning of reconciliation with God means to be reconciled with one’s brothers and sisters. “Reconciliation without historical record is meaningless” he said.
The prayer crusade on the theme “Heal our Land” was conduced at seven points across Dimapur district which culminated with a joint prayer at the City Tower junction, Dimapur, from 5pm to 6pm. Today’s crusade was a conclusion of the three-day fasting, followed by seven days of prayer-chains for peace in Nagaland.
Kumawat is new CFMG and CFSB Chairman UNI
Kohima, June 3 (UNI): In the backdrop of unabated inter-factional clashes in Nagaland, the Centre has appointed M L Kumawat, Special Secretary (Internal Security) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) and Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB). Official sources said here today that previous Chairman Lt General (Retd) R V Kulkarni was relieved on May 31. Kumawat, who took over charge in New Delhi as the new Chairman of the CFMG on June one, was yet to arrive in Nagaland.
According to highly places sources, “Gen Kulkarni has miserably failed to stop the inter-factional clashes and implement the agreed Ceasefire Ground Rules (CFGR) in the state, for which the MHA has replaced him by Mr Kumawat.” Sources said, “The appointment of MHA officer as the chairman of the CFMG and CFSB is likely to change the entire insurgency scenario and lead towards a peaceful atmosphere in this decades-long insurgency-affected state.”
Now, Kumawat would be the chairman of the CFMG with the NSCN-IM and the CFSB with the NSCN-K. The CFMG and CFSB had been created by the Union Government to monitor the implementation of the agreed CFGR with the Centre during the ceasefire agreements with NSCN-IM in 1997 and with NSCN-K in 2001.

Security tops Gogoi agenda in Delhi talks OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
New Delhi, June 3: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan and defence minister A.K. Antony to discuss various issues, including security measures in North Cachar Hills district.
In the second leg of the meetings today, he also discussed the appointment of a new governor.
“He discussed law and order and other issues (read selection of governor) with the leaders,” said a source close to Gogoi. Yesterday, the chief minister had called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister Shivraj Patil. The name of former Rajasthan chief minister Shiv Charan Mathur figured above other gubernatorial aspirants today.
Another meeting was held late in the evening to finalise the name. Sources said Gogoi insisted on the appointment of a politician and was not in favour of former bureaucrats, army generals or retired police officials as the governor. Gogoi had reportedly not shared the best of relations with the current Assam governor. Ostensibly, the “other issues” included the arrest of Assam education minister Ripun Bora by the CBI today. As the situation in the NC Hills district continued to give sleepless nights to security agencies in Assam, the chief minister is understood to have told Antony to increase the pressure on Dima Haolam Daogah (Jewel Gorlosa) outfit.
The chief minister has also accused the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) of being troublemakers in the Assam district. The Dimasa group is seen as being close to the Naga rebel group, which wields considerable clout in the entire region.
Narayanan is believed to have taken a relatively uncompromising stand on the Naga issue.
A Cry for Peace morungexpress

The Nagas have been crying, rallying, appealing and praying for Peace and demanding an end to all forms of violence among Nagas. And yet today, our hopes and prayers have been shattered once again as violence belied our very yearning for Nagas to come together as one in the spirit of forgiveness. With deep sadness in our hearts and on behalf of a tormented generation we make this plea to all Nagas to end all violence and give peace a chance, so that future generations may have a chance to live...

NBCC's statement clarifying its postion Nagaland Page
Here is NBCC's response to issues raised by various bodies recently.
The local media have reported that NBCC has come under criticism for its "non-involvement and indifferent attitude in the peace, reconciliation and unification process."
The Naga public and God are the best judge of whether or not NBCC is uninvikved in or indifferent to the search for "peace and reconciliation."
NBCC understands the peace Process, Integration and Unification Process for what they are. They are all political process. This assessment has been drawn form close observation of the processes as they have proved to be.
NBCC sees its role is towards bringing about a level playing field where the different conflicting, rival groups will come together and evolve a common position that will enable Nagas to achieve the honourable settlement Nagas and India need. NBCC believes that if the groups or individuals involved want nothing selfish for themselves, then the common position will be found through reconciliation, mutual forgivness and healing. Unless we will go deep enough to where we too are wrong, and acknowledge it Peace, Reconciliaton and Unification are impossible. NBCC has been accused for not condemning all the killings speciafically. NBCC's unequivocal position on violence and killings and the related wrongs has been repeatedly made clear. The statement by Rev. Zhabu Terhüja as General Secretary under the Caption "NBCC cries with the People" on May 6, 2008, is the latest expression of the Church's position. God is more interested in the factions stopping to kill one another than in NBCC correctly condemning the killings. Those who provoke one another to do the worst and fail to acknowledge where they themselves are in the worng are not only destroying themselves, but also dragging our whole society donw with them.
Make no mistake, the inescapable curse that will follow for our society unless we can hate and stop abductions, torture, killing of helpless innocents, businessmen and traders, etc., and targeting of any community for revenge or selfish gains. Have we become so blind and shortsighted because of greed or lust for power and instant gratification? Let Nagaa hear what God is trying to tell us and end ourselves destructive ways. God has the right plan for Nagas. It will prevail if it is more important to us than our personal and group agendas.
Rev. L Kari Longchar, Director, Peace Affairs NBCC, Kohima
IM men defect to rival K Jacob Panmei Sangai Express
JIRIBAM, Jun 3: At least four hard-core officers of NSCN (IM) have defected to NSCN (K) Zeliangrong region from Camp Hebron, Dimapur. The four officers who have changed sides have been identified as 2nd Lt Akishe of Jalukie, Peren district (Nagaland), Sgt Maj Tukam of North Cachar Hills (Assam), Sgt Injang of Donke village, Peren district and Cpl Alex of NC Hills.
They also brought one sniper rifle with three magazines, one AK 56 rifle with one magazine, one SLR with two magazines and two .303 rifles with two magazines.
Speaking to this correspondent, the four former NSCN (IM) men said that they defected to the NSCN (K) realising the futility of the IM group which has been allegedly working at the behest of a few persons with vested interest. They further stated that have now joined the mainstream outfit.
Disinterested Engagement in Myanmar? Julien Levesque
Twice, in less than a year, Myanmar made it to the headlines. Its first appearance due to massive protests that were brutally repressed by the military government in September 2007 drew the world's attention to the country's political situation. This time, cyclone Nargis and the disaster it left in its wake brought to the fore Myanmar's dismal humanitarian situation. With admirable urgency, the world mobilized to provide for relief. Among others, Australia released US$25 million, the US US$13 million, the UK US$10 million, the EU US$3 million, Norway US$9.8 million, and China US$4.3 million. India was among the first to react and sent shipments of relief aid.
However, common mobilization has by no means brought down the opposition between partisans of sanctions and pursuers of "constructive engagement". Facing an isolationist and extremely authoritative regime, western countries have chosen to impose sanctions - for some, as early as 1988. On the other hand, Myanmar's neighbours - China, India, and the ASEAN countries, have preferred to engage the military government, at best hoping it would bring about change, at worst blindly securing their national interest. It is a plain observation that such policies have not brought any good to the country, since sanctions have been made literally pointless by the policy of constructive engagement. Sanctions and constructive engagement, having done little but comfort the military in power and impoverish the Myanmarese, have proved a rather poisonous cocktail.
It is now high time to get rid of sanctions and seriously promote disinterested engagement - a midway that both camps could join. Whether a country engages or isolates Myanmar, it should not neglect its humanitarian situation. On the contrary, the world should demonstrate its capacity to forgive, which does not imply courting or systematically pleasing the military, and massively invest in educational, cultural, environmental, infrastructural, and humanitarian projects. Disinterested engagement - unilateral, non-lucrative and not motivated by economic advantages or linked with political pressure - would certainly leave the generals puzzled.
However, for the military government to let in external aid, the international community should prevent further entrenching of the generals in their xenophobia. Strong public reproof, such as Laura Bush's immediate accusation of the government keeping its citizens in the dark about the strength of the upcoming cyclone, should thus be avoided. Following the cyclone, it first seemed that, conscious of the scale of destruction, Myanmar's authorities agreed to open up to international aid, quite unlike their haughty autarchic attitude after the 2004 tsunami. However, despite a death toll growing day by day to culminate over 100,000, it soon appeared that humanitarian workers could hardly get visas and that food and equipments were unevenly distributed. In addition, the government insisted on conducting a constitutional referendum despite calls for postponement made by the opposition. Unsurprisingly, the outcome approved the draft constitution.
Nevertheless, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was permitted to check the situation in the Irrawaddy Delta. ASEAN and the UN are now jointly organizing a conference scheduled for Sunday, 25 May 2008, to coordinate relief aid and set up a mechanism to facilitate supply. The involvement of ASEAN can only bring positive results, as the Southeast Asian association enjoys more of the generals' trust than Western powers. If international assistance needs to be channeled through ASEAN, to be acceptable to the military government, then ASEAN should be empowered with the means to relay aid down to the common man.
Since disinterested engagement appears as a midway between constructive engagement and sanctions, it can be adopted by both, pursuers of the first (along with transforming Sittwe into an international standard harbour, has India thought of building schools for the children of dockers and sailors?) and defenders of the second (if the West is so truly concerned with the state of the Myanmarese, then why does it refuse to acknowledge the fact that sanctions hurt those they claim to protect?).
Disinterested engagement should aim at building the trust of Myanmar's authorities. Numerous success stories of humanitarian projects in Myanmar seem to prove that despite various obstacles, such confidence can be built as to enable the conduct of meaningful action on the ground. People's welfare and empowerment would be the most obvious mid-term result of disinterested engagement. Improvement in health and education - that the authorities cannot afford - would both prepare Myanmar for a potentially more prosperous future and may become the key to economic and political reform. The positive impact of social, environmental and humanitarian investments could help the generals realize how unviable their policies are. This will obviously not have them relinquish power, but may foster some reform that will open up economic opportunities.
Hence, the international community should use the present disaster as an occasion to reverse its policy on Myanmar and collectively invest to raise health and educational standards as well as improve environmental protection and infrastructure. While incrementally improving the situation for the common man, disinterested engagement could act as common ground for a united international approach, seeking economic and political reform in Myanmar.

Achan Mungleng X-6, FF, Green Park Main, New Delhi - 110016, India
Mob : + 91 9868 24 0809; Telefax : + 91 11 26511207
Desolation In Myanmar Brian McAfee
In the aftermath of a major natural disaster, the ongoing tragedy that is playing out in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is unnecessary and criminal in nature. The military junta, that had initially withheld relief aid from reaching the majority of the population most negatively impacted by the May 2-3 cyclone, have reportedly stolen many of the goods and have blocked some people’s access to them.
Even today, a month after the cyclone struck, over two million are still homeless and hundreds of children have become orphans without steady caretakers. Early on, a peculiar relationship between the junta, U.S. political figures and business interests became quickly evident. Most notably Senator John McCain’s political adviser, Douglas Goodyear, and Doug Davenport, another lobbyist linked to McCain and Myanmar, have played major roles in seedy dealings.
Another disturbing connection to the regime is UnoCal, representing another outrageous wrong wherein human rights and social justice represent secondary concerns relative to wealth extraction, civilian exploitation and overall profit motives. Yet, few people outside of Myanmar seem aware of this association and the general populous in the country dares not contest the arrangement for fear of backlash.
Meanwhile food, drinkable water, clothing and shelter remain acutely needed, along with medicine and health care provision. All considered, the Buddhist’s have been doing their best under extremely difficult conditions involving desperate people and a paucity of lifesaving supplies. However, their attempts are being greatly curbed by the junta, which just this past weekend forced large numbers out of the refugee camps. These inhumane and imprudent maneuvers display an extreme disregard for humanity and in its stead a total indifference towards ethics even at a most basic level.
At the same time, U.S. ties to the military junta in Myanmar have gone mostly unreported or underreported by global mainstream media. In a similar vein, another “popular culture” icon has emerged to further blur fact from fiction and this is compliments of Hollywood. As such, a totally fictionalized version of this little ravaged country emerges in which “Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” depicts Harrison Ford saving the land from a supposed Soviet threat.
As far as any Russian derived menace existing, we need to look no further than the North American continent and the capitalistic adventurism provided by such interlopers as Unocal, Douglas Goodyear, and Doug Davenport if we want to cite real dangers posed to the country by treacherous outsiders. All considered, the real “saviors” of Burma have yet to emerge.
Hagrama assures action against corruption Correspondent Assam Tribune
KOKRAJHAR, June 3 – Hagrama Mohilary, chief of BTC today made multiple declarations on the completion of three years of BTC in power with support of Bodoland Peoples’ Party (BPP).

Amongst the declarations made, he said all grade-III and grade-IV posts would be filled up in two-three months next by BTC as the state government clears the desk. He also said all vacant posts of teachers in schools of BTC would be filled by June-July on fixed-pay basis from plan fund of BTC until the state government appoints them on regular basis . He directed central selection board of BTC constituted in the recent past to submit the merit list.

Addressing the mammoth gathering at Kadamtola near the new secretariat building at Kokrajhar during the open session at noon on the occasion of the third anniversary of BTC in Bodoland, Mohilary also warned one and all to stay away from corruption. He said: “ Allegations are pouring about corruption at the grassroot

level institutions in BTC and none will be spared from stern action in the event of genuine proof.” He also cautioned members of boards to desist from corruption and in the case of any such proof members including chairman shall be removed and any candidate indulging in such practice shall be denied selection to any post whatsoever.

At the same time Mohilary reiterated that reports of corruption from TCLCC and VCDC are creating chaos even as he maintained that those institutions would be reshuffled soon. At the same time Mohilary declared a financial grant of Rs 33 crore this year to Manas National Park for development of tourism and generation of revenue potential of Tiger Project here.

Emphasising on encouraging meritorious students of Bodoland area, he announced grants-in-aid of Rs.1 Lakh to each of the students selected in IIT’s and also Rs1 lakh each to those from Bodoland area who secured positions among top 20 in the last HSLC exam and top 10 in the last HS exam in the state.

Recalling progress made in the last three years in BTC, he said apart from road communication, construction of buildings, public health and other aspects, he pointed to the full-fledged university in Kokrajhar, a planetarium and an engineering college are significant achievements.

Refuting allegations of the opposition party BPPF led by Rabiram Narzary and U G Brahma, he said involving students in political activities including campaigning is the fallout of the deteriorating state of education and this needs to be checked. He made a strong appeal for peace and integration among all sections of society for a progressive future in Bodoland. PR Brahma, Cabinet minister appealed in her address to join hands and strengthen the leadership of Mohilary for all-round development in BTC with BPF and also welcomed steps under the leadership of CM of Assam.

Echoing the same, S K Basumatary MP in his address added that vacant post of teachers and provincialisation of venture schools in BTAD would be carried out soon for betterment of educational scenario and the Central government can also be approached if needed for support.

Kampa Borgoyari, deputy chief of BTC and P Brahma, parliamentary secretary, Assam also spoke on the occasion, among others, and expressed confidence in the leadership of Mohilary. Earlier Hagrama Mohilary hoisted the flag and paid homage to Bodoland martyrs. BPP is also celebrating the third anniversary of the party at Kokrajhar.
Rift in Heirok village over issue of arming of villagers The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, June 3: A major difference of opinion has occurred among the public of Heirok village on the issue of establishing SPOs in the village with two separate groups taking up opposing and confrontationist stands on the matter.
A group of people belonging to the families of those who have already joined the recruitment process for SPOs recently conducted by the state government at Heirok, with support from representatives and volunteers of local clubs and women`s organisations of Heirok villages convened a public meeting this evening. The meeting was totally against the resolutions taken during the public meeting held under the aegis of JAC Heirok at the residence of local MLA M Oken on June 1 at Heirok village, during which it was resolved to oppose the establishment of SPOs at the village.

The public meeting this evening at the Ibudhou Ikop Ningkthou Umang Lai in Heirok Part-II was chaired by Elangbam Thethe, a village elder. After deliberations by the villagers including representatives from the different women`s organisations of Heirok, the meeting resolved to pressurise the state government for establishment of Heirok SPOs/Heirok protection forces for protection of the Heirok region by its own people with arms supplied by the government to the selected volunteers.

The meeting further resolved that the puplic would oppose the state government if it attempts to utilise the SPOs in counter insurgency operations in the state, and would return all arms to the state government. The meeting also decided to press the state government to take up the arming process at the earliest.
Earlier, during the public meeting at Heirok this evening, several members of the public and youths reacted against the recent resolutions taken during a similiar public meeting held at the residence of local MLA, M Oken where the establishment of SPOs in the area was categorically opposed.

The speakers said the recent meeting at the MLA`s residence took place at the behest of some pressure groups as there was no formal announcement made to the public before holding the meeting. Several speakers mentioned that the stand of the Heirok public would never change as they were fixed in the decision to hold arms and face any consequences arising in imparting their duty to protect the lives and properties of the villagers.

Many of them also commented that it was not the intention of Heirok public to stand against the militants of the state but the demand was only to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in Heirok which had been neglected by the state government in every sphere of development and security.

The vice president of the Heirok JAC, Thamboi Singh while attending the public meeting this evening, clarified that the JAC had no intentions to twist the wishes of the people and the JAC had handed the issue to the people of Heirok and was ready to go by their wishes.
With this clarification from the vice president tension was reduced to some extent this evening, but the fact that there are several Heirok people who are against the establishment of SPOs in the area has led to a major controversy in Heirok, many elderly men of the village observed.
China seeks ‘reasonable’ solution to boundary issue with India Sentinel (PTI)
BEJING, June 3: Ahead of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit, China today said the two countries do not see each other as a threat and sought a “fair, reasonable and acceptable” solution to the boundary issue.
Describing Mukherjee’s four-day visit to China beginning tomorrow as “important”, Beijing said both sides attach great importance to it and they would exchange views on a “series of issues”, including the boundary row discussions, which it felt has made “some progress” in recent years.
“The two sides have reached a consensus that both are important neighbours and partners to each other. The two countries will not regard each other as a threat,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a publication here. Mukherjee’s visit to China is the first by an External Affairs Minister since 2002 when Jaswant Singh visited the country and also his first after he assumed office in his present role. He will arrive tomorrow at Guanzhou where he will inaugurate the Consulate General of India on June 5 before leaving for Beijing the same day.
Embarking on the China visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, Mukherjee would also hold talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders.
“The two sides attach great importance to his visit. We will exchange views on bilateral relations as well as other issues of mutual interest,” Qin said. Both sides would discuss a “series of issues concerning bilateral relations,” he said and added, “I think the boundary is included”.
ULFA threatens Gogoi and Patowary By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, June 3: Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has made sharp comment on ULFA in the summit on terrorism held in Delhi. He has commented that ULFA has lost the public support completely. On the conthary, Chandra Mahan Patowary has commented that if the Congress Government is running it is at the wish of ULFA only.
Arabinda Rajkhowa, the president of ULFA fired at and has retorted that where is the need of operations upon the organization if it has lost the public support and base. Patowary is an opportunist who is blamming Congress only with the aim of political gain. Both are warned and threatened to be away from making such comments.
CSB to handle BTC appointment affairs Correspondent Sentinel
KOKRAJHAR, June 3: The Central Selection Board (CSB), BTC will work in the line of APSC to recruit in all 40 depertments of BTC under the purview of its power to rxercise. A good nunmber of posts in BTC depertments is likely to be filled up soon as the process of appointment or selection is framed by CSB.
The deputy chief of BTC Kampa Borgoyary has recently opened the office of the CSB at the complex of the Director of Land Records, BTC. The office of CSB is being run in the top floor of DLR office.
Karendra Nath Brahma, retired principal and president of Kokrajhar District BPF has been selected for the Chairmanship of CSB while former MLA and present ARTFED chairman Matindra Basumatary as secretary.
Borgoyary said that the CSB will decide on the recruitment and selection procedure in four BTC districts as the power conferred to them. He said that all the vacancies of 40 depertments of BTC would be filled up within 2-3 months and there will be no corruption or other unfair practices in selection and appointment procedure.
Two huge road projects in Arunachal From a Correspondent Sentinel
JORHAT, June 3: Close on the heels of sanctioning of the double laning of the Stilwell Road which connects Myanmar to India; the Centre has accorded top priority to another road project in Arunachal Pradesh which will connect Tawang near the China border at one end to Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district in Asom at the other, indicating the seriousness with which the Centre is pursueing its Look East policy to boost trade and economic ties with neighbouring South-east Asian countries. A source in Arunachal Pradesh PWD (Roads) told this correspondent over telephone that a week ago, the Ministry of Road and Surface Transport had sought a detailed project report for laying the Arunachal Highway-- a length of 1800 kms which would traverse the entire length and breadth of Arunachal.
The road will begin at Tawang in the western tip and will join Kanubari at the eastern tip near Naharkatia and proceed to Bogibeel. The advantage will be that a double lane highway will be made available to the Arunachalis without passing through Asom, the source stated. The route has been designed from Tawang to Nechiphu from which it will go throughout the places like Seppa in the East Kameng district, Sagroli, Ziro Bame, Along, Pasighat, Mahadevpur in the Lohit district, Kanubari and finally to Bogibeel in Asom.