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07/07/2008: "WHEN NAGA CRIES AND DIES INDIA LAUGHS"

7 Jul 2008
WHEN NAGA CRIES AND DIES INDIA LAUGHS
PRESS RELEASE Issued by MIP/GPRN. July 7, 2008

When given the signal by NSCN to the govt. of India that anything could happen at Vihokhu if nothing is done to remove the illegal camp, there was that pretentious seriousness of sincerity to do the legality by evicting the illegal Vihokhu camp. But the dirty hands of divisive intelligence agencies come into play to advise GoI to leave the matter among the Nagas and enjoy the fireworks that follow. The fire did took place at Vihokhu camp leading to the huge lost of lives and property never seen in the history of the Nagas, with as many as 30 precious souls falling lifeless in the camp and nearby jungles. Unfortunately, all the dead bodies belong to Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi group. The group deeply mourned the dead as 'one of the darkest chapters in the Naga struggle for sovereignty (unification). For India it was just another fulfillment to keep the Nagas fighting among themselves, and despicably, the greatest laugh India went through.

Immorality and irrationality the government of India knows no meaning when applying to the Nagas. Before the dust settle down after the Naga Army's attack at Vihokhu camp, and even before the blood soaked grounds are cleansed by the rains that follows, the government of India is at its game again to rub NSCN the wrong way by giving its approval to the rival group to establish its designated camp at Khehoi which is less than 10 kms Away from Dimapur and two kms from Vihokhu camp. Naturally, this comes much to the chagrin of the NSCN. It was a deliberate ploy to dictate the tempo of the game to test the nerve of the NSCN again. To make the matter worst this happens at the hands of the CFMG Chairman Kumawat who was rejected by NSCN for breaking ceasefire ground rules when appointing him.

Logical sense have no place for India when it has to bulldoze its way against the Nagas, and what better occasion for NSCN to condemn the scornful act of India having its own way, knowing too well the implication of going headstrong in the issue that is turning sensitive and explosive. But to laugh away when the Nagas fights among themselves has been the consistent and persistent policy of India. History of Naga struggle is replete with this hard and harsh reality. But the hard fact is that many Nagas who professed to be national workers only indulged themselves deep into rhetoric aggression rather than wriggle out of the messy and bloody situation. In the deeper analysis of the agonizing scenario, the purpose of India to keep the Nagas fighting among themselves must be defeated. This horrendous policy has to be cut short at any cost lest the vicious circle of violence and killing cost us beyond the limit.

Killing among the national workers is nobody's pleasure, except for the government of India. And that is the reason why the Indian govt. will continue to act sinister to prepare more grounds for battles among the Nagas to go on. The vulnerability of the Nagas to this deadly trap has taken heavy toll but the obstinacy remains unshaken.

Who feel the bloody pinch when killing was carried out in the sweet name of unification? How many innocent families were left fatherless, and wives turned into widows? But deceitfulness as part of its offensive propaganda, this same group is now crying foul against killing and killing of innocent civilians. But NSCN kills no civilians intentionally. The death of one civilian at S. Hetoi is a matter of regret for the Naga Army, and with humble acknowledgement of having gone overboard in the heat of the moment, leading to the lost of innocent civilian caught in the crossfire, the NSCN expresses condolence to the bereaved family members. In future the villagers in any areas are requested to exercise extreme caution in giving shelter or mixing with the reactionary group lest such mishap is made to happen again.

NSCN(IM) displeased on closure of schools Nagaland Page
In the name of people's movement as Revolutionary struggle for a socio-political identity but to target the learning institutions of the students is antithesis of revolution. No revolutionary group worth the name will go against their conscience to target people's institution. It is however a very sad state of affairs in Manipur that some revolutionary groups are victimizing students, parents and teachers by way of demanding huge amount of money. Just for the greed of money that comes at the cost of the interest of students is anti-revolutionary, and killing the revolutionary image.
In the light of what is happening in Manipur where schools are compelled to be closed down due to threats from militants, the NSCN expresses strong displeasure and condemn any such violations of students' and teachers' right to pursue their studies without any physical and mental disturbance. To gain credibility of any socio-political movement, recklessly choosing targets in the name of fund or tax collection should be stopped forthwith and with due apologies to the people.
One must take into consideration that winning over the masses remains the central issue in the struggle between the forces of revolution and counter-revolution. To witness the rise of counter-revolution in some parts of Manipur only reflects the diminishing people based struggle.
Issued by: MIP/GPRN.

In Defence of the state Times of India N N Sachitanand The Indian state has become a favoured punching bag for intellectuals of all hues from fuchsia pink to carmine red, especially when it comes to its handling of terrorism. The vituperation is directed at almost everything the state does in this regard, from targeting suspects to methods of interrogation to counter-terrorism tactics.

An attempt is made to paint the state as a macabre monster whose only objective is to target the innocent, incarcerate the hapless, throttle all forms of dissent, routinely use sadistic torture during interrogation and regularly arrange elimination of suspect individuals through what is known in India as 'fake encounters' with the state's security apparatus.

Words like 'pogrom', 'fascism', 'decimation' and 'atrocities' are glibly bandied about in the outpourings of these concerned individuals in all manner of media. Those not living in this country, but knowing about it solely through this blame lens, may be forgiven for concluding that India is governed by some highly vicious form of resurrected Nazism instead of being one of the world's freest democracies.

The more mischievous among those who posit themselves as 'radical thinkers' freely interchange the state with the majority community and label the latter, by inference, as vile, vicious, vindictive and violent. In some insanely devious manner, these would-be Lancelots — but in reality Don Quixotes — transform the victims of terrorism into its perpetrators.

These human rights defenders are also very selective when it comes to berating the state for its acts of omission and commission. While there is outright condemnation of the pressure exerted by the security forces during anti-insurgency operations, there is no word on the inhuman killings and exploitation of their own people by the insurgents, whether it is Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland or Assam.

The 'protectors of the suppressed' maintain a studied silence when Naxalites calculatedly go about ruthlessly eliminating all those who come in their way of establishing hegemony over remote tribal areas. But they lose no time in raising a horrified outcry when the Naxalites start getting a taste of their own medicine by villagers who are organised into self-defence forces by the state.

It's not for me to seek to flip off the sanctimonious halos of these 'intellectual' vigilantes. They are welcome to this headgear, to the extent that they limit their criticism to the wrongdoings of the crooked in the state apparatus. But, consider what the impact is when they indulge in constant carping and wholesale denunciation of everything that the state does. No matter how thick-skinned the persons manning the security apparatus of the state may be, at one time or the other, this continuous criticism starts to demoralise them. At this rate, our security personnel may soon reach that state of mind when they feel that it is pointless risking their lives for an ungrateful public and perform with the minimum effort needed to retain their jobs.

Unfortunately these knights of human rights have a way with words and a gift of the gab that makes them darlings of the mainstream media. They have a high public profile which makes our political masters wary of them. The defence for the state is put up very weakly and, therefore, lacks conviction. Who, for example, pays heed to the pathetic bleating of Union home minister Shivraj Patil?

Recall the Naxalite insurgency in West Bengal in the seventies and the Khalistani imbroglio in Punjab in the eighties. It was only a strong response from the state which finally put an end to those near civil war situations. In many places, the country again faces similar crises. If political will is weakened by the constant criticism of state action, those at the helm may not find the courage to take the harsh steps needed to counter insurgency decisively. Ironically, the ones most hurt because of this are the aam aadmi, those that the human rights defenders seek to protect.

The writer is a Bangalore-based business analyst.
Between Fear & Hope morungexpress
Nagas from different walks of life have been reiterating their voice time again in expressing their collective dissent against factional conflict which has unleashed into a cycle of violence. Their yearning for peace is a deep manifestation to live together in peace and for all Nagas to non-violently work together in common purpose and understanding; and to ensure their rights and aspirations are realized in a decisive manner. A time has once again dawned upon the Nagas to collectively discern and choose between Fear and Hope.
Some have said that Hope is what threatens power; it is what drives the revolution forward. If hope is a decisive element that defines the line between status quo and transformation, between oppression and justice, then surely Hope is what the powers that be would like to erase. That is why Hope is what the voices of change should nurture and strengthen. The anti-thesis of Hope is Fear. There is a constant battle between Hope and Fear, and eventually, the one that succeed defines the existential fate of how a nation conducts its affairs.
Just as it is the struggle between memory and forgetting, it is the struggle between Hope and Fear. While Hope is life-giving, Fear paralyzes life. Hope is abstract and dwells on the bigger picture, while Fear is immediate and very concrete, it is very real and has the capacity to rip families apart, destroy resources and obstruct the growth of a nation. It is the intent of the powers that be to ebb away any form of Hope and create conditions that instill Fear in people’s minds. Often it seeks to create Fear that leads to hate and dehumanization of the other.
Nagas are at a time when they have to search deep within themselves and collectively decide what to choose – Hope or Fear. There is no doubt that Fear has gripped the Naga heart and mind; consequently doing more damage than good. It has further fragmented the society, sown seeds of suspicion and division, replaced critical thinking with complacency and most of all; it has induced a situation where people are no longer living. Consequently, people are becoming indifferent to the question of the common good, and have increasingly accepted the status quo as the norm.
For Nagas to grow as a nation, they require leaders that can bring out the spirit of Hope and confidence. The common Naga person needs to be assured of Hope and to know that any form of change that comes should represent hope and life. It requires a vision, a vision that embraces a dignified future, a vision that represents hope. The Naga youths are looking and yearning for a direction that will enable an understanding in which Hope overcomes Fear and assumes a critical position of determination.
The future stands on soft and precarious ground. Nagas cannot wait for Hope to come to them, they must choose Hope and commit themselves to attaining it through their actions. A starting point is saying NO to Fear and YES to Hope. The steps toward Hope must be an active, energetic and organized process. Hope is the most basic need for Nagas to be transformative. For too long, Nagas have continuously lived in the past and it has reached a point of saturation. To move forward the present generation must create elements of Hope, a Hope that is transformative and visionary.
Naga youths of today must not be the generation that breaks faith with life. It must take responsibility of building upon an understanding of the shared humanity and passing on hope to the next generation. Never before has the peril of Naga survival been put to such test. An open-ended process of critically engaging in constructive sharing is required. Nagas must choose hope if they are to survive, flourish and realize their full potential as dignified human beings. Hope is the decisive element. Hopefully, Nagas will choose Hope!
The negative sight of NagalandChingkai Konyak
•Sir-In preview of the prevailing situation in Nagaland, it is very much suitable to state as “Nagaland for cries” rather than “Nagaland for Christ”. Occurrence of revert history is undeniably evidence. Nagas has progress but in term of utilization of modern technology, elements in persuade of our forefather. Development of political diversion letting in to people’s distrust. The government achievement which includes eradication of weaker section. The churches in a limelight liable for criticism for its imbalances. The younger generation thus landed in dilemma.
History assumes Nagas to be gallant, determine, hardworking, self-respect and so forth but with a mission indication ‘for personal affair’. At present, Nagas seems to be suffering from suspected mental illness or handicap yet to be discovered. Suggestively, Nagas need a peculiar and strange treatment i.e., ‘blood transplantation’. Meanwhile, negative development never miss our land; particularly the younger generation; to the extend of teenage girls becoming expert in crime. The de facto problems arising which is due modernizing the uncivilized.
‘Hue and cry’ the achievement of Unification and Reconciliation process. Nagas are at last united but in ‘tears’, ‘Angel in disguise!’ a relevant term for Nagas, for what we are behind every solution. Vision faded by and delight of being Nagas wither away foreboding Nagaland scenario.
In calculation, Nagas share the only commonness-CURSE. Nagaland infact is so beautiful, rich in heritage, renown for its distinct culture and tradition, its glorious history but sadly under the banner of ‘curse’.

“Revive Beneath”. Dare Nagas. Chingkai Konyak
Assam, MHA lose Nagaland’s border files Our Correspondent Morungexpress
Kohima | July 6: Both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Assam government are rapped for not returning some important original documents belonging to Nagaland, on the Assam-Nagaland border issue. This forced the adjournment of the proposed seventh hearing of the local commission at Delhi recently.
According to official sources, the seventh hearing of the local commission on Nagaland-Assam border earlier scheduled for July 4th and 5th at New Delhi was adjourned after Nagaland had applied for the same. Nagaland applied for the adjournment following the MHA and Assam government’s failure to return original documents belonging to Nagaland before the 4-month dateline served to them earlier. Assam government is said to have admitted that it could not locate the documents so far.
Nagaland government had earlier submitted original documents on its comments on the one-man enquiry report submitted by Sundaram and also some maps to the MHA which the MHA had passed on to Assam government for reasons not known. The Assam government in return had reportedly acknowledged receiving the documents from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Following the adjournment of the seventh hearing of the local commission, the next hearing has been rescheduled again for September 2 and 3 next at Delhi. Both MHA and Assam government is again likely to get a jab again from Nagaland if the same documents are not return to Nagaland.

10 rival militants defect to NSCN(IM) Daniel Kameih

TAMENGLONG, Jul 6: At least 10 underground militants, nine NCSN(K) and one NNC member have joined the NSCN(IM) after leaving their respective outfits. A welcome ceremony on their joining the outfit with arms and ammunitions was held on July 1, a report said.

Out of the 10, identities of three NSCN(K) and the only NNC could not be confirmed by the report even as names of six of the NSCN(K) were revealed.

They are sergeant major Trimurthy, corporal Lingamlun, lance corporal Lhungaigam, lance corporal Raninglung, private Jacob and Chungjenglu.

Trimurthy joined the NSCN(IM) with one AK-56 and 200 live rounds of ammunition and one RT set while Lingamlun had one sniper rifle with 200 rounds of bullets and one RT set.

Lhungaigam was with one M-16 rifle and 100 live rounds, Raninglung with HK-33 and 200 bullets, Jacob with one M-16 and Chunjenglu with a V-3 rifle.

The six cadres of the NSCN(K) joined the rival outfit on June 30 last while the other three along with the NCC separately joined before the six joined, the report said. At the welcome ceremony which was held at the Zeliangrong Region, NC hill command camp somewhere in Tamenglong district, the cadres were given a reward of Rs. 50,000 each, the report added.

Media war, politics and spurious peace Patricia Mukhim (Courtesy: North East Page, The Statesman)
To speak of ending conflict in Northeast India is a puerile exercise. There are too many battlefronts and too many different actors who have invested too much in conflict at the moment to want peace. So whenever a militant outfit or a piece of the outfit talks of ceasing conflict one suspects that “peace” actually becomes a casualty. No insurgent groups would want peace unless it has been bled to the point to require a blood transfusion. So temporary truce with factions of the groups is essentially that - a temporary respite for the outfit to regroup and revisit its mission of bloodletting. Surrender by different factions of the ULFA over the years has created the Sulfa, which become an overground terror force.
But no politician will ignore an opportunity to talk peace because that goes into the report card of the government. It is also no coincidence that in the latest revision of the election manifesto of the Assam Congress what tops the list of 28 priorities are the current efforts at peace talks with the ULFA. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, the Congress believes that its role in bringing the 28th battalion of the ULFA to the negotiation table will actually be a feather in its cap.
When a protracted conflict is used to achieve short term political objectives, what you have is a diabolical situation where the political gains will cancel out all chances of real peace obtaining in Assam. The state’s Chief Minister, like other politicians before him, has reduced peace to a saleable commodity. Peace is shorn of its intrinsic values and one doubts if politicians actually care about the consequences of their actions. Peace is not instant coffee to be brewed in a modern espresso machine. It has a value system which those who claim to desire it must also be in a position to imbibe. But is that not asking too much from politicians?
Meanwhile the Assam police have been told to go on hibernation mode. They are told to suspend operations against members of the ULFA’s 28th battalion so that they do not spoil the “peace” party. An angry police officer is said to have retorted that when he is tackling several insurgent outfits each with numerous battalions and one not too different from the other in their manner of operation, how was he to identify cadres of the 28th battalion of the ULFA. That magic number is not indented on their foreheads or scrawled on their T-shirts. And in a situation where a large section of the state police are apparently not privy to the conversations between Dispur and the 28th battalion, how was he to know that all the cadres would keep their side of the bargain and suspend their extortion drive or their violent activities? That is indeed a valid question. A commander of the 28th battalion who is close to self-styled ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua and another colleague of his from the “B” battalion have reportedly distanced themselves from the pro-talks group.
To add to the bizarre drama there is a full-scale media war on in Guwahati regarding the events leading up to the ULFA truce. One private television news channel claimed it knew about the secret pact between the 28th battalion and Dispur at least 10 days before it was publicly announced on June 24. Whereas another government-sponsored channel treated the event as a “breaking news” capsule. The private channel was allegedly berated and its workers were threatened by members of the ULFA’s 28th battalion when it carried the news about the proposed peace talks. Normally the media has an unwritten code of conduct in how they relate to one another. This fragile relation has all but broken down in Assam. There is not even a hint of cordiality or mutual respect. The animosity between the media channels has turned into a full-scale war.
This does not auger well for the media in the region. When Television Rating Points become more important than the news content, we have a problem on our hands. Perhaps there are some things that the Northeast needs to learn from the more established news channels of this country. While one would not entirely agree with the kind of discourses they engage in or the hand-picked, elitist audience they bring to the studios, there is still a lot of merit in the way they conduct themselves and maintain that veneer of mutual respect.
Meanwhile ULFA top shots Arabinda Rajkhowa and Paresh Barua have remained silent spectators to the drama enacted by the 28th battalion. Although the commanders of the different units of the battalion have appealed to the 2 leaders to come overground and find a political solution to the 29-year-old armed struggle, it is unsure that the 2 Bangladesh-based stalwarts who have masterminded the outfit for almost 3 decades would respond to the overtures. There are many who feel the ULFA should now follow the example of the Mizo National Front, which came overground and jumped into the political fray to tackle those problems they were raising as underground actors. But the Mizo situation was different. Rajiv Gandhi persuaded then Chief Minister Lalthanhawla to step aside and allow MNF leader Laldenga to take over as Chief Minister. Would Tarun Gogoi do that? Better still, would his right hand man Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is just waiting in the wings to occupy the post, allow that to happen?
These are hard questions which Dispur would not even want to think about at this juncture. Congressmen are all geared up to put their best foot forward in the Lok Sabha polls. Assam sends 14 MPs to Parliament and these are crucial numbers for the Congress at a stage when the party is so debilitated. One only fears that in its desperation to win seats the Congress does not use armed cadres to demolish opponents — something that is quite commonplace in Assam. This is not to say that the Congress alone is guilty of such foul electoral tactics. All parties have their ammunition. It all depends on who is occupying the hot seat in Dispur at a particular time. So all the brouhaha about peace needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. One apologizes for being cynical but when you grow up in a backyard of political intrigues you cannot but become a skeptical observer of burlesques enacted by greedy political dwarves.
(The author is a Shillong-based columnist and activist, and can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com.)
UNLF, KYKL declare they would starve Heirok into submission The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 6: The KYKL and UNLF have announced they would target all the villagers of Heirok unless the public relented and retreated from the decision to accept arms under the special police officer, SPOs, disrespecting the revolutionary struggle.

In a joint statement of the KYKL and UNLF today, the two outfits said the residents of Heirok, including students would not be allowed go beyond their localities and even if they do so under protection of Central and state security forces, they would be targeted at any available opportunity.

All kinds of vehicles including small and heavy vehicles would be attacked using sophisticated weapons. Even if they escape 100 times, they would be attacked on their 101st trip with lethod/rocket bombs if need be, the release said.

Those who come out for cultivation to their paddy fields or go to the hills for collecting firewood, they would be targeted, said the statement.

Students of the area would not be allowed to leave the locality for studies outside, and schools/colleges/university etc. which enrolled them would also be attacked.

Not only in Manipur but also in other parts of the north eastern region, students or people of Heirok would not be allowed to stay in hostels or rented rooms and if the warning is violated, arms would be used on the landlord, it further said.

No outsiders wouild also be allowed to enter Heirok or supply food or medical aid to the people, the statement specified adding that outsiders should avoid maintaining relations and stop attending or inviting any Heirok families or members to religious and social ceremonies and other functions as violators would be dealt with severely.

The prohibitions come into force with immediate effect and the two organisation would begin hitting any violators, the joint statement said.

The statement also said that it was not a proper ideology to supply arms to the civil populace with a view to relieve them from miseries consequent from the revolutionary struggle.

In any revolutionary situation, to tolerate miseries and problems arising out of the revolutionary struggle is commonplace and and not only for Heirok.

It is not wise to draw a line between the people of Heirok and people of the state, it said adding that the villagers should not stand against revolutionaries for a mistake committed by them and instead, try to find ways to resolve the matter.

While announcing the stringent prohibitions on the Heirok people, the lengthy joint statement reiterated a joint appeal for review of the decision taken by the people of Heirok and Chajing where they demanded the issue of licensed arms to protect themselves in the aftermath of the March 24 and April 23 incidents at Heirok and Chajing respectively.

They also appealed to them not to participate in the recruitment process of SPO in the two localities.

But instead of considering the appeal the people of Heirok had become more interested in opening SPOs and took part in the recruitment rally, the joint statement of the KYKL and UNLF said adding that by doing so the Heirok people had challenged openly the revolutionaries.

The statement also said that it had been well understood by all that the opening of SPOs was a great loss for the people. It is a strategy of the Indian government to put down the people`s uprising, it said.

It is the game-plan of the government to cause bloodshed among the people and the puppet Manipur government thinks it is necessary for bringing development in the state under the advice of the Indian government.

Salwa Judum was set up to control the "Operation Salwa Judum" and SPO was set up with an objective to "taalu haatlu", it said.

The Salwa Judum has started killing civilians, torturing them, raping women, burning houses etc. Since its setting up in 2005, till 2007 Salwa Judum had killed 540 people, burnt down more than 300 houses and around 1,00,000 people had left their villages apart from the rape of uncountable numbers of women.

They also forcibly confined suspected people to their camps and also killed charging that they were naxalite.

Opening of SPOs in Manipur was not for governing the state but to cause killings among the civil populace. Like in Chattisgarh, at Heirok also SPOs would be given a "licence to kill" and it was the people who would suffer.

SPOs would not be bound by the Police Act of India or the Army Act. They would not be given arms like AK rifles but only .303 rifles which can do nothing to harm the revolutionaries. So it is sure to be used in killing innocent people, the statement observed adding that it can not be ruled out that the SPO of Heirok could become like the Salwa Judum of Chattisgarh.

State DGP Y Joykumar himself had said that the SPOs would be used in counter insurgency operations which the JAC of Heirok later condemned clarifying that they had demanded arms only for self protection and not for involving in counter insurgency operations.

Apart from this it is very clear that there was a hidden agenda when the Manipur government announced Rs. 3000 per month as honorarium for the SPOs even though in Chattisgarh Salwa Judum were given only Rs. 1500.

On June 12 last also IGAR (S), major general AK Choudury said that the Heirok people would be protected by them. Again, the chief minister, O Ibobi Singh also assured on July 1 foolproof security for the Heirok people.

If the security forces are in fact protecting them, why do the Heirok people need SPOs to protect themselves, the statement asked stating that it clearly indicated that SPOs were not for the protection of people of Heirok but for utilizing in counter insurgency operations.
Ulfa group gets Sulfa support - Former rebels urge both sides to shed rigid stand OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Dibrugarh, July 6: Surrendered Ulfa militants of Upper Assam today emerged from the shadows to voice their support for the peace initiative taken by the two crack units of the outfit, urging both the government and the Ulfa leadership to shed all pre-conditions for talks.
Nearly 150 former militants of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia gathered at Sahitya Sabha Bhawan in Chabua this afternoon and urged the Centre, the Assam government and the Ulfa leadership to “look beyond their respective rigid stands and simply come forward for direct talks”.
Led by Anirban Gohain, the president of the Asom Unnayan Aru Samanay Mancha — a newly floated platform of the former Ulfa rebels — the meeting discussed ways to keep the peace ball rolling.
“We welcome the peace initiative by the two companies of the outfit’s 28 battalion. We are prepared to provide whatever support is required to ensure that the process moves forward. Almost all of us who were present during today’s meeting opined that there should be direct talks between the government and Ulfa without any kind of pre-conditions,” Gohain said at a press conference after the meeting.
The Alpha and Charlie companies of outfit’s largest and most potent battalion offered ceasefire on June 24 and formally moved Dispur on truce five days later.
After today’s meeting, Gohain said they were concerned about the pre-conditions set by chief minister Tarun Gogoi during a news conference in Guwahati recently.
Gogoi had said the Ulfa cadres would have to deposit their arms and ammunition before ceasefire talks. Second, the cadres would have to live in designated camps. Third, they should not collect money or try to recruit fresh cadres or regroup and fourth, the talks would have to be within the framework of the Constitution.
The former commander of the 28 battalion, Mrinal Hazarika, had rejected the government’s condition of depositing weapons as well as that on talks being held within the framework of the Constitution.
“This rigid and arrogant attitude of the chief minister who is also heading the Unified Command structure will only dampen the spirit of the fresh peace initiative. Therefore, we appeal to the government not to issue such statements, which might prove detrimental for the process. Likewise, the central Ulfa leadership should also scale down from its rigid stand on sovereignty and other issues. Both sides will have to be lenient. After all, nobody wants to see more bloodshed in the state,” Gohain said.
Pranjal Saikia, Manjit Gohain, Surjya Gohain, Kundil Gohain, Tez Bora, Lakhi Saikia and Manikanta Buragohain were among the prominent former Ulfa leaders who attended today’s meeting, which was guarded by a team of police and CRPF personnel.
The surrendered rebels also demanded early release of all important jailed leaders of the outfit so that there could be direct discussions within the Ulfa leadership.
Ulfa has long been pushing for the release of its publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, vice-president Pradip Gogoi, adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain, cultural secretary Pranati Deka as a pre-condition for talks.
Another meeting, organised by the Nirjatan Biruddhi Oikya Mancha at Saikhowa Open Stage and attended by hundreds of villagers, called on “both sides” to begin talks without further delay.
People carrying banners and shouting slogans in support of Ulfa, sought permanent peace in the state, release of the jailed leaders and suspension of all operations by the security forces.
“We are happy with the response from the people on the issue. We will be organising more such meetings very soon,” Arun Chetia, the vice-president of the organisation, said.
A surprise caller to media houses, however, tried to put a spanner in the peace process. A man identifying himself as Jibon Moran, a senior member of the Ulfa’s central committee, today rang up mediapersons from an undisclosed location to criticise the peace initiative taken by a section of leaders of the 28 battalion and warned individuals and groups against being party to it. The warning comes ahead of a public meeting convened by the Nirjatan Biruddhi Oikya Mancha at Kakopathar on Tuesday.
ONGC responsible for decrease in tea production: ATASA From our Correspondent Sentinel
NAZIRA, July 6: Asom produces more than half of the total production of tea throughout the State, but the Oil industry has damaged the tea industry, stated ATASA.
The president of ATASA, Prahlad Guwal claimed that ONGC has polluted and in the long run decreased the production of the tea gardens as they were drilling in search of oil inside the tea gardens of Nazira.
Guwal said that ONGC has used extensive stretches of land – 41 hectares of Gelakey, 140 hectares of Lakwa, 44.5 hectares of Sivabari, 10 hectares of Borsila, 35 ft of Modinagar, 30 bighas of Mekeypur, 30 bighas of Lakhmijan and 30 bighas of Bihubor – throughout the Nazira sub-division.
It is natural therefore for the decrease in the production of tea as huge tracts of land were utilized for drilling purpose.
It may be noted that there are almost 2000 tea plants in one bigha of land which could produce more than 300 kg of tea in a year.
It is alleged that besides denigrating the environment and lowering tea production the activities has also threatened the livelihood of tea labourers.
It is also alleged that ONGC, instead of developing the lot of the tea garden labourers have established an ultra modern school for the students of economical stable people costing crores of rupees.
ATASA has demanded ONGC to put an end to further destruction of the tea gardens and give compensations. They also threatened that they will stop the drillign process if ONGC refuse to meet their demands.
ATASA has already announced a dharna to protest against ONGC’s alleged depredation on July 15 next.