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07/16/2008: "NSCN-K may call off truce OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

NSCN-K may call off truce OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph

Kohima, July 15: Eight years after agreeing to a ceasefire with New Delhi, the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) today said the outfit was seriously considering scrapping the peace deal because of the Centre’s lack of sincerity.
Kughalu Mulatonu, an emissary of the outfit, said over phone that “discussions are on among our leaders, including chairman S.S. Khaplang and prime minister Kitovi Zhimoni, to abrogate the eight-year-old truce with the Centre due to the indifferent approach of the leaders in dealing with the issues of the NSCN (K)”. The outfit has been on a ceasefire with Delhi since April 2001 but there have been no talks yet.
Its rival faction, NSCN (Isak-Muivah), has been holding parleys but without any results.
The NSCN-K accused the Centre of trying to “smoke out” the outfit in collaboration with its rival outfit. Mulatonu said the Centre and the state government “are forcing us to consider breaking the ceasefire” but warned that the outfit could not be held accountable for the breakdown of the truce: “The government of India, Neiphiu Rio, Imkong L. Imchen and J. Changkija will be directly responsible for the breakdown of ceasefire,” the rebel leader said.
Imchen is the Nagaland home minister and Changkija is the state’s director general of police. Both have often been accused by the Khaplang faction of patronising its rival.
He said if anyone tried to act “oversmart they will be forced to bite the dust like Hesso Mao”. The NSCN (K) assassinated Mao, a former director general of police, in November 2005, accusing him of a nexus with the NSCN (I-M).
There was no point in the Centre talking to the NSCN (I-M), as the parleys have reached a deadlock and that it should begin negotiations with them to resolve the Naga issue, but without compromising the issue of “sovereignty”, Mulatonu added.
Nagaland prays for peace Newstrack India ANI
Kohima, July 16 (ANI): People of Nagaland, which has been troubled by militancy and violence, held a prayer meeting here for peace.
The prayer meet was the second in the last one month urging militant groups to give up the path of violence and walk the road to peace.
The theme for the prayer meeting was "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".
"Many good people have bee killed due to militancy and peace is the desire of all Nagas," said Sani, a resident.
The meeting was organized by the Naga Mother's Prayer Fellowship (NMPF), one of the most respectable and influential Naga bodies in the state.
"Peace can come through this. This is lord's programme, so we have organized in obedience," said Tsovilie Sophie, Chairperson, NMPF.
The meet clearly reflects the fact that the voice of the civil society against the Naga militant groups who fight in the name of the Naga people is gaining strength.
Dr. Tseibou Rutsa, President, Leaders for Christ International, USA, said, "For peace to come, first and foremost is we should come to God. Only through God, we will be able to forgive and love each other. Otherwise in Nagaland, many people are talking about peace and try to add to their wealth and positions in the name of peace, so real peace cannot come." By Vibou Ganguly (ANI)
Speaker allows border queries A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, July 15: Assam Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai today relaxed the rules and allowed members to have their say on land encroachment by neighbouring countries and states.
The Speaker, who generally allows three supplementary questions during Question Hour, gave the members the freedom to ask and suggest whatever they wanted on border disputes with Bangladesh and neighbouring states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. AGP’s Hiren Kumar Das asked how much land was encroached on by neighbouring states and other countries and what steps the government had taken to secure it.
Party colleagues and Opposition leaders Chandra Mohan Patowary, Abdul Aziz, Girin Baruah, Binod Goala, Pradip Hazarika and BJP’s Ranjit Dutta, AUDF’s Aditya Langthasa, CPM’s Udhab Barman and Congressman Rana Goswami also wanted to know the government’s initiatives. Rai said, “I am relaxing the rules for you to ask what you want but this should not be cited as a precedent. The minister can give his reply later,” he said.
Revenue minister Bhumidhar Barman said the government was doing whatever possible. Patowary wanted an Assembly team to visit the affected areas and make a presentation to the Centre, while Amguri MLA Pradip Hazarika sought details on Assam’s boundary disputes vis-a-vis Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. “Nagaland has set up two sub-divisions and one border outpost on Assam land even as the local commission set up by the Supreme Court tries to resolve the issue,” said Hazarika.
House members call for pressure on Centre on border issue A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, July 15 – Cutting across party lines, members of the Assam Legislative Assembly today expressed serious concern over encroachment of Assam’s land by the neighbouring countries and states and suggested that an all-party team of the House should visit New Delhi to put pressure on the Centre to solve the problem. Replying to a question by Hiren Kumar Das (AGP) in the State Assembly, Revenue Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman admitted that 499.83 acres of Assam’s land is under adverse possession of Bangladesh, while, 86,993.99 hectares of the state’s land is under encroachment by the neighbouring states. He said that the State Government has taken up the issue of Assam’s land under adverse possession of Bangladesh with the Centre and the matter was discussed in the meetings between the two countries. He said that the Supreme Court has constituted a local commission to settle the boundary disputes with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, while the state Government is also holding talks with the governments of the neighbouring states in this regard.

Not satisfied with the Minister’s reply, members of the State Assembly called for strong measures by the Government to free the state’s land from encroachment. Opposition leader Chandra Mohan Patowary said that an all-party delegation of the State Assembly should go to New Delhi to put pressure on the Centre to settle the problems. He said that the State Government should immediately inform the Supreme Court about the incidents of violation of status quo orders by Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. He said that Nagaland formed two new sub-divisions in Assam’s land, while Arunachal Pradesh established polling stations within the territory of Assam. He also suggested that a team of legislators representing the constituencies along the inter-state boundary areas should visit the sensitive areas for an on-the-spot study of the situation.

Girindra Kumar Baruah (AGP) said that the State Government should inform the House the details of the progress of talks between the governments of India and Bangladesh on border dispute. Pradeep Hazarika (AGP) demanded that the State Government must properly demarcate the boundaries with the neighbouring states.

Ananta Deka (CPM) said that the Centre must draw up an action plan to restore possession of land under the occupation of Bangladesh. He said that the State Government should take stringent measures to evict the encroachments and to prevent further encroachment.

Rana Goswami (Congress) also raised the issue and said that there were times when even officials of Assam found it tough to visit the border areas with Nagaland.

Several other members, including Parimal Suklabaidya (BJP), Binode Goala (AGP), Ranjit Dutta (BJP), Abdul Aziz (AGP), Joseph Toppo (AGP), Dr Aditya Langthasa and Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuyan (AUDF) also raised the issue and called for immediate action by the Government to solve the problem of encroachment of the state’s land. They also called for immediate steps for the overall development of the inter-state border areas.
No truce violation, says NDFB By Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, July 15 – Top leaders of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) today said that unlike what has been publicised in the recent past, the outfit, which is presently on ceasefire with the Government, is not violating the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement, which it had signed around three years back. The NDFB leaders also asserted that its cadres did not indulge in any extortion activities after signing the truce agreement. The outfit further warned that if the Government continues with its tardy approach, the outfit would be forced to take up arms again.

“It is the Government which is not adhering to the ceasefire ground rules. The Government has been dilly-dallying the peace process for the last three years, which has seriously questioned its integrity for the talks. Moreover, we seriously believe that the negative publicity is a part of the greater ‘conspiracy’ on the part of the Government to delay the talks with the outfit,” said Govindo Basumatary, general secretary, NDFB while talking to a section of mediapersons on the sideline of a close-door meeting with the All Assam Koch Rajbongsi Students’ Union (AAKRASU) here in the city. Basumatary was also accompanied by three other senior NDFB leaders.

The meeting was convened to discuss the core issues related to both the organisations, which included NDFB’s demand for sovereign Bodoland and the student body’s demand for Kamatapur covering districts of Assam and West Bengal. However, no logical conclusion was drawn during the meeting and both the parties agreed on having another discussion soon.

Asked whether they would like to set any specific time-frame for the Government to react, Basumatary said, “We have submitted our charter of demands to ensure early talks with the Government and hopefully Government is considering it. At this moment, we are happy to play the ‘wait-and-watch’ policy and we do not want to send any negative signal by setting any specific time frame.”

“It may take some time to get processed but the sooner it is done the better it would be for everyone. We are keeping our fingers crossed in this regard,” he said.

AAKRASU president Biswajit Rai, when asked, vowed to extend all possible help and co-operation to the NDFB in resolving their problems.

“The fact that our roots are same, we believe, co-operation between us would go a long way in solving our mutual grievances,” Rai added.
Militancy has reached a saturation point in north-east, says Patricia Mukhim by ANI -
Shillong, July 16 (ANI): Patricia Mukhim, a veteran journalist and the Editor of The Shillong Times, feels that militancy has reached a saturation point in north-eastern India, in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Speaking to Asian News International recently on the overall scenario in the region, she said that philosophers have stated that no revolution carries beyond 15 years. A stage has come when militants in the region have to be brought over-ground and rehabilitated.
Speaking of Manipur, Patricia pointed out that today the problem there is a pure law and order problem which has been given the euphemism of insurgency; it is just looting and extortion.
Similarly, in Nagaland, popular parties like National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), have lost their mooring and cause.
This is what happens when militancy goes beyond its life. It has exceeded its life span. All the goals are blurred now.
Nobody knows what they (militants) are fighting for and now the infighting is basically for control over commercial interests. It’’s no longer an ideological warfare. So, you are trying to control Dimapur, trying to control all the extortion sources. This is infighting, she added.
People today want to move on in life, and this includes militants. The only problem is how do they find a face saving device to come out in the open and join the mainstream, Patricia said. Analysing the recent reports of division in United Liberation Front of Assom (ULFA), Patricia said: The cadres, who have been engaged in militancy for so long, are no longer fit to be in the jungle and they realise that. And the top cadres are living very comfortable lives. Only the lower middle cadres are fighting and they are doing it without any direction, without any leadership.
Patricia concluded: To me, it is only a matter of time before this is also resolved. And, it will be resolved because they want it. They can”t survive anymore. She feels that in a globalised world one cannot live in a localized situation and anything that poses an impediment to integration of the economy with other states and countries is going to be challenged by people. People’’s challenge cannot be opposed by militants for long, for all along they”ve been surviving on people’’s support. (ANI)
Three more fresh cases of child recruitment by militants reported; Number could be 13 in past month and half, says intelligence The Imphal Free Press

Imphal, Jul 15: The anguished wails of parents continued to rock Manipur as complaints on the disappearance of three more boys from their respective homes came to light Tuesday to take the total number of boys who went missing in the last around one month to nine.

If the state police intelligence reports are to be believed, the state could be in for more shocks as the number of missing boys in the last around one and half month stands at 13.

Four boys, two each from Iroishemba and a orphan home were freed some days back by rebel groups while two from Thoubal Kiyam Siphai are still with the PREPAK(GS group).

Of the three boys who are reported missing by their parents two are from Uripok Achom Leikai while the third is from Haraurou village in Pangei.

The two missing minor boys from Uripok Achom Leikai, are named Nongthongbam Suresh alias Laba, 12, son of Bhomeshore Singh, a student of Standard-VI studying at London English Academy, Uripok Polem Leikai and Naosekpam Naresh alias Bungte Singh, 13, son of Babatomba studying at Standard-VIII at Hijam Irabot Memorial School. Both are residents of Uripok Achom Leikai. They have been reportedly missing since June 7 last.

The parents of Suresh disclosed to mediapersons today that their only son Suresh had not returned home after he went to school on June 7 and they have been searching for him since then.

The other boy, Naresh, who is the second son of his parents has also been missing from the same day as Suresh. He failed to come back home since he went to play with neighborhood children, according to his parent.

The family sources further revealed that due to the coincidence of the disappearance of the two minor boys both families had made a joint effort to trace the boys since then.

On the third day after their disappearance a phone call from a person who identified himself as a member of PREPAK(GS) group informed the family of Naresh in the evening that both the boys were in their custody as they had come to join the outfit on their own.

The caller also informed that both children would be released as they could not be recruited in the outfit as they were too young to be revolutionaries.

Believing in the words of the outfit the families waited till today for the release of their children. However, this has not happened, they said through tears.

The non-release has created more and more apprehension and concern for the families, and besides this the families have been unable to make the matter public owing to threats from the group who warned them not to publicize the matter through the media or NGOs or any other organizations.

The parents have also made a joint appeal to the concerned group for the safe release of their sons at the earliest as they are not mature enough to become revolutionaries.

Let the boys choose their own path when they have reached maturity, the parents said while adding that they were certain the boys could not have taken the step on their own.

The parents further said it was because of the confidence in the assurances from the PREPAK, that they had been waiting for the release of their children and it would not be right for the PREPAK to betray that trust.

In yet another case of disappearance of a minor boy which came to light today, a boy studying in Standard-VI at the Cosmopolitan High School Chingkhu, Pangei hailing from Haraorou Mamang Leikai has been reported missing.

The boy named Nongthongbam Golson alias Achi Singh, 13, son of N London Singh of Haraorou Mamang Leikai has been missing since July 11 evening.

Around 250 local public including local club volunteers and meira paibis of Haraorou village today staged a sit-in protest cum public meeting at Haraorou community hall from 10 am till 3 pm demanding release of the boy if he was taken away by any underground outfit.

The whereabouts of the missing boy are still not ascertained as none of the underground groups have so far claimed recruiting him.

In the meantime, a JAC on the disappearance of N Golson in a meeting discussed the future course of action to be launched if the whereabouts of the missing boy could not be traced.

The parents of the missing boy have also appealed all organizations or concerned kidnappers for the safe release of the child.

The family of the missing boy also produced a letter written by the boy which was kept hidden in his drawing exercise book addressing his parents.

The letter said, "Ima ei Mapanlamda Larik Tamba Chatle, eema hoina meeyana wana thirunu ei chahi tara gi matungda amuk thorake, amdi nachana pamjaba lamida latle" (Mother, I am going for further studies outside the state. Do not search for my whereabouts. I will be back after 10 years. I am going the way I want).

With shocked parents stated that their son might have joined the underground as they had heard the news of recruitment of children by underground organizations.

In the meantime, according to a police source, another 13-year boy named Pebam Bishwajit, son of Rojit of Kiyamgei Awang Leikai is also missing. But so far the parents have not made any complaint on the matter.

A local source said he had left home to join an underground group.