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07/17/2008: "Jami rejoins NSCN (IM) morungexpress"



Jami rejoins NSCN (IM) morungexpress
Dimapur 16 July (MExN): A.Z Jami, former NSCN (K) kilonser has again returned to the NSCN (IM) fold today along with 10 other members. AZ Jami was said to have been greeted at an official reception at Camp Hebron at around 10:00 am today by high ranking functionaries of the NSCN (IM) while an official ‘function’ was held at around 11:30 am.
Sources also informed that some arms and ammunition were brought by the joining functionaries. The others who joined along with A.Z Jami are said to be one “home secy.” Lipemo Jami, “dy.defence secy.” Thomas Ovung, “dy.sec cum chairman of Lotha region,” Chonben Lotha, “finance secy. Lotha region”, Khondao Yanthan, “Rajephuee Lotha region” Chumchamo Lotha, “capt” Khondao Humtsoe , “2nd Lt” Benathung Yanben Lotha, “sgt” Chembena Lotha and “pvt” Khobenthung Lotha.

Comments (16 posted):
Spykar on 16 July, 2008 04:49:33
This could be a trap so beware of this rodent. Kunknalim! What a shame. Changing alliance at the drop of a hat.
A Z zimik hahahah is this some kind of a saas bahu serial drama..why did Jami ran away in the first place..to chek out the food in K's camp?
awomi Jami returned to the mother is very good,appreciate,a good decision but a nasty smell with the lizard genes and blood.We don't know when another faction will come up like the Azheto.I think Mr.Jami once respected national leader got checkmate in K gang will always remember.
Alertzo Is this real? May be or may not be. If its real, the Naga society must be ready for stormy days ahead - both within the two factions and the peace-loving citizens. So, Nagas beware!
Jami Shame on you and disgraced Naga.. This definitely proved that you are not clear and stable with your thought and action..
Muthan & Ashkou NO SHAME ON AZ JAMI

YESTERDAY YOU ARE ACTING AS GENTLEMEN IN NNC CAMP AND THEN NSCN IM CAMP AND AFTER SOMETIME IN NSCN K CAMP AND AGAIN GOING BACK TO NSCN IM.
NO ONE WILL GOING TO BELIEVE TO LOTHAS BECAUSE PERSON LIKE AZ WHO IS UNSTABLE. HOW YOU WILL SERVE THE GREAT NATION?. YOU BROUGHT SAME TO LOTHA COMMUNITY. SHAME ON YOU. LIKE IN YOUR AGE.
joshua i tell u my friends.....all those enemies of nscn [im]who are shouting today blaming tangkhul and their leaders for all the circumstances happening today in nagaland,will surely come back to them just like what a.z.jami did today.it is not bcos isak and muivah is great or powerful but because they are righteous in protecting and determineed in principles of the land. their vision for nagas future is never shaken under any circumstances..tomorrow u will see khaplang. general kholi and molatonou coming back to nscn.
O Its good that he have come to IM but please be aware of Such unstable people in their thought, in future he should not be trusted for any office assignment of nagas ,be aware of such people he will betray nagas people for his own idea... like how phizo has sell naga people to Indian govt.
do not judge....lest hyou be judged.
Jami is a traitor. He has come back as an intelligence agent. Go back.
Joshua, you are the first in the history of Nagaland to mention that Isak and Muivah are righteous. There is none who is righteous! Looking forward to hear from you when Isak and Muivah accept Union Territory or Indian constitution.
olivenaga AZ Jami left K because there are many young qualified people there to lead the nation and that his contribution is not needed. Too bad that IM has less or no qualified people that he has to come back. I thought he is a more honorable person than this!
saramati it is a great shame that the nscn has become so selfish and unprincipled that it had welcomed back traitor a.z. jami.

all these years we unwaveringly believed that the nscn stood for cleanliness in the politics of nagalim's movement for right to self-determination.

it is heart breaking to realise that today the once-principled nscn has turned into a group that shamelessly entertains corruption, nepotism, self-glorification, greed and goondaism. this shameless acceptance of arrogant a.z.jami proves beyond doubt God will not bless the present peace process.
peter Hi, My dear all, enough comment for Jami.The so called other top functionaries I_M might understood very well for accepting again to Jami due to the circumstances compulsion.I wish let there be more faction and let not blame to particular community Tnagkhu, Ao and Sumi for the Naga mess. Had there been only one faction our Naga society will turn into Nazi, Hitler era. Dear NSCN's fellow guys, educate yourselve and to you boys how you feel enmassing wealth of your wealth, SUV vehicles.
The acceptance of Jami indicate the fickle-minded nature of the I-M as well as Jami himself.Yesterday they rejected the Indian Constitution, today they are negotiating under Indian Constitution. Can we call such people under whose authority all these are happening righteous people?Prior to 1997 Ceasefire Agreement between the I-M and GOI, castlelike buildings, swanky cars and SUVs were own by corrupt politicians and contractors. But the so-called ceasefire has produced a new bourgoisie class who were once respected as nationalists, now lick my ***.
Nuiland Tension gives public sleepless nights morungexpress
Dimapur, July 16 (MExN): Reports of fresh tension in the Nuiland areas under Dimapur district continues to stream in with reported heavy presence of armed underground cadres from both the warring NSCN factions. It is reported that the past two days passed off under severe tension, especially the public, fearing a showdown between the warring underground factions in the area.
One company of IRB personnel is posted in the area and is ‘keeping alert’ to thwart any untoward incident. “They (IRB) are dominating the area,” said a top police officer who added that movements of armed underground cadres in public-populated areas have now been restricted. However, the public are not at all convinced that a fight would be averted in the area despite the presence of the police and security forces. During the past few months ever since tension broke out in Dimapur, one regular feature about factional battles has been the severe criticism from the public about the role of the district administration especially the police and security forces, whom the public accused of being inactive as witnessed in recent time.
The latest incident where the police forces were criticized for not intervening was the gun battle in Lothavi and Khuboto villages under Nuiland area on July 11. Khuboto villagers criticized the “security forces” saying that the police intervened only after the one hour gun battle. It is also a regular report in newspapers about the administration and police preferring to stay away, claiming fear of worsening or “escalating” the situation.
Still, Dimapur Superintendent of Police Lirimo Lotha, in an interview with The Morung Express asserted that the police forces are doing its best in ‘containing the situation’ arising out of such gun battles between the warring underground factions.
“We have become soft targets. We have become the punching bag, because the blame has to go to someone,” the SP commented. He asserted that it is very easy for someone to pass comments, but looking at the sensitivity of the situation, the police cannot intervene in the factional gunfights, because if they do, then it would only aggravate the situation. That is why, the SP asserted, he advises his subordinates not to be ‘too sensitive’ but to be ‘thick-skinned’, since a lot of criticism pours in from different quarters.
“We all have to understand that the prevailing situation is so peculiar that law enforcing agency cannot go and intervene just like that,” said the Dimapur SP who is a veteran IRB officer having served in Chhattisgarh when the 9th IRB was posted there to fight the naxalites.
Lirimo Lotha said that the police forces, though they can go all out and intervene in gun battles, have to restrain themselves so that the situation is not ‘aggravated.’ He reminded that the police forces, (especially the IRB jawans) are well-trained and well-armed and that they can also engage the underground cadres engaged in the gun battles if need be.
No wonder, for a long time, since the Naga problem has been stated as a political problem and not of law and order, law enforcers, especially the police have been at the receiving end. They can neither intervene in factional gun battles for the sake of ‘not aggravating the situation’, nor can they shy away from such, keeping in view the safety of the public.
However, the trend changed with the state government endorsing flush-out operations against armed underground cadres, from public areas. The district administration and police assisted by GBs and DBs were authorized to flush out armed underground cadres from public places. However, the results were not that significant for the fact that daily factional killings continue unabated till date.
Police maintains that “stray incidents” of killing and abduction occur, since all the cadres were once together in an organization, until, somewhere along the line, they split and begun hunting for each other. So, since they are former friends, they know their rivals’ houses, and come searching for them there, thereby leading to killings and abductions.
Nonetheless, the Dimapur SP asserted that police forces are neither helpless nor demoralized. He cited the examples of IRB jawans, police officers and personnel coming out of their homes and doing their duties. It may be noted that heavy patrolling and frisking continues in and around the city by security forces in order to maintain law and order in the city.
He however, appealed the public to take the police into their confidence and inform them as earliest as possible, about any abduction case or killing in the city, since the police are ready to give the abductor a chase and that time matters a lot in such cases.
35 defect to NSCN (I-M By NPN Nagaland Post
| Dimapur17/07/2008 Following the defection of senior NSCN (K) leader AZ Jami along with ten others from Lotha region, the NSCN (I-M) has welcomed another thirty five activists from the rival faction who have recently joined the NSCN (I-M). According to a press release issued by MIP/GPRN, the names of “home comers” and the regions include: Corpl. Nitoho Awomi (UT-1), Sgt. Imtinungsang (Ao), L.Corpl. Luvehe Achumi (Sumi), Corpl. Throngkise (USR), L. Corpl. Moses (M-TH), Private Ningkhan (WTR), Corpl. Ngulih Wangso (Konyak), Captain Vikiye (Sumi), 2nd Lieut. Yangkhoching (Kuki), Corpl. Gimming Vaiphei (Kuki), L. Corpl Lalcha Vaiphei (Kuki), Corpl. Thanglal Taothang (Kuki), L.Corpl P.Youngpanthong (Tikhir), Private Satya Ranjan (Pangmi), Private Holto Swu (UT-1), Sgt. Tako Angh (Phom), Sgt. Kamthing Dilbung (Khurmi), 2nd Lieut. Amongba Keps (Tikhir), Private Ijeto (Sumi), L.Corpl (Lotha), Captain Imti Sangba Longchar (Ao), L.Corpl Yangchumba (Chang), Lieut. Vikato Kiba (UT-1), 2nd Lieut.Ghokiye Kiini (UT-1), Lieut. Hewoto Yeptho (Sumi), L.Corpl Kholi Kayina (Spmth), S/Major Malnon Sangkhil (Khurmi), Katoho Awomi (Sumi), Izaho Chophy (Sumi), Kizheye Assumi (Sumi), Lieut. Isato (Sumi), Lieut. Khukiye (Sumi), Rajau Peyu Rankhang (UT-1), S/Major Botovi Sumi (UT-1) and Lieut. Hakaito Sumi (Sumi).

Press Release issued by MIP, GPRN

JULY17.08.

AZ.Jami's short live stay in K-group was bedevilled by many reasons, but the humiliation that comes in heaps makes all the difference. The three years in K-group was too long a period for Jami to realize his mistakes for leaving NSCN in hurry in 2005. But like how universal saying goes "In politics nothing is permanent". There are unpleasant memories in the relationship between Jami and NSCN. But the past has to be forgotten and forgiven.
A.Z. Jami
Human as we are, everyone is prone to make mistakes. What really matters is the realization of the mistakes. This is the turning point for Jami and he makes no secret of his satisfaction in rejoining hands with his old comrades- in arms saying "better die fighting by the side of NSCN".

Kilonser khayao Hurrey's tone of reception for Jami is reflective of the magnanimity of NSCN. He said "gone is gone, the future is important". He is drawing on the realistic socio-political state of affairs and the need to be big hearted. The dawn of political maturity on Jami never comes too late.

The other 10 members who accompanied Jami to Hebron confessed that they feel betrayed when they were made to function under the egos and whims of the selfish individual leaders, and without the reflection of the national objective. They have expressed full faith and hope in the Yaruiwo's Proclamation of 13th January 2007 for unity and reconciliation but their leaders in K-group failed to respond to this proclamation in good spirit, but rather pollutes the very meaning for vested interests. But to be used by the like of Mulatuno-Kitovi dou who actually runs the shows in K-group, they finally decided to put their foot down.

Issued by:

MIP/GPRN.

Press Release issued by MIP, GPRN

The dawn of realization never comes too late and Home comers streaming back into the NSCN fold. And the NSCN warmly welcome the following home comers.

The following are back in NSCN fold¬ ¬–

*Sl.no* *NAME* *RANK* *REGION*

1. Nitoho Awomi Corpl. UT-1
2. Imtinungsang Sgt. Ao
3. Luvehe Achumi L.Corpl. Sumi
4. Throngkise Corpl. USR
5. Moses L.Corpl M-TH
6. Ningkhan Private WTR
7. Ngulih Wangso Corpl. Konyak
8. Vikiye Captain Sumi
9. Yangkhoching 2nd Lieut. Kuki
10. Gimming Vaiphei Corpl. Kuki
11. Lalcha Vaiphei L.Corpl Kuki
12. Thanglal Taothang Corpl. Kuki
13. P.Youngpanthong L.Corpl Tikhir
14. Satya Ranjan Private Pangmi
15. Holto Swu Private UT-1
16. Tako Angh Sgt. Phom
17. Kamthing Dilbung Sgt. Khurmi
18. Amongba Keps 2nd Lieut. Tikhir
19. Ijeto Private Sumi
20. Rabemo Kikon L.Corpl Lotha
21. Imti Sangba Longchar Captain Ao
22. Yangchumba L.Corpl Chang
23. Vikato Kiba Lieut. UT-1
24. Ghokiye Kiini 2nd Lieut. UT-1
25. Hewoto Yeptho Lieut. Sumi
26. Kholi Kayina L.Corpl Spmth
27. Malnon Sangkhil S/Major Khurmi
28. Katoho Awomi Sumi
29. Izaho Chophy Sumi
30. Kizheye Assumi Sumi
31. Isato Lieut. Sumi
32. Khukiye Lieut. Sumi
33. Rankhang Rajau Peyu UT-1
34. Botovi Sumi S/Major UT-1
35. Hakaito Sumi Lieut. Sumi

(More lists are to be published in the days to follow.) MIP/GPRN
Vihokhu mission was ‘eviction of the illegal camp’ Morung Express MIP/GPRN
22 days already since the illegal Vihokhu camp went up in smoke, but the Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi group is still licking their wound. The humiliation and defeat at the hands of the Naga Army is haunting them day and night. For the third time they face the misfortune and the casualty at the hands of the Naga Army is crossing three digits. The eviction operation was inevitable because the spirit of the ceasefire ground rules has to be set in order, but it was a reluctant operation as the government of India refused to act. Nevertheless, the operation was conducted with human touch to minimize lose of human lives. Otherwise, there could have been total annihilation. Barbarity was never the option despite futile attempt by the Vihokhu campers to defend the camp. The lost of more than 30 precious souls is a lost for the Naga nation. But the reactionary group with the head strong leaders sacrifices so many young boys for no cause. Indignantly, to cover up their horrible defeat, they are crying foul against the NSCN using highly fabricated communal language targeting certain tribal group. But it evoked scornful laughter by the public because it defies ground realities.
The holy name of God was again brought into the scene. But if God was with them why they suffered such a huge lost of human lives? This is disturbing to hear and hard to be accepted for anyone who knows the omnipotence of God. Certainly, God cannot be with the forces whose ways are intoxicated with evil plans, and truly, God has forsaken the forces whose hands are still tipping with the blood of the innocent civilians and the devilish plans still at work in their minds.
The game of deceitfulness has not worked and the Nagas are never that naïve to be taken for granted. Limit is there in everything, but when things went too far it became a source of public mockery. And taking the name of God in vain, the wrath may follow in a more horrible way. This is the truth about Vihokhu camp attack and never the other way.
There is no doubt that Indo-Naga struggle crossing sixty years is replete with many battles fought with the enemies. But Naga Army never considers the Vihokhu camp attack as another battle. Had the Naga Army treated the attack as another battle field the whole inhabitants of the camp could have been wipe out. The mission was just eviction of the illegal camp and to drive home the point that NSCN would like to do serious business with ceasefire ground rules but daring to go to any extend to sent the message across that it tolerate no criminalization of ceasefire ground rules. As the demolishment of the Vihokhu Camp show lessons has to be taught but in a very harsh way involving huge lost of human lives and properties (ill-gotten wealth). It is for the Naga people to judge which side was God on that fateful day and why God has treated the Vihokhu campers so cruelly. On 27th June there organized a huge party in Delhi hosted by the businessman of Dimapur to rejoice the destruction of the Vihokhu camp. Because the Vihokhu camp kidnappers still haunts them.
Oh thy name is Naga but your works are bereft of any Naga spirit that builds up brotherhood and nationhood. Under the stolen name of GPRN/NSCN you continue to spit venom of tribalism. But nothing surprising nevertheless! You are made to exist to serve this purpose. Under the circumstance you somehow intoxicated yourself and you went extreme, compelling wrath to fall on you at Vihokhu camp, and this is the truth about Vihokhu Camp attack.
Glorifying the names of the brave Tangkhul Army Commanders of Naga Army of NSCN by the so called Defense Ministry-GPRN/NSCN is nothing short of giving them military honor. This is well appreciated. The numerous but fictitious names that are hardly related to any bonafide Naga names are also praise worthy. But such inventive mind should have been utilized somewhere, and productively.
Newspapers are being used to hide the shameless debacle of Vihokhu camp. But unlike this organized gang of criminals making big noise under the stolen name of GPRN/NSCN, the Naga people of today are well developed with shrewd sense of judgment and knowing too well the distinct difference between good and bad, heroes and villains, national workers and pseudo-national workers and etc. and they will never accept anything that contravene the ground realities. No matter how much the gang members tried to change the colour of the Vihokhu camps' attack the truth is there, and the truth shall remain. And the truth shall haunt them as long as they exist.Issued by:
MIP/GPRN.
FGN 15th Battalion clarifies on ‘false allegation’Kuzhovesa Soho Morung
Phek | July 16 : Captain V Khamo, Security Commander, 15th Battalion, Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) briefed intellectuals and village leaders of Phek, Lozaphuhu, and Losami, on the stand of the Battalion at Phek regarding the incidents of highway robberies and extortions in and around Chizami to Sekrezu Nallah (Losami Junction) and Lanye Junction, which occurred during the past couple of months. “It is disheartening to observe the attitudes of the people where various individuals with no genuine proof evidence of the incidents blames the FGN (15th Bn) for the whole episode of the past several incidents meted out in the said locations, till the proof evidence drives being carried out by the said Bn. of the FGN, the real culprits were nabbed under the said drives.”
The Captain expressed displeasure over the “blackmailing attitude” of some few individuals from the villages of Losami, Lozaphuhu, Jesami from Ukhrul District, Manipur, who by their own unfortunate fate faced the incident of losing their cell phones, cash, etc. but directly blamed the “government” without any rhyme and reason. Capt. Khamo warned those individuals to be well aware of such in the future, adding that befitting action would be taken against those persons if such incidents arose.
Stressing on the unexpected situation being faced by the Battalion, Capt. Khamo told this correspondent that some individuals from the said villages, “to their utter dismay, made phone calls just to deliver to them their seized mobiles, belongings and extorted cash immediately, also urging the authority to give an explanation to the victims in particular and the public in general behind the ugly threat to them and subsequently begged an apology.”
Capt. Khamo also asserted that following a “confidential enquiry launched” under the supervision of some battalion officers, “no such thing was found to be practiced by my boys and thus the battalion had decided to launch a massive operation in the said areas in order to nab the real culprits of the said incidents.” However, on June 28, six teenagers were arrested who claimed themselves to be from the Naga Army. Several mobile handsets, cash (no amount mentioned) and other belongings of the commuters were found in their possession.
While lamenting over the false allegations made by some villagers, Capt. Khamo warned the concerned Village authorities to be careful while dealing with such situation. Making a clear point of the stand of the “government”, the Capt. warned, “any individuals/groups who tries to sabotage the image of the government with false propagations and ugly intended motives, the government would never hesitate to award a punishment, rather, strict implementation of the ‘framed Azhah’ will be enforced from now onwards.”
In regard to the seized materials from the arrested culprits, the FGN authority clarified that the same were handed over to the Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) and the concerned village authorities, adding that there was no way to deal with the 15th battalion FGN in respect of the seized materials in any form. Hence, he directed, the concerned commuter victims are to contact either CPO office or the said authority with proper identity proof thereof. The FGN further informed that the concerned victims, while claiming their belongings, should take note that unless the claimer obtained the place and dates where the incidents occurred, their belongings would not be easily claimable. Calling upon all the like-minded Nagas to be serious in matters of kidnappings, robberies, extortions, etc. “which is prevailing in the land of the Nagas as if it is a fashion of the day,” the FGN appealed to Naga denizens to contribute “a constructive approach in terms of write ups or whatsoever.”
CMO reacts to NSCN (K) By NPN |Nagaland Post
Dimapur17/07/2008 Reacting to NSCN (K) emissary Kughalu Mulatonu’s statement that the State chief minister, Home minister and DGP would be held responsible in the event of breakdown of ceasefire between the Government of India and NSCN (K), the Chief Minister’s secretariat has clarified that the question of the chief minister or any organ of the State government being responsible for breakdown of ceasefire did not arise. The Chief Minister’s secretariat in a press release said it was clearly known to one and all that the ceasefire was between the underground groups and the Government of India and that the State government had no direct role to play in the ceasefire and the political dialogue. “However, the DAN Government has time and again made public of its role of active facilitator in the peace process. In fact, it is the State Government which is one of the loudest advocators for the talks to be expedited and that the underground factions and the GoI should listen to the voice of the people,” the release said. It also reiterated the State Government’s commitment to pave way in the event of any alternative arrangement reached after logical conclusion of the Naga political dialogue. “The State Government once again appeals to the underground leaders to heed to the call of civil societies and listen to the cry of the people, if they are sincere in their stand that they are working for permanent peace and for the cause of the Naga people,” the release added. It may be mentioned the NSCN (K) Tuesday said the outfit was seriously considering scrapping the peace deal because of the Centre’s lack of sincerity. According to a report carried in The Telegraph, Mulatonu 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.
Not by Might Venusa Tinyi Morung Express
“What is the contribution of the Nagas towards the development of India?” I was asked this question a couple of years back while I was in the university. I bluntly replied: “Nagas have been constantly reminding India for over six decades that in a democratic society, force of the colonial or imperial kind cannot be used to either govern the people or solve problems which are political in nature. That is our contribution.” I still think I spoke the truth, and with a certain level of precision and honesty. Force is never an instrument of good governance though the same can be used to rule people. To govern is not the same thing as to rule. There is nothing novel about this idea of course. Interestingly, even Nehru, the first Prime Minister of free India, believed in the ideals of non-violence when it came to solving political problems outside of India. His leadership in the “Punch Sheel” (Non-Alignment Movement) is well known. Unsurprisingly, Gandhi, the Father of Indian nation, demonstrated better than anyone such ideals in his political campaign for India’s freedom. But as a matter of putting this noble approach into practice since India’s independence, the Indian Government has had to learn it through real-life encounters with the Nagas. Today, Delhi seems not only to have recognized the importance of political dialogue but has also taken reasonable initiatives to negotiate with various peoples’ movements for autonomy or identity within the Indian union.
A Reflection on Some Crises Currently Facing the NagasSince the “Kohima Declaration” in 1997, which led to a cease-fire agreement between Indian army and NSCN (I-M), a series of political dialogues have been carried out between them, as well as between the Indian government and various other ethnic groups within India. This is indeed commendable. Also, Delhi, perhaps, from these collective political experiences, is now trying to spread the same message of dialogue with renewed conviction, though unfortunately without much consistency, to her neighboring nations which are experiencing political unrest internally and externally. In short, Naga contribution in the field of Indian politics and political education has been significant. Central to this contribution is the lesson that force can be used to subjugate and rule over a people, but not to govern. To govern is to translate the needs and aspirations of the people into reality, which suggests that genuine governance is possible only by considering and respecting the norms and values – historical, political, social and religious – that are associated with the identity of the people.
How about our own achievements as a people? Have we contributed anything significant by which our future generations will remember us? In short, how is posterity going to remember the present Naga generation? Whenever I ask myself this question, I tend to shudder. Of our immediate past, the generation that preceded us, we remember them for their sacrificial acts of patriotism. To them also belongs the history of Christianity in our land that gave us the story of our transition from “from darkness to light.”
I believe many will join the chorus with me in saying that the future will remember the present generation for creating an era of nominal Christians and sectarian nationalism. Today we are building walls to protect ourselves from our own people. Huge structures in human history of civilizations have always been considered symbolic. In our case, they are monuments that mark changes in our values – from altruism to egoism, from tradition to modernism, from humanism to mechanism, from nationalism to individualism, from socialism to capitalism, and so on. We have succeeded in creating an era of distrust as well. We no longer enjoy a free environment that nurtures integrity and other positive human values. We are increasingly getting isolated from one another and from our traditional values that used to define us as a people. Ours may be described as an era of value decadence.
What role then does the Naga struggle for self-determination play in our lives? What significant achievement have we made lately to it or to anything that truly matters? Some may claim as achievement our ability to impress upon Delhi the “uniqueness of our history” and our creation of a pan-Naga identity and the term, Nagalim, for our homeland. Well, even here I have doubts. The stories of our past and of our struggle seem mostly to serve the purposes of the media, rather than being considered worthy of notice in the narratives of Indian history. Besides, I sometimes wonder if these have brought more confusion than commitment to our whole history of struggle. The only consolation seems to rest in the fact that our story, as complicated and chaotic as it presently is, appears to be still in the making; it is not quite over yet, and has given birth to a modern tribe of young minds who are now learning to see things with a critical eye.
In the past, before India’s independence, Nagas were conquered by two things: “American mission” and “British diplomacy.” It is to be noted here that the British colonizer did not succeed in conquering the world of the Nagas by sheer force and might. While not denying the fact that they were ultimately victorious in their campaign against the Nagas, it was mainly through diplomacy, that is, by respecting the dignity of the Nagas, that some Nagas allowed themselves to be administered partially by the British. Now, however, we’re on the verge of being completely conquered by another force – money. We have created an army for Mammon in our present generation; it is not just a few people who will live and fight and die for money in our society today. There is a saying about the Nagas (credited to A.Z. Phizo, rightly or wrongly), which I heard as a teenager: ‘When the Indians fired bullets, Nagas stood firm, but when the Indians showered money, Nagas fell.’ As a believer in Jesus and his teaching, I perceive the sudden rise of money-influence as something serious and alarming. For money is not a mere thing that has its use only as a medium of exchange; there is more. It can buy power, pleasure, values and even human dignity. Os Guinness in his celebrated book “The Call” warns, “The truth is that money is much more than a monetary issue. It was, and is, a spiritual issue. Trying to solve the problem of money through tinkering with economics or by switching systems altogether will always fail.… Money is power. In this sense it is an active agent with decisive spiritual power and is never neutral. It is a power before we use it, not simply as we use it or whether we use well or badly. As such, Mammon is a genuine rival to God.” There is more to politics in the hidden name of money in Nagaland than in the trumpeted name of nationalism. Money is a threat to our identity and to our aspiration. Be warned.
If force were the language by which Nagas could be conquered, the history of the Nagas would never have been written or heard of today. It would have died long ago with the coming of the mighty English to the land of the Nagas in the 19th century. Nagas know how one single Naga village could resist the intrusion of outsiders for about fifty years, a might not less than the empire of which it was said the sun never set; the people of Khonoma resisted the British colonial power. The people of Kikruma even went a step further; the colonial power was challenged for a show of strength in a fair battle. The challenge was accepted and the challenger lost the battle. We also know of some other Naga villages that fought against the British invasion in vain. But in their own ways, they planted the seed of Naga nationalism that was to rise later and their actions became a model of courage, patriotism, sacrifice, and so on. Stories of Naga defeat were never of surrender or weakness; they were stories with powerful messages of courage, endurance, struggle and hope. The point that I am trying to drive home is this: Force has never been the right way to deal with the Nagas. Even if the men were to bow down to some external force, Naga women would rise up to cover their men’s shame. There are legends about Naga women who went to take their enemies’ heads when their men refused or failed to avenge the shame and death of their loved ones. The recent marches of the Naga women amidst flying bullets during factional clashes are a sign of what Naga women can do to silence the power of brute force.
Having said this, it is regretful to observe that Nagas are a people who find most difficult to learn from their past. Our encounters with Indian nationalism or imperialism may have proved useful to people in the corridors of Delhi politics, but they seem hardly to have educated us in our political pursuit. If we want to come out of our current political impasse, then we must look at ourselves and learn from our history, from our particular history of collective struggles against external forces. We have forgotten how in the past our ancestors have fiercely defended their honor and their identity. Today our national movement is divided, threatening each other into submission, and the rest of us, like them, often act like sworn enemies. Nagas have forgotten too quickly that force has never been the way to subdue our spirit. We have forgotten too quickly how we have defended our ancestral legends by fighting against the intrusion by outsiders – the British colonizers and the Indian military occupational forces. If external force is an ineffective weapon against Nagas, so is internal force. Force used by one faction to eliminate another will fail, because another generation, more numerous and more powerful, will rise up in place of the dead to continue the factional rivalry. That is the lesson the past has taught us.
We have always been a revengeful lot. This is not altogether without merit, though it is not something to be pursued as an ideal in our time. Revenge can be seen as a way of asserting one’s equality with others. It used to be a direct way of delivering justice among Nagas. The trouble with this primitive method, however, is that in the name of equality and justice, life is often sacrificed, thereby dignifying violence and destruction. Such violence should have no place in our present society. It is time to retrace our footsteps. It is time we reflect deep enough to understand the values and aspiration for which we are fighting. We are fighting to be free, not to be enslaved by armed men. The gun is but mostly a weapon for the weak and those who live in fear. We live in a time where dialogue, not violence, is the key to unlock problems. Colonial way of consolidating power through force must be shunned. Nagas in positions of leadership -- nationalist or state politicians -- will do well to recognize that ignorance of current political statesmanship will inevitably invite the wrath of the general public. It’s too costly to repeat the unprecedented incidents of Wokha, Mokokchung, and Dimapur. They should serve to warn any warring faction of the futility of using force to do things their way in matters of public or national concern.
A Mizo friend once made a remark on Naga nationalism: “I think the Naga nationalism is surviving because of your individual love for freedom and democratic way of living and thinking. Our [Mizo] national movement was short lived because when our leaders decided to join mainstream India, we just followed.” There is a catch in this remark. Consider afresh what we love and why we struggle!

Kuknalim Columnist
ULFA cadres vouch for peace, but leaders indulge in violence ANI By Peter Alex Todd and Vaschipem Kamondan
Guwahati, The disconnect between the ULFA leadership and its cadres has been an open secret in Assam for quite a few years. This came out into the open last week when two major divisions of the outfit’’s mainstay 28th battalion, revolted against the leadership accusing them of working against the interests of the people of Assam. The people of Assam have welcomed this development. Meanwhile, in desperation ULFA resorted to violence and killing of innocent people. “We battalion level leaders are not competent to sit in such negotiations. This is why we are convinced that direct talks between our central leadership and the Indian government, in conjunction with the Assam government is the need of the hour,” said Mrinal Hazarika, a former cadre and “commander”, 28th battalion, ULFA. Noni Gopal Mahanta, Professor, Conflict Resolution, Guwahati University, said, “I believe that other battalion might realize that this is quite serious. How far a leadership, which is outside the state, can realize this burning issue? So in that way, this is the fundamental difference between the previous kinds of surrendering as compared to this time.” It is not only the analysts who are appreciating the positive development, the people of Assam too are happy. Assam Public Works, a non-government organization working for peace in the state, organized a peace march to welcome the change. “First of all, we welcome the 28th battalion, which as declared ceasefire. We request all the battalions to come forward and sit for the talks to solve the problem of Assam,” said Abhijit Sharma, Director, Assam Public Works. Thousands of the people have come out on the streets. It is this pressure for peace and disenchantment with violence that compelled the cadres of the ULFA to join the mainstream and debunk their leadership that is operating from a foreign country. “I firmly want to appeal that we need a good political strategy. We need good policy to tackle the insurgency and that is why I strongly believe that it should be the effort of the government of India, to bring the leader to the negotiating table and peace will become lasting and sustainable,” said Noni Gopal Mahanta. But the question is does ULFA leadership want peace? How can the government hold talks with an outfit that is indulging in mindless killing in desperation? “Whose interest Paresh Barua is serving? Of India or of Assam or of inimical forces?” asked Tarun Gogoi, Assam Chief Minister. In recent months, security forces have managed to curb the activities of the ULFA. In addition, lack of people’’s support and sympathy for the outfit and its cause has been a major reason for the marginalization of the organization in the state.
Public rally hails ULFA 28 Bn’s move Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
TINSUKIA, July 17 – A public rally held at Dohotia Chuk Bihutoli complex here today under the presidentship of renowned writer, poet, Sushil Gogoi, where many speakers including Satra-dhikar, Sri Sri Jogodananda Deva Goswami of Mayamora Satra, Dinjoy and Dr Rabin Mazumdar, president District Unit, Asam Sahitya Sabha welcomed the decision of the Commanders of A and C companies of 28 battalion of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to come forward for the establishment of peace in the State by declaring ceasefire unilaterally, and assured full cooperation to the great cause. The leaders of 28th battalion, Mrinal Hazarika and Jiten Dutta who also spoke on the occasion, clarified that mere stopping of killing of people or bomb blasts or oppression of the security forces upon the innocents is not true meaning of peace, but, the safeguards of the indigenous people and to fulfil their dreams, to solve the problem of immigration from Bangladesh are the steps towards a permanent solution.

They also said that the people who came from other parts of the country to the State must take part in the development of the State and should face all the problems of the State and to take active part in solving these and they should not be neutral when a problem arises in the State. The leaders further said that they met powerful surrendered ULFA leaders only to ask them not to create any hindrance to the peace process initiated by them and added that all the surrendered ULFA members were not involved in any antisocial activities and they would be taken into the folder of the peace process.

The expelled leaders of ULFA also declared that their task is to generate public opinion for bringing both ULFA top leaders and Central government to negotiation table sans any precondition and for this cause they would do everything that should be done and appealed the people to have faith in them till their mission is accomplished. The meeting was also attended by other leaders of the expelled group namely Jun Bhuyan, Maradona Russell, Tutu Saikia and Mahesh Gupta alias Bhulen Prasad who has been released on bail from Dibrugarh Jail on July 15 last. Thousand of people from all walks of life and from different communities attended the rally.
It’s Hazarika’s turn to answer - Pro-talks Ulfa unit in people’s court OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Bridging Barriers: Former commander of Ulfa’s 28th battalion Mrinal Hazarika (left) addresses the media on peace talks with the government at Sivasagar press club on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Dibrugarh, July 16: Ulfa peaceniks will face the “people’s court” tomorrow for the first time when leaders of the two pro-talks companies of the outfit’s 28 battalion will take questions from “the masses” during a rally in Tinsukia district.
Since they offered a ceasefire on June 24, the Ulfa leaders have been holding meetings of their own volition to put across their views to the people. Tomorrow’s meeting will be the first to be organised by a people’s organisation, which indicated today that there could be “some unpleasant questions” thrown to the rebel leaders.
“We welcome their peace initiative. But how do they propose to go ahead with one section of the outfit staying away? What good will such a fractured peace move do to the state? There are many questions to which we would like to have answers,” said Monoj Bora, a social worker and a member of the organising group.
The 15-member platform of co-ordinators includes educationists, social workers, businessmen, advocates and journalists.
Bora said the idea to organise such a rally was to give an opportunity to the people to ask questions, if they have any, to the Ulfa leaders directly and without any hesitation.
Mrinal Hazarika and Jiten Dutta have agreed to attend the meeting and answer queries.
“The people have heard much about the Ulfa leaders’ intention to broker peace with the government. There are however, several questions, which we are sure will be raised during the meeting. We also hope that people would not let go of this opportunity and ask whatever questions they have. After all, the Ulfa has been saying that the outfit’s constitution clearly mentioned that the opinion of the people of Assam will be of topmost priority for the outfit to chart out its future course of action,” Bora said.
Some members of the platform feel the Ulfa leaders owe it to the people of Tinsukia.
“The declaration of ceasefire is encouraging since the people in Tinsukia has been facing the music for insurgency for almost three decades now. We have launched a door-to-door campaign during which we have also approached the common men, housewives, children and students to come forward and take part in the interactive session,” said Sushil Gogoi, another member of the organising committee.
“We have questions for the Ulfa leaders, and we will ask them tomorrow,” Pranami Kakoty, a housewife, said.
Assam history to face arclights - Award-winning filmmakers to capture archaeological sites on reel DAULAT RAHMAN The Telegraph


Ambari archeological site in Guwahati. A file picture
Guwahati, July 16: Archaeology will rise from the dead and become the protagonist of Jahnu Barua’s next film as part of a government initiative to raise public awareness about 96 known and little-known archaeological sites. Not just Barua, Gautam Bora and other award-winning filmmakers will be tapped for the project, which has acquired a “substantial amount of funds” under the 12th Finance Commission.
“The very idea of involving renowned directors is to attract public attention on the need to preserve archaeological monuments. The department has planned to screen the films at cinema halls and on platforms across the state as well as in different parts of the country. We will approach Doordarshan to telecast the films on the national network,” the official added.
Some of the sites that may soon face the arclights are Ambari archaeological site in Guwahati, Madan Kamdev temple, Deo Pahar in Golaghat, Rajbari in Nagaon, Gardol in Tezpur, Ganesh temple in Bongaigaon and Charaideo maidam. Both Barua and Bora are filmmakers of rare sensitivity and hence have been deemed fit for the job.
“There is a need to adopt modern and interesting methodologies to preserve and protect the historical and archaeological sites. For the average people, archaeology is a little boring. Films and documentaries by prominent filmmakers will definitely make a difference,” the official said.
H.N. Dutta, the director of the archaeology department, said such films could become one of the strongest tools to mobilize public opinion.
UNM calls on UGs not to recruit children The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 16: A meeting organised by Women`s Committee, United NGOs Mission-Manipur today appealed to the armed groups in the state to formulate a common "code of conduct" (guiding principles) while calling on them not to recruit children as soldiers in conformity with the conventions of the rights of the child and its protocol.

The meeting which was held at the State Youth Centre, Khuman Lampak also urged the Manipur government to be vigilant in dealing with cases of missing children.

A draft recommendation of the meeting stated that the state government should be vigilant in cases of missing children by keeping the police more alert and tracking down child traffickers.

"Special officers should be designated at every police station to handle such cases and immediate action taken," the draft recommendations said. The meeting also unanimously resolved to urge the state government to take appropriate and immediate steps to educate the masses on the rights of children. One of the recommendations also urged the government to employ teachers as information providers and school security officers as done by ILO in some countries of Europe to shield the children from trafficking or abduction for any reason.

It also urged youth clubs, senior citizens, media and women`s groups in particular and the masses at large to give protection to the children from abductors. NGOs, including the private enterprises, were asked to open and strengthen child helpline and hotlines all over the state and the government asked to activate legal services to provide legal awareness particularly for child rights, at the meeting.

The meeting also appealed to armed groups not to recruit children as soldiers in conformity with the conventions of the rights of children and optimal protocol while urging them to form a common code of conduct for the welfare of the civilian populace. Speaking at a press conference later, Women`s Committee Ukhrul district convener Jayenti Keishing said that the increasing trend of disappearance of children in the past week or so had caused fear among the parents and guardians who were stopping their children from going to school.

The government authorities, NGOs and people should take it seriously, she added. Imphal west convener of the committee, Radhapiyari said the committee would soon launch awareness programmes on child rights in villages across the state.

She added that the draft resolutions of the today`s meeting would be furnished to the state chief minister, Governor, Prime Minister and President apart from submitting it to the United Nations.

She also informed that the NGO would contact other NGOs in Mumbai to investigate into the death of Chabungbam Elina at a rented house at Anderi East in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by around 50 social activists including district conveners of the United NGOs Mission-Manipur.



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