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09/17/2008: "Euphoria over Naga talks dissipating: Rio DIMAPUR, SEPT 17 (NPN): Nagaland Post"

Euphoria over Naga talks dissipating: Rio DIMAPUR, SEPT 17 (NPN): Nagaland Post

Chief minister Neiphiu Rio has informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the initial euphoria and enthusiasm created by upgradation of Naga talks to a political level through constitution of cabinet sub committee under Oscar Fernandes by the UPA Government was gradually dissipating and being replaced by skepticism and disappointment.
The reason was generally seen as lack of political commitment to resolve the issue by the UPA Government, as reflected in the slow progress of the Naga peace talks, stated a press release issued by Lalthara, additional chief secretary to the chief minister.
The chief minister accompanied by Planning minister TR Zeliang had separate meetings with both the Prime Minister and Home minister Shivraj Patil Minister on September 15. “He (Rio) said that this is the right moment for the Government of India to push forward the peace talk, with a stronger political will, and in a spirit of give and take,” the release said.
Rio also reiterated the readiness of DAN Government to act as facilitator in the peace process, and, “if need be, to make way for a new political dispensation that may be brought about by the successful political settlement of the Naga issue,” the release added.
The chief minister also stressed on the need for a speedier development of infrastructures in the State, particularly the proposed Railway line to Kohima, four-laning of NH-39, Chiethu Airport, foot-hill road from Dimapur to Tizit and National Institute of ICT etc.
Further, Rio handed over to the Prime Minister a joint memorandum signed by chief ministers of all Northeastern states, asking the central government to bear the entire additional burden on account of pay revision of state government employees, which would be necessitated consequent upon the release of 6th Pay Commission’s pay scale to central government employees, the release said.
Meanwhile, the chief minister who also attended the state finance ministers’ meeting on September 16, requested the Finance Commission to take note of the special status enjoyed by Nagaland under 16-Point Agreement and Article 371 (A) of the Constitution, while recommending the revenue-gap grants to the State, the release said.
NSCN(I-M) releases 2 NNC members Nagaland Post Correspondent
IMPHAL, Sep 16: Two members of the NNC caught red handed by the NSCN(IM) while collecting taxes in Zeliangrong region were released in Monday, said an official report today.
The two NNC members identified as Deiluibande son of Ramtung hailing from Hangrum and Tengchangde son of Tezinde son of Lumgeram of Haplong, Assam were released yesterday with representatives of the NGOs in Tamenglong district, Manipur has witnessed, the report said.
The report also said that they were caught red handed by the cadres of the NSCN(IM) Zelaingrong region on September 14 last from Lungeram village while collecting house taxes from the villagers.
Representatives of the NGOs like the Zeliangrong Women Union, Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Tamenglong zone, Zeimei Council witnessed the released.
While confirming the report a correspondent of the Imphal based newspaper said that the released of the two was made with NGOs representative as witness so as not to repeat the incident of false allegation to the outfit by the NNC in one of the incident occurred in last July at Khoupum area of Tamenglong district.
The CAO of the region, Avi Golmei while reiterating the “false allegation” said before the representatives of the NGOs that in the last case of July in which one NNC members was caught on the same charge of collecting taxes in the area, the authority of the NNC alleged them of killing the man, the correspondent said as saying by the CAO.
The said member of the NNC who they charged of killing and abandoned the dead body in the jungle of Khoubum area is currently operating actively in Longmai area as member of the outfit, the CAO mentioned. The CAO also made an appeal not to agreement to remained station in their respective camps by the rivals operating in the Zeliangrong region while the peace process is on.
Talks to end rival clash in the Zeliangrong regions among the rivals operating there is currently under process under the initiative of a forum of elderly people since the last six months.
Naga bodies endorse chakka bandh Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Sep 16: United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Naga Students’ Association (ANSAM) and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights - South (NPMHR-S) have endorsed the call for 12-hour Chakka bandh and general strike by the Committee on Land and Natural Resources (CLONAR) on September 18 beginning from 6 am to 6 pm.
Announcing this in a joint statement signed by UNC president Samson Remei, NWUM president Grace Shatsang, ANSAM president Adani David Choro and NPMHR-S convenor P Phamhring, the Naga bodies asserted that the move to call this bandh is justifiable in the light of deliberate and persistent failure to listen to the people’s voices by the ‘democratically’ elected Government and the lack of free, prior and informed consent of the affected communities.
The joint statement further said that there are also instances of violation of human rights, environmental and sustainable developmental standards even before the commencement of dam construction. Despite numerous representations and meetings with authorities concerned reiterating the call to respect their rights over their land and resources, the project authority insists on proceeding with dam construction despite many visible violations on record.
In violations of India’s and International environmental, developmental and human rights standards, the Power Minister of India laid the foundation stone for Tipaimukh dam in December 2006 and the project authority, NEEPCO, in violation of all developmental norms and in complete disregard of people’s call for widespread consultation and taking their due consent, had called for International bid from construction companies for construction of Tipai-mukh dam on November 20, 2005, the joint statement.
A memorandum of understanding between the Government of Manipur and the project authority was also signed on January 23, 2003 even as the affected people both in the upstream and downstream portion of Barak river called for a wide spread consultation on Tipaimukh dam based on provision of information on the project including impact assessments of the project, the joint statement recalled.
Likewise, the construction of Mapithel dam started without conducting a detailed environmental, social, cultural, economic impact assessment and most important, without taking free, prior and informed consent of the affected communities. Rather threats and intimidations, arrest and tor- ture of several affected villagers precedes commencement of dam construction and during dam constructions, the dam area has been heavily militarised causing physical and mental threats to the affected villagers, the joint statement added.
India Turns to Anti-Terror Laws For Answers Reuters
Citizens of Delhi participate in a candle light vigil in the memory of people killed during Saturday’s serial bomb blasts, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Indian police on Tuesday released the sketches of three men they believe planted some of the bombs. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI, September 16 (Reuters): India needs a tough law to fight attacks like the deadly weekend bombings in New Delhi, a government panel said on Tuesday, as police released sketches of key suspects. There were immediate signs of dissent within the government, though, after the Home Minister Shivraj Patil told NDTV news channel the country already had strong enough laws in place. In its report, the panel asked the government to consider tougher laws to deal with growing militancy in India.
“We need a comprehensive anti-terror law, but there should be adequate safeguards,” said Veerappa Moily, a senior member of the ruling Congress party, who headed the panel. India’s main opposition, the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which accuses the centrist Congress party-led coalition of following a policy of appeasement, wants the reinstatement of a tough anti-terrorism law it promoted when in power. Congress scrapped the law saying it had been misused to harass Muslims.
But Muslims say they are still being persecuted under the present regime and were planning to protest, because they were being unfairly targeted in a police manhunt. Minority Muslims told Reuters in several Muslim-dominated areas of New Delhi that police were conducting a “witch hunt” and accused authorities of reinforcing stereotypes about Muslims. “Terrorists do not belong to any religion,” said Feroze Alam, a young trader in New Delhi’s Daryaganj district.
“They should be hanged. Why don’t the police realise this and stop persecuting Muslims alone?” Some 20 Muslim organisations plan to meet in New Delhi next month to work a strategy to counter those stereotypes. “It is time to unite and protest against these attempts to harass Muslim youths and brand them as terrorists,” Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the chief cleric of Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, told Reuters.
Bukhari met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week. Singh said after deadly 2006 train bombs in the western city of Mumbai that alienation of Muslims would only make matters worse. “After every blast case, they have dragged innocent young men from their homes, and this has not stopped despite repeated requests,” Bukhari said. “It is high time we put an end to this persecution.” Police spokesman Bhagat denied police discriminated against Muslims. “We don’t look at a suspect’s religion. We work on positive leads,” he said.
Muslims make up around 13 percent of mainly Hindu India’s 1.1 billion population, but lag behind in literacy and face discrimination in jobs. Police have already named two Muslim suspects and released five sketches of three men they said had placed explosives in busy market places and streets in India’s capital on Saturday, killing at least 24 people. The Indian Mujahideen militant group, which says it is avenging atrocities against Muslims in India and claimed several major attacks in recent months, said it was responsible for the blasts that also wounded more than 100 people. “The sketches were drawn with information from witnesses who saw these men either move suspiciously or place suspect-looking bags,” police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said. New Delhi has long blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble inside India, mostly in the disputed northern region of Kashmir, but more recently has said some of the violence may have been perpetrated by home-grown groups.

Mathur for holistic approach to militancy Assam governor suggests integrated regional effort, co-ordination & sealing of border The Telegraph

Guwahati, SEP16 [TI] : Assam Governor Shiv Charan Mathur today advocated an integrated regional approach to tackle militancy in the state, considering the inter-state ramification of the menace.
He was speaking at a conference of governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. A copy of the governor’s speech was made available to The Telegraph here. “The unholy nexus of the militant outfits with extremist groups in Nagaland and foreign intelligence agencies like the ISI of Pakistan and DGFI of Bangladesh operating from across borders is the root cause of violence in the state,” Mathur told the conference presided over by President Pratibha Patil.

The two-day conference has been convened to discuss the internal security of the country. Mathur said a holistic approach was required to tackle the problem as all militant outfits in the region formed an interdependent nexus. All these militant outfits like Ulfa, KLNLF, DHD (J) and AANLA were enjoying the logistic support that they had received from different militant outfits and agencies from across inter-state and international borders, the governor said. The governor said the KLNLF and DHD (J), active in the twin hill districts, had an operational understanding with the Ulfa and the NSCN (I-M) till recently and had now shifted loyalties to the NSCN (K).

“Even the AANLA has forged an alliance with the NSCN (I-M) in the interest of acquiring logistical support for the outfit and the revelation of some recent surrenderees even indicate that the outfit had developed links with the Maoists of Jharkhand,” Mathur said. “To tackle this menace there is a need for higher degree of coordination between the security forces and also the administration operating with the respective territorial boundaries,” he said.

Mathur also told the conference that the porous Indo-Bangladesh border was serving as an access point for crossing over to Bangladesh by the cadres of militant outfits, smugglers and arms dealers. The porous border was more dangerously used by the anti-India agents for infiltration to carry out subversive activities across the country. The border should be sealed on a priority basis and fencing work should be carried out on a war footing, he suggested, adding that the fence should be of the same configuration as in the western sector.

The governor also took the opportunity to highlight the perennial problem of floods in the state and called for a “systematic approach” and Central government’s intervention to deal with the problem. “To have a permanent solution to this problem, we need to regulate the flow of water into the main river from its main tributaries by constructing reservoirs in the upper reaches,” he suggested.

Ulfa unit sets terms A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph


Sasanka Baruah
Guwahati, Sept. 16: The recalcitrant B company of Ulfa’s 28 battalion has sought the disbanding of the Unified Command as a pre-condition for its coming overground, putting Dispur in a dilemma.
Highly placed sources in the home department said the demand by the B company — which stayed underground even though the A and C companies declared a ceasefire and started a peace process — was conveyed to Dispur very recently.
The state government has been desperately trying to woo the B company to the peace process ever since the A and C companies came overground in June. The sources added that the killing of Sasanka Baruah — allegedly by the army in a fake encounter — would make things harder for Dispur. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi discussed the peace process with home minister Shivraj Patil during his daylong visit to the state on Sunday, the source said.
The chief minister is understood to have told Patil that the need of the hour was to “slow down” army operations to give the rebels, who are still underground, the “space required to join the peace process”. However, the sources added it was almost impossible to give in to the B-company’s demand as it would mean a complete cessation of operations.
“The Unified Command looks after the counter-insurgency operations. Disbanding it at this moment is not possible. Though we have advocated a go-slow approach, we cannot withdraw the army completely,” a source added.
Though a few leaders of the B-company decided to join the peace process along with the A and C companies, they pulled out at the last moment after at least 10 senior leaders of the battalion were killed by the army in Upper Assam recently.
Bijoy Chinese, the commander of the B company, left for Myanmar along with his cadres soon after. Currently, the company is holed up in the Myanmar camps.
With the 709 battalion almost set to join the peace process, Ulfa’s striking powers will be confined only to the B company. A senior police officer said at least 30 cadres of the 709 battalion are in constant touch with security forces and will join the ceasefire shortly.
“The delay is because they are trying to convince more cadres to join them. It is just a matter of time for the entire battalion, barring a few, to join the peace process,” the police officer said. Sources in the home department said the B company cadres were totally against the army operations in the state and had stated that “peace could hold meaning only if the army was sent back to the barracks”.
Another factor that had forced the B company cadres to think about joining the peace process was a dried up coffer. The oil and tea-rich Upper Assam districts were the main source of funds for Ulfa until the ceasefire of the two battalions.
The 28 battalion was entrusted with the task of collecting money. However, a five-member group of the B company, led by self-styled sergeant major, Rupantor Kakoti, did make a desperate attempt to carry out an extortion drive in Upper Assam a week back.
HNLC opposes municipal polls- Outfit fears erosion of traditional bodies OUR CORRESPONDENT The telegraph


Shillong, Sept. 16: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has opposed the municipal elections in Shillong, which has been pending for the past 41 years.
The government recently made efforts to hold the elections and wanted it to be over by December. However, in a statement issued here today, the HNLC argued that with the traditional institutions like the rangbah shnong (headman) already existing in Shillong, there was no question of having another authority. The recent decision of the government to hold the elections was to have the representation of headmen in the Shillong Municipal Board.
After the Supreme Court had directed the state government to hold the municipal elections following a petition filed by the Non Tribal Youth Union, the government in November 2000 issued notifications for holding elections. Only one person, a Shillong-based businessman, Ananta Dey, filed nominations. However, he was shot dead by suspected HNLC militants.
Several NGOs in the state in the past had also opposed the municipal elections expressing fear that once the ward commissioners were elected to the municipal board, the powers of the headmen would be eroded.
The publicity secretary of the HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, has criticised urban affairs minister Paul Lyngdoh, who recently made an announcement that for implementation of various central schemes under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, holding of elections was necessary.
The HNLC said the attempt of the Centre to implement the urban mission in Shillong was a political game aimed at brainwashing the people of Meghalaya to help holding the municipal elections.
The HNLC publicity secretary also pointed out that the holding of municipal elections as wished by both the Centre and the state government could be compared to the divide and rule policy initiated by the British.
The outfit said the policy of the government to go ahead with municipal elections was an attempt to belittle the traditional system of governance in Meghalaya. The state government recently formed a working group to study certain provisions of the Municipal Act aimed at amending it to accommodate the interests of the traditional institutions.
According to the urban affairs minister, the elections to Shillong Municipal Board will give legal status to the heads of traditional institutions. Lyngdoh also indicated that the rangbah shnong (headman) could be actively involved in urban governance if an election is held to the Shillong Municipal Board.
Shooting of Heirok youth : Fresh appeal to KYKL/UNLF/KCP Many begin homeward journey By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Sep 16 : With the ban imposed by the proscribed KYKL and UNLF on the movement of the people of Heirok outside their locality being implemented through the shooting of a youth from Heirok on the thigh on September 15, about 50 people of Heirok staying in other parts of the State have started returning home.
Simultaneously a public meeting was held at Heirok today wherein fresh appeals were issued to the outfits to lift the ban imposed on them.
The youth, Laishram Shashikumar of Heirok Part II was running a pharmacy at RIMS road and he was shot on his thigh yesterday by suspected UNLF cadres, who reportedly said that he had not heeded the earlier warning not to venture outside Heirok.
KYKL and UNLF had decided to impose the ban on the movement of the people from Heirok following the decision of the people of Heirok to set up SPOs in the aftermath of the shooting spree during a Thabal Chongba festival in March this year, in which two persons including a girl were killed, while another girl was seriously injured, impairing her eye sight.
The recruitment process of the SPOs is over and at the moment the selected candidates are undergoing training.
The two outfits had earlier warned the JAC of Heirok to retract from the demand to set up the SPOs but since their warning was not heeded the ban was imposed.
According to a report received from Heirok, following the shooting of Shashikumar, about 50 people from Heirok, including Government employees who were staying in other parts of Manipur have started returning home.
Three students of KM Blooming School, Khanga-bok have also returned home.
To discuss the new development a public meeting was held at the ground of Primary School at Heirok Part II attended by over a thousand people.
Five resolutions were adopted after the meeting. The resolutions said that the people of Heirok have taken a serious note of the shooting of Shashikumar and to ensure that such incident does not recur, an agitation will be held later to show their opposition to such action.
The people also resolved to appeal again to the UNLF, KYKL and KCP to revoke the ban imposed on the people of Heirok. The KCP had supported the stand of the KYKL and UNLF.
The other resolutions adopted included, urging the Govt to ensure security for the people of Heirok, to urge the Government to bear the medical expenses of Shashikumar and to highlight the resolutions through the media. Earlier in the day, before the public meeting was held, a road block was put up on the road leading to Heirok from Wangjing. Other roads leading to Heirok were also blocked. Heirok AC MLA M Oken was barred by the people from venturing out of the place.
The meeting which started at about 3 pm stretched on till 6.30 pm and the road blocks were lifted after the meeting wound up. Following the incident yesterday, security was beefed up in and around Heirok and in other sensitive parts of Thoubal district. Shashikumar is recuperating at the hospital.

Human Rights Watch Report: "Army Killings Fuel Insurgency in Manipur" The Imphal Free Press

NEW DELHI, Sep 15: "Fake encounters, torture of detainees etc are very regular features in Manipur. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act has created a climate of impunity", stated Mr Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, as the humanitarian organisation today released it's first ever report on Manipur.

The 79-page report, "These Fellows Must Be Eliminated': Relentless Violence and Impunity in Manipur," documents the failure of justice in the state, where for 50 years the army, empowered and protected by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), has committed numerous serious human rights violations.

Human Rights Watch and the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network (MWGSN) jointly organised the release at the India International Center in New Delhi on 15th September 2008. The event was followed by a panel discussion titled "Roadmap to Peace in Manipur".

The report documents specific cases of extrajudicial executions and torture by soldiers, paramilitaries, and police in Manipur since 2006, and the Indian government's failure to curb the abuses. Torture of detainees, in particular severe beatings during interrogations of suspected militants and their supporters, remains common. Torture victims described to Human Rights Watch how they were arbitrarily arrested, beaten, and subjected to electric shocks and simulated drowning.

It also details the failure of justice in the killing and possible rape of alleged militant Thangjam Manorama Devi by the paramilitary Assam Rifles in 2004. Repeated attempts to identify and punish those responsible for her death have been stalled by the army, which has received protection under the immunity provisions of the AFSPA.

One of the key findings of the report is, that human rights violations by Indian security forces have fueled the armed opposition in Manipur. Therefore, the Indian government should fully prosecute army, paramilitary, and police personnel responsible for killings and torture in Manipur, Human Rights Watch said in it's new report.

"Soldiers and police are protected by laws like AFSPA granting immunity and officials unwilling to hold them accountable for serious crimes," said Meenakshi Ganguly, senior researcher on South Asia at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "These laws perpetuate human rights abuses, which drive civilians to seek the protection of one or other armed group."

In the discussion, Shri K. Padmanabhiah, Fomer Home Secretary and Government of India's Representative in the Naga Peace Talks, stated, "The government should have the courage and conviction to say that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is not necessary. People that deal with guns have to be told that negotiations and dialogues work better ". Dr Oinam Bhagat, Associate Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University agreed to this and said, "Political dialogue is best but intentions have to be very clear".

Human Rights Watch called on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to act on the findings of the committee he appointed to review the AFSPA in Manipur. Created after weeks of protests in Manipur following the killing of Manorama in 2004, the committee led by Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy recommended in 2005 that the AFSPA be repealed. The Indian government has failed to take action on the committee's recommendation, says the report.

India has also ignored concerns and recommendations by United Nations human rights bodies calling for a review of the AFSPA. For example, in 1997 the UN Human Rights Committee said that the continued use of the AFSPA in Manipur was tantamount to using emergency powers and recommended that the application of these powers be monitored to ensure compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

"The Indian government has not only ignored the pleas of ordinary Manipuris and UN human rights bodies to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, but has even ignored the findings of its own committee," said Ganguly. "This reflects the sort of callousness that breeds anger, hate and further violence." However, also armed groups have carried out torture, killings, indiscriminately used bombs and land mines, engaged in forced recruitment, and conducted widespread extortion that needs to end, adds the author of the report.

In addition to repeal of the AFSPA, Human Rights Watch recommended that:

(1) The government of India and the state government of Manipur should investigate and prosecute government officials, including members of the armed forces, police, and paramilitary responsible for human rights violations;

(2) Indian security forces involved in military operations should take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with International humanitarian law.India should ratify the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

(3) Armed groups to take all necessary steps to ensure the compliance with international humanitarian law, specifically article 3 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law.

(4) Armed groups to publicly denounce abuses committed by any other militant group and ensure that there is appropriate accountability for such abuses.

Later the discussion, that was attended by members from various ethnic communities of Manipur, drew attention to a reconciliation process in Manipur itself. "Manipur tragedy is born out of two issues – namely, the lack of ability to understand each other and secondly, inherent contradiction or conflict within the nation state", said Dr Bimol Akoijam, Associate Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi. It was agreed that a broader approach to the problem is necessary as Hoinu Hauzel, Journalist, stated, "People of Manipur need to overlook differences and look beyond towards peace and prosperity". Other noted speakers included Subir Bhowmik of BBC, Dr Anuradha Chenoy of JNU and the Human Rights Committee of Manipuri Students Association Delhi.

The joint Human Rights Watch and Manipur Women Gun Survivors meeting also called upon the involvement of young people in crafting peace, the starting of a cross community dialogue in Manipur and the setting up of measures to provide rehabilitation and support to several survivors of armed violence.