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11/09/2008: "Nagas must come together morungexpress"

Nagas must come together morungexpress

Convenor of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation Rev. Dr. Wati Aier (right) expressing a point to “general” Khole (far left), ‘C-in-C’ of the “GPRN/NSCN” during a recent meeting at Mon town. During the meeting, Khole expressed his support to the Naga Reconciliation process and emphasized on the need for Nagas to ‘come together’ as one.

Dimapur | November 9 (Morung Express News): In what will be seen as a major boost to the Naga reconciliation process, “general” Khole, ‘commander-in-chief’ of the ‘Naga Army,’ “GPRN/NSCN” has said, that leaving aside past animosity and selfish interests, Naga leaders must ‘come together’ and fight for the historical and political rights of the people. Significantly, Khole responded positively to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation's proposal for possible dialogue at the highest level among Naga ‘political groups’. "Unless Nagas unite and work in the spirit of oneness and unity, our dreams are still far-fetched”, Khole said during a meeting with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. The veteran ‘commander-in-chief’, described as an energetic Naga national stalwart, who had once vowed never to return to the Indian occupied Naga-land until Nagas are independent, visited Mon town after 41 years to consult with the Nagas, in a decisive bid to strengthen the Naga Reconciliation process.

With great passion the ‘general’ expressed “without thinking for our individual cause, Nagas must come together and fight for our rights....today, the situation has brought for us to be one.” Having explained at length the historical and political rights of the Nagas and the narratives of the struggle and the circumstances that led to the present predicament among Nagas, Khole did not mince words when he said in clear terms that it was time “for Nagas to come together as one and talk with India”. Khole emphasized on the need for all the groups to "leave aside all past bickering and to start afresh again. If we reject this present initiative, we will all lose out together."
While expressing anguish at the worsening situation, “general” Khole pointed out that the Angami and Ao Nagas who were the first to accept Christianity and to provide the first leadership to the Naga movement, must take greater responsibility. "If Aos and Angamis are in one spirit; Naga can be united. It is with hope that if they come forward together, Nagas will become one and united”, he said. He also articulated the need for Nagas to understand that "big or small, until Nagas become one there will be no solution." "It’s time Naga leaders should look inward at the very survival of the people," he reminded and pointed out that "Nagas should speak as one." He said conscious and committed Nagas should unite and work out a formula and that "it needs collective effort and transparency."

Expressing deep concern for the future well being of the Nagas, Khole said "I am old and am openly declaring that this Naga struggle leadership should not die along with me. If Nagas are united I will die happily. It's painful but I may not step in even in my native village." "I have worked for 55 years and I have never backed off from my commitment to the Naga cause”, Khole said. “If the Naga public is careful, alert and truthful we will become one otherwise half truths or false comments will further divide and kill” he added.
Gen Khole supports dialogue among Naga groups
As for the present Naga reconciliation process, while fully supporting the process, General Khole encouraged the Forum for Naga Reconciliation to labor tirelessly and work out a model for all to walk together. He pointed out that the Forum for Naga Reconciliation has become the engine for Nagas to become one. If the engine is not strong, body will remain weak."

Meanwhile, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation in a statement expressed its gratitude to General Khole for travelling all the way from "Eastern Nagaland" to Mon town and making the time to interact with the forum, and for expressing his commitment and willingness for Naga reconciliation. “The Forum for Naga Reconciliation is committed to the cause for Naga reconciliation based on the historical and political rights of the Nagas”, it stated while further affirming that the “Naga reconciliation is in the common interest of all Nagas and for the future of our people”.

Reconciliation Soccer Match on November 13

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation has informed, that the Naga Reconciliation process was started in March 2008 and various events have been organized as part of the ongoing process. As a symbolic expression of their commitment to reconciliation the Naga “political groups” participated in the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match at Kohima organized by the Naga Christian Forum. In response to the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match, the public has responded in the positive and so expressed the need to have another reconciliation match in Dimapur, it stated.

As a result, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation is organizing another Naga Reconciliation Soccer match on November 13 at the Dimapur District Sports Complex. “The forum understands that the Naga Reconciliation Soccer match is only a means to enable and strengthen public action in showing their support to the Naga reconciliation process”, it stated and requested the public to come and express their solidarity to the reconciliation process on November 13. The event will begin at 12 noon, but because of security measures, it was suggested that people arrive at the DDSC well in advance.
Kyongs want 41 AR withdrawn Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, NOV 9 (NPN): In the aftermath of the pre-Tokhu incident at Wokha where 41 Assam Rifles resorted to blank firing following a scuffle between some youths and the AR jawans, the Kyong Hoho and its frontal organizations have condemned the incident and demanded immediate withdrawal of the 41 AR battalion.
A joint press statement issued by the Kyong Hoho, chairman, general secretary; Kyong Students’ Union, president; Kyong Eloe Hoho, president and Wokha Town Council, chairperson stated that this was resolved in a meeting held with Wokha Town Colony Chairmen, GBs and elders on November 7.
In addition, the meeting also resolved not to allow the army to henceforth pump water from the public water source (Etsu Chuka). The meeting also resolved that members of the general public have been barred form entering the AR camp from now on.
It further resolved to strictly view anyone found procuring liquor from the AR camp.
The Kyong organizations observed that the present location of the AR camp was in the heart of public inhabited area and thus created unwanted situation. In this regard, the house resolved that the present cantonment should be shifted immediately.
It may be mentioned that on November 5 one AR jawan identified as Mahesh Singh along with two local females had gone to Hotel Ni-Li at around 2 p.m and asked the manager for a room to stay. When he was told that all rooms were booked, Singh reportedly threatened the manager that he would come back the next day. At this, an unidentified person beat up the jawan.
According to the press release, the jawan later came back to the hotel in the evening in three gypsies with other jawans and assaulted the manager and the occupants of the hotel. It said that the jawan also created “situation” on November 6 on the pretext of searching Naga National workers.
Condemning the incident as “senseless”, the organizations said that the biggest festival of the Kyong community celebrated for peace, prosperity and reconciliation was spoiled by the 41 AR by “shedding blood” to its members. According to the statement, the Kyongs traditionally held as an omen tantamount to cancellation of the auspicious occasion if any unwanted situation arose when the Tokhu Emong was being scheduled.

Nagas must unite: Khole Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, NOV 9 (NPN): Forty one years after vowing never to return to the “Indian occupied Naga-Land” until Nagas became independent, senior Naga national leader and “Commander-in-Chief” of the “NSCN/GPRN”, General Khole visited Mon town for consultation with the Nagas to strengthen the Naga Reconciliation process.
According to a statement issued by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), Khole during a recent meeting at Mon said that Nagas must come together and fight for their rights without thinking for individual cause.
He said that the dreams of the Nagas would be “still far-fetched” unless Nagas unite and work in the spirit of oneness. Asserting that he had never backed off from his commitment to the Naga cause during his 55 years of service in the Naga army, Khole said he “will die happily” if Nagas were united. The veteran Naga national leader said that he might not even step in his native village. He firmly held that the Naga national struggle should not die along with him.
Khole also expressed anguish at the deteriorating situation and pointed out that the Angami and Ao Nagas who were the first to receive Christianity and to provide the first leadership to the Naga movement must take greater responsibility. “If Aos and Angamis are in one spirit; Nagas can be united” he said. He hoped that Nagas would be united if the two tribes come together forward.
“General” Khole viewed that it was time for Naga leaders to look inward at the very survival of the people and speak as one. He felt that all the groups should leave aside all past bickering and start afresh again.
Khole expressed his support for the current Naga reconciliation process and said that Nagas will lose out altogether if the present initiative was rejected. He asked the FNR to labor tirelessly and work out a model for all to walk together.
According to the statement, the “General” also responded positively to the FNR’s proposal for possible dialogue at the highest level among Naga political groups. He maintained that the Forum had become the engine for Nagas to become one.
The FNR expressed gratitude to “General” Khole for traveling all the way from “Eastern Nagaland” to Mon town and making the time to interact with them. The Forum said it was committed to the cause for Naga reconciliation based on the historical and political rights of the Nagas.
Meanwhile, the Forum has requested the public to come and express their solidarity to the reconciliation process on November 13 where another Naga Reconciliation Soccer match is to be played at the Dimapur District Sports Complex at 12 noon. It suggested people to reach the venue before time in view of security measures.
Naga rights body condemns victimizing innocent people Newmai News Network
Imphal | November 8:The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR-South Sector) has expressed deep concern over the prevailing situation in Manipur ‘where democratic rights of the people are being curtailed’ by the state and held it a disturbing trend in the region. The NPMHR -South Sector also expressed concern over the ‘high handedness’ on the people meted out by the state forces and asserted that it was increasingly becoming the order of the day.
Phamhring Sengul, convenor NPMHR (South) on Saturday while expressing concern over many innocent persons been victimized, pointed out that there was a sense of insecurity and anxiety everywhere in the region.
Condemning the alleged excesses committed by the Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) and Manipur State police commandos on the poor villagers who marched to the Mapithel dam site to express their concern and plight, wherein about 45 were reportedly injured, the NPMHR stated that everyone in a democratic society has the right to freely voice their concerns. NPMHR also pointed out that the affected people have the right to express their view in the matter of Mapithel dam as it is an issue of survival for them added Phamhring in the press statement. The convenor of the human rights movement also pointed out that with the construction of the dam, the land of the people in the upstream would be submerged making them ‘migrants’ in their own land while the people downstream will live in permanent fear as the threat and danger from the dam is real and extremely vulnerable. With the interest and concern of the affected people been neglected, the affected people have organised themselves and rightly asserted for justice added Phamhring. Pointing out some of the demands of the affected people, the NPMHR informed that the affected people of the area had demanded a review of the terms of reference which is discriminatory and moreover the government could only partially meet the term and condition of the earlier agreement arrived at with the upstream affected people. The affected people also demanded a contingency plan for the downstream affected people in the event of any untoward accident.
In this regards, NPMHR has appealed to all the people who believe in peaceful and democratic struggle to intervene and support the cause of the affected people. Stating that the affected people of the Mapithel dam should not suffer gross injustice of this magnitude, the human rights movement further appealed to the people of the state to help and guide each others in such situation. Expressing deep and heartfelt sympathy to those who were reportedly brutalized and abused during the November 3, 2008 rally, the NPMHR has appealed to all to lend their support to save AS Lungmila, a mother of seven children, who is in critical condition from head injury sustained in the assault by the so called security forces. “We are sad to inform you that she has very less chance to survive”, lamented Phamhring in the press statement.
Meanwhile, demanding a judicial enquiry into the November 3 incident wherein at least 43 were injured when the security forces felt upon the womenfolk that were rallying towards the Mapithel dam site against it construction, a sit-in-protest was held at the Dingko road in Chingmeirong, Imphal East on November 8.
The sit-in-protest was organised under the aegis of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO), Mapithel Dam Affected Ching-Tam Organisation (MDACTO) and Thoubal Multipurpose Project (Mapithel Dam) Downstream Affected Area Committee and was supported human rights, students and civil organisations such as Human Rights Initiative (HRI), United People’s Front (UPF), All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO), All Manipur Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM), etc.
The committee has demanded punishment for the security forces involved and also compensation for Lumilla Devi, who is lying in Shija hospital in critical condition. The protest further demanded that no construction should be undertaken against the interest of the public until and unless the dam site was reviewed and called upon the government to stop militarization at the dam site.
Aron Panmei, a participant of the protest stated that women, instead of being respected and protected, were attacked by the security forces. Condemning the use of force by the security forces, Panmei said that the construction of the dam should continue only after an agreement with the people and further warned the government of any use of force to construct the dam. She also condemned the Lamlai police station in Imphal East for refusing to register a First Information Registration (FIR) of the incident on November 3 when the affected had come to register on Friday, November 7.
A secretary of the downstream affected area committee also warned the government of more severe form of agitation if the government failed to meet the demands of the affected people.
A Note On Naga Reconciliation Vilasetuo Suokhrie
The Naga freedom struggle is more than fifty years old .By any standard fifty years is long enough and no nation can sustain such a prolonged struggle unless its people endorses its effort and make the necessary sacrifices. At the initial stage of Naga struggle for freedom, it was a people movement where every Naga played a role to sustain it. Though there was oppression and hardship the people were contended with the struggle.. Many villages were burned down to ashes and were deserted. Nagas were butchered like animals by the aggressors but the patriotism of the Nagas did not cool down. The struggle kept on continuing amidst uncountable tortures and destruction.

But today the present scenario has changed. Instead of fighting against the aggressors, we have been fighting among ourselves. The divide and rule policy sown by the enemy has been able to hypnotize the Nagas, it has played havoc with thousands of lives. The enemy has planned well to sabotage the Naga freedom struggle and their plan is working aggressively. We have to rise up to the occasion and take a unified stand irrespective of factions, tribes, geography etc. Otherwise we have to dig our own grave.

The Naga struggle has sustained upto this day because of the people’s support and sacrifices. But today the common people are in a dilemma whether to continue their support to the struggle or not. The tide has change and the people are the one who suffer the most. In the name of sovereignty, we have been killing each other. Now people are even afraid to talk openly about the Naga struggle for fear of their lives. The public is in doubt whom to support and whom not, they are left with no choice. Taxes, extortions, violence, and corruptions are increasing day by day. The Naga struggle is gradually decaying and if this trend continues it will lead to nowhere but will create further problem which will subsequently lead to our downfall.

Unity is absent not only within the so called Naga freedom fighters but also amongst the Naga public. We can hardly find brotherhood and fraternity among ourselves and not only that ‘Ism’has shown its ugly face in our Naga society and if not deal properly it will create havoc. Unity is a must to achieve the desire goal. There will be no permanent solution until and unless every section of Nagas are united. For the sake of the Naga nation, Nagas have endured untold miseries and hardships in the hands of the aggressors. Human rights violation of the greatest magnitude was perpetuated without an iota of qualm. Thousands have fallen prey to the enemy’s bullet; thousands tortured and maimed for life.. Women folk are rape and molested; villages raze to ground, crops, and properties worth billions of dollars destroyed. All these sacrifices have been done so that we can live freely in our own land without unwanted interference from outside. But today the situation has completely changed. It seems all this sacrifices made by the Naga patriotic has gone futile, meaningless.. Is this all, what we can give them in return for their sacrifices?

Let’s all take a break and think deep where we have gone wrong. As human, mistakes are made, but instead of blaming one another lets solve it amicably and peacefully. Bloodsheds will only escalate the situations. The theme of the Naga nation is “Nagaland for Christ”. So as people of Christ, let us be practical and true to ourselves. Everybody wants peace and progress, it will come only when every Naga join hands and learn to help one another. There is an urgent need for a movement to reconcile every Naga brethrens, a movement back by the Naga society which can transcends all barriers and bring the warring brothers under one roof. Whether over ground or underground a consensus must be reach to achieve greater height. When there will be reconciliation and unity among the Nagas, the Naga struggle will get greater coverage, more public support and more fire power. When all these team together, there will be much more pressure on the aggressors and it will compel them to go in line with Naga people’s desire.

We are at the crossroad of life. There are many who carry scars and wounds that are not visible from outside, they are in desperate need of professional diagnosis and treatment. The voice for peace is becoming louder and louder than ever before. It is a situation which should be handle delicately. There should be no room for ego, ism, and hatred. Burying all hatchets, let’s march ahead with a new vigor. One nation, one people, and one solution must be our mantra to achieve our goal. Divisiveness and factionalism will only create more problems and will do no good to anyone. So let’s solidified the bond of oneness and move forward to heal and to bring reconciliation among the different factions of Nagas. Life may not be smooth sailing but if we fight under one banner it may be easier and will gain greater mileage. Let us work hard in a true Christian spirit for the reconciliation and unification of our nation, so that peace and development will prevail over our land. The recent reconciliation football match played between the civil societies and the Naga national workers (from different factions) have given a ray of hope to plaster the cracks that have formed in our relationship with one another. The role played by the church and the NGO’s is laudable and appreciable but I believe and hope that there is still much to be done and much to be achieved. So let’s be strong and let us paint our globe with the colors of love, peace, joy, and harmony. Thomas Kinkade eloquently said “When we learn to say a deep, passionate yes to the things that really matter, then peace begins to settle onto our lives like the golden sunlight sifting to a forest floor”.
Clues indicate ULFA and NDFB behind Assam blasts PTI
New Delhi, November 9 (PTI): More than a week after serial blasts rocked Assam, investigators have found clues that ULFA and NDFB carried out the deadly explosions with the help of Bangladesh-based HuJI’s expertise. Home Ministry sources said the investigators have found enough evidence that the banned ULFA had carried out the October 30 serial blasts with the help of dominant Bodo militant group NDFB. This comes in the wake of the Centre expressing concern over the “paradigm shift” in the northeast militancy.

Some people have been detained by police and central security agencies who had provided logistical support including procuring cars used in the blasts that left over 80 people dead and more than 400 injured, the sources said. The people have an allegiance with the two banned outfits, the sources said. Interestingly, NDFB is currently under truce with the security forces and is engaged with the government in peace negotiations.

“We have found that the Bangladesh-based HuJI has provided the expertise to ULFA and NDFB as none of them has the technology to explode such devastating bombs which claimed more than 80 lives,” a Home Ministry official said. Home Ministry sources said the government is worried over the fact that the northeast militants has started using a deadly mixture of RDX, ammonium nitrate and plasticised explosives to carry out explosions which led to greater casualties which was never seen in the past.

B’desh ‘most problematic’: Gogoi Nagaland Page B’desh authorities encouraging rebels: Aiyar Nagaland Page
GUWAHATI/SHILLONG, NOVEMBER 8: Days after the Assam serial blasts, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said religious terrorism was posing a greater danger than insurgency and claimed militants groups in Bangladesh were helping extremists carry out terror strikes in the country.
"The serial blasts that rocked various parts of the country have revealed the growth of fundamentalists and religious terrorism which was more dangerous than insurgency," Gogoi told reporters here. He suggested that religious leaders take a stand to solve the problem. "The need of the hour is for all religious leaders-- Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs-- to sit together."
Without directly blaming Bangladesh insurgent outfits for the serial blasts in the state on October 30 that left 84 persons dead, Gogoi said Assam, surrounded by a number of countries, was a vulnerable place. "But of them, Bangladesh is the most problematic ... This is the main problem as terrorist groups there are supporting local insurgents for terror activities," he said.
Bangladesh has denied that any insurgent outfit based in the country was involved in the blasts.
Asked about the identifications of the perpetrators of the recent blasts, Gogoi said "investigations are going in the right direction ... We have crossed the quarter final stage and are now in the semi-finals."
Gogoi demanded complete coordination among the NE states and neighboring West Bengal to contain militancy.
"We have called for the upgradation of the intelligence bureau office in Guwahati so that it could coordinate with the NE states as also West Bengal as north Bengal is a corridor used by terrorists," he said.
Meanwhile, DoNER Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar today said that “certain authorities” in Bangladesh are backing Indian rebel groups sheltering in that country and there was urgent need to impress upon them that by doing so nothing would be gained.
"Certain authorities of Bangladesh are encouraging activities that are detrimental to India," Aiyar told mediapersons in Shillong. It was also necessary to impress upon Bangladesh to admit that there were anti-India groups on its soil, which were not doing any good to them, he said, adding that the situation could be improved if relations between the two countries are moulded.
Aiyar, however, said the insurgency problem was "home grown". "The insurgents grow here and when they are hemmed in they tend to cross the border."
Describing the recent blasts at Agartala and Assam as episodic, the Union Minister said, "It would have been a cause of worry had there been a systematic deterioration of the situation."
He asserted that the Northeast was still secure and claimed that the insurgency problem in the region has shown a tangible improvement over the years. "The Northeast, barring Manipur, is a secure place for people to come and companies to invest."
Even in Manipur, the gross state product rate is as high as 11.4%, the highest in the NE, and can be compared to that of China, he claimed. "Of course, the disturbing elements have to be tackled and the Centre is taking measures towards that end," he said. (PTI)

‘Fatwa to be issued against anyone found involved in the blasts’ Muslim bodies appeal against terror - ‘Fatwa to be issued against anyone found involved in the blasts’ A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph


Badruddin Ajmal, state Jamiat Ulema president, at the newsmeet in Guwahati on Saturday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Guwahati, Nov. 8: Three Muslim organisations of the state today appealed to the people of the community in Assam to unite against terrorism and terrorist elements.
Addressing mediapersons here today, leaders of the Jamiat Ulema, Jamiat-e-Islami Hind and Nadwatut Tamir (Northeast) — three socio-religious organisations — informed that a congregation of several Muslim organisations would be held on November 13 where a fatwa would be issued against any person found involved in the recent blasts. The congregation would be held at the ITA centre in Machkhowa here.
The Muslim organisations in the state will also take out a silent procession on November 12 in protest against the serial blasts where religious heads from different parts of the state will participate.
“There is no place for any person involved in such a dastardly act in the Muslim community. Anyone found guilty would be expelled from Islam,” state Jamiat Ulema president Badruddin Ajmal said. Regarding claims by the security agencies that jihadi forces were behind the recent blasts in the state, Ajmal said that apart from jihadis, several Bodo youths have also been picked up for questioning.
Ajmal said the organisation had always demanded that infiltration from Bangladesh be stopped immediately. “We clearly support that any person who had entered the state before 1971 should be deported,” he added. Speakers at a convention at the Burah Masjid here today called upon the government to punish the persons involved in the serial blasts.
Hillal Abdul Qasimi, a religious figure here said, “Terrorism is not in the blood of Islam and all Muslims should not be tagged as jihadis.”
Nani Gopal Mahanta of the department of political science, Gauhati University, said the present day terrorism is “neo terrorism” which is non-territorial and trans-national in dimension. Social activist Anima Guha said the state is in the grip of global terrorism. Father J. Thelekatt, headmaster of Don Bosco School said acts of terror should be shunned and condemned.