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11/17/2008: "History beckons the Nagas Yanchen Yanthan The Morung Express News"

History beckons the Nagas Yanchen Yanthan The Morung Express News

Dimapur | November 14 : As much as the slogan ‘Change we can believe in’ chanted by the democrats at the US presidential elections became a reality, a reality never witnessed in the history of American politics, where the US will now be headed by the first Afro-American president. It was a distinct change, a break from the past. America seized the opportunity in making history by choosing Barack Obama to be her president.

It never ceases to amaze us that history is made when nations seize moments in time, most often not knowing that it is going to alter the course of things that is to come. Not many gave the benefit of support to Obama when he announced his desire to run for the US presidential elections. However today history has been made. This would not have been possible had the American public not believed in the dream of a young senator from Illinois, who dared to dream and in the process brought the majority of Americans to rally behind him.

We have a lesson or two to gather from this great American dream. Skepticism has always been the word for many of us, to describe our expectations of any positive outcome from the many efforts made to bring about restoration among the Nagas. Our past has always come to haunt us and the experiential reality of the Nagas over the decades does not hold much to give the next generation a good reason to hope for. However there are reasons enough to give ourselves a chance to dream yet again. And herein I would like to believe that we are at a critical juncture in history, that we are encountering a decisive moment that can either restore us or break us.
Like many, I was cynical and uncertain in the efforts made by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation for healing and restoration of the Nagas’ land. As trivial as a football match may sound in a strife torn struggle that has gone past more than half a century, it is inevitable for eyebrows to be raised, as to what it would achieve when not much could be done in 50 years.

Yet in the process, this has created an opportunity for the warring factions and civil society groups to come together which in my opinion would have been a near impossible task taking history into account. I was amused at the use of humor in a local daily right after the reconciliation match held in Kohima. The lighter moments between the erstwhile hostile sides were captured in the form of a comic strip. This only strengthens the fact that humor can be an effective tool and can work wonders in diluting the tension that exists between and amongst different groups. If only we had the privilege of hindsight, would we know what these steps initiated is leading us to.

Today the civil society and various warring groups among the Nagas are provided with a little window of hope towards restoration through the platform provided by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. Martin Luther said, “I have a dream.” It is one thing to have a dream and another for that dream to be envisioned by the masses. It was the dream of Barack Obama to run for the presidential elections but the vision of the dream had to be caught by the majority of the Americans to bring it to reality. The American majority gave their verdict.

Given this little window of hope towards reconciliation and restoration much will be determined by how the civil society and the warring groups seize this opportunity. As for the general masses it is pertinent to keep on believing that reconciliation, healing and restoration will be a reality and therefore render support to the process. I cannot but only agree more with what Rev. Dr. Wati. Aier, Convener, Forum for Naga Reconciliation at the DDSC stadium said that this is “the moment in our history in which a new order is being born.” History will judge us and will let us know if we have seized this momentous opportunity to become history makers in the true sense.
GPRN/NSCN on ‘insincere comments’ morungexpress
Dimapur, November 14 (MExN): The “NSCN/GPRN” today criticized the NSCN (IM) for what it stated is the “insincere comments” made by the NSCN (IM) recently.

Terming the outfit to be “perpetual skeptics”, a note from the “NSCN/GPRN” publicity cell took note of VS Atem’s opinion as an indication that even top ranking “officials” of the NSCN (IM) are “ignorant” of the “fact” that “Naga people” have “evidently risen above” the “so-called national principle of the IM”.

“What VS Atem fail to understand is that the GOI is simply using IM as the bait and the so-called political talks as the medium to frustrate the younger Naga generation to a forced-assimilation into Indian culture, history and politics” the note claimed. In regard to the Khehoi designated camp of the “GPRN/NSCN”, the outfit asserted that it is “not backed by India in any manner and it harbors no terrorists” and that “designated camps exist simply to facilitate ceasefire mechanism between two entities”.

The “GPRN/NSCN” while recognizing that “the support and appreciation of the Naga people to the ongoing Reconciliation process is genuinely visible and most certainly the Government of India must be watching very closely at the wind of change in Nagaland,” cautioned that “amid the thunderous applause, perpetual skeptics, however, continue to indulge in negative assumptions resultant of their stagnant revolutionary stand.”

Patil reviews situation in NE - Deliberates NSCN (IM) 30-point charter of demand Uni
Delhi, November 11: Home Minister Shivraj Patil today held a high level meeting to discuss the security situation in Northeast where several blasts and other incidents have occurred recently. The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, Director Intelligence Bureau and former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah, who is acting as the Central interlocutor for the peace talks with NSCN(IM).

Apart from discussing the recent serial blasts in Assam, the meeting was understood to have aimed at formulating a strategy for the peace talks with NSCN(IM) likely to take place in the second week of November in Hague, Netherlands after a gap of nearly a year.

It also most likely have deliberated on 20 points Charter of Demands submitted by NSCN(IM) earlier. In this charter, the NSCN(IM) had sought separate representation at the UN and greater rights over natural resources, finance, defence and policing, besides unification of Naga-inhabited areas.

The peace talks are crucial as the Central government feels that NSCN(IM) despite peace talks was also involved in insurgent activities. Moreover, the rebels have raised questions over the government's sincerity in resolving the six-decade-old Naga insurgency problem in the Northeast.

However, frustrated over the long delay in bringing a solution to the vexed Naga issue, the NSCN(IM) is likely to seek firm commitment from the Centre over its demand for unification of Naga-inhabited areas at the peace talks.

NSCN(IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah would participate in the peace talks and press before a Group of Ministers headed by Oscar Fernandes that they would not compromise on the issue. The NSCN(IM) has been pressing for the formation of a 'greater Nagalim' comprising all Naga-inhabited areas in the northeast. However, this has been opposed by Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

The government has held over 60 rounds of talks with the NSCN(IM) both in India as well as abroad to find an amicable solution to the Naga issue.

NSCN(IM) and security forces in Nagaland have been observing a truce since August 1997. The ceasefire has been extended every 12 months since then except last year when it was renewed for just six months at the insistence of the rebels and further extended by another six months in February.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had last month requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil to expedite the peace process, noting that the initial euphoria over Delhi's initiative towards resolving the issue was now being replaced by "scepticism" in public mind.

Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan and Padmanabhaiah had hold talks with the Naga leadership on several previous occasions. (UNI)

NSCN(IM) against Terrorism Naga Page
As much as NSCN advocate the protection of human rights, the act of terrorism of any kind is equally condemned and abhorred. In the long year of Naga struggle, NSCN have never taken the path of adventurism in terrorism. This message became loud and clear when on 17 Oct. 2003, NSCN commit itself to a total ban on the use of uncontrolled
anti-personal mines by signing the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment.
Killing each other in combat is all a different matter and does not fall within the ambit of committing atrocious acts of terrorist. For this matter NSCN never believe in the use of terrorism as weapon of political message. Such practice is antithesis of human rights.
Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nationalism have impacted the Naga's political struggle as the Nagas are wedded to non-violent means to achieve their political aspiration. The present scenario of conflict is something forced on the Nagas. The aggressive oppression of the Naga's political rights has to be resisted in one way or the other.
Otherwise, Nagas under NSCN is all for peaceful process towards Indo-Naga political conflict. The fact that NSCN endured the burden of political discussion with India for more than 10 years is a clear demonstration of NSCN's faith in solving any political differences with India through negotiation across the table and not going for blood-bath in the battle field.
It is horrifying that in recent period some of the revolutionary groups in Northeast have cross all limit of revolutionary ethics and run afoul of human values. Mention may be made of the bomb blasts in Dimapur, Railway Station in 2006, Imphal bomb blast in Ragailung last month and the latest being in Assam's Gauhati and Kokrajhar. NSCN condemn such act in strongest term. We also condole the dead and offer our prayer that such acts of terrorism is not repeated. The agonizing cries of the victims of terrorist attack in Assam will never be easily erased from the human memory. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the bereaved family members of the victim and the injured. In such turbulent stage of combating terrorists, the public need to stay in full alert and assist the law and order enforcing agencies in all possible way. Because in fighting terrorists no visible or invisible lines of division are drawn.
Significantly, political frustrations are sometimes attached for resorting to act of terrorism. The hard earned recourse to peaceful means are sometimes not responded in the manner the situation demanded, and rather sending signal across that any recalcitrant
groups will not be tolerated. This kind of treatment or attitude that undermines the political determination of the groups in question has to be taken care of by the government of India. But at the same time any act that involves victimizing innocent people should never be condone with. NSCN never believe in shedding innocent blood through terrorism. This has been our history and we shall stand by it.
Issue by: MIP/GPRN


Naga consensus for peace and reconciliation Naga Page
It took eleven years after entering into a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India before Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) launched an initiative to provide a platform for all factional groups and social bodies in Chingmai to agree on a board framework and to define a new relationship that could well see the end of Naga insurgency and factional feud. The outcome needs to be hailed through the convention of hope fails to achieve a authority, yet well begun is half done. The forum has definitely risen above petty politics to overlook the fact that sovereignty in present context is a dead-end and impossible aim to achieve and sovereignty subsidized by Indian Union is an irrational and unethical objective. More than to anything else it is the mandate of the local Naga has surfaced to accept a solution that settles for a constitution within the constitution.
The Fact that since last year peace initiatives has been voiced by various forums amplifies the fact that Naga has been yearning for peace. However, prerequisite to peace is reconciliation needs to be understood and looked at with a wide angled lens. This explains the fact why initiative launched by GB/DBs forum, church bodies failed to gather momentum, as all were efforts in isolation on different planes altogether. FNR seems to have learnt from others mistakes as evident from the homogenous mixture of participants and the pledge taken to initiate action towards Naga Peace, unity and reconciliation in the sprit of forgiveness and mutual acceptance.
Having dwelled upon the positive initiative one needs to analyse the other side as well before drawing any conclusion. The fact that peace without reconciliation within factions can not able achieved need no amplification as one finds no change in the attitude of warning factions shedding blood almost on daily basic. Such peace initiatives looses its value when Naga brothers continue to get slaughtered to settle factional scores. Ideology at the highest level needs an orientation and change to influence it down at grass root level. The forum at chiangmai was the ideal platform for shaking hands of Muivah and Khaplang yet they prefer to remain silent. Time has gone when speeches alone could generate wonders, present sit demands action on ground and will to enforce it. The future will continue to be dark till leadership at both level decide to shed age old rivalry and bitter experiences and burn them as past.
Yet the bitter truth remains that time is running out fast. The common man has suffered enough courtesy the long drawn of factional war. With tribal organization and apex bodies of church, NGOs voicing their opinion for peace no faction holds the right to call themselves the sole negotiator for the 'Naga Cause'. The call of the day pledges to uphold the values of human rights and self-determination and exploitation without territorial demarcation among fellow Nagas. It serves as a wake up call to all factions to end the blood path and provide an umbrella to ensure all Nagas remain in peace. Future beckons ideas to transform into reality, dream into truth, words into actions and oath with sincerity the journey has begun and Nagas have joined it, only time will fell whether factions can resolve differences to form a part of the bandwagon less they chose to get marginalized within their own land. Peace and reconciliation seemed a distant dream yesterday yet today Nagaland stands on the threshold of achieving it.
K V Angami, student avtivist
Kohima science college.

Naga CM appeals to Nagas to preserve culture Sentinel
Kohima, Nov 15: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said the invasion of foreign culture should not be allowed to do away with the rich culture of the Nagas, who were at the crossroads from all angles, be it social, cultural or political.
An official release said here today the Chief Minister, while speaking at the Ahuna festival of Sumi Naga tribe at the Zunheboto Local Ground yesterday, about 235 km from here, appealed to the Nagas to preserve their culture and festivals amid “Christianity and foreign culture’’.
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government has initiated the platform to showcase the culture and rich tradition of the Nagas in the form of the famous “Hornbill festival’’ at the Heritage Village at Kisama, near Kohima.
Referring to the present context, Rio said the character and identity of Nagas were the most important of all social discourse. “No church or underground situation can solve the perplexed situation of the Naga society. Taking God as the director, one must play one’s role with a clear vision. All must put their efforts at this juncture to take a stand for a peaceful Nagaland,’’ he said.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Planning and Coordination Minister T R Zeliang, Minister of Roads and Bridges G Kaito Aye, Minister of Forest M C Konyak, Health and Family Welfare Minister Kuzholuzo Nienu as well as other parliamentary secretaries and MLAs. (UNI)

Maoist nexus with ULFA, NDFB foundStaff reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Nov 16 – The investigations into the serial blasts revealed close nexus between the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) with Bhutan-based Maoist rebel groups as all the groups have a common enemy in the King of Bhutan. Police sources said that the ULFA and the NDFB are against the Bhutan Government because of the Operation All Clear launched against the outfits in 2003, while the Maoist groups are strongly opposed to the move of the Government of the neighbouring country to evict a sizeable number of Nepali population from southern Bhutan. In recent years, the ULFA and the NDFB extended help to the Maoist rebel groups active in Bhutan by providing them with explosives.

The facts came to light following the arrest of a Bhutanese national Tenzing Zengpo during the course of investigation into the serial blasts. Zengpo was arrested along with one of the suspects in the case in Guwahati city. During interrogation, the Bhutanese national admitted the long association that they had with the ULFA and the NDFB. Sources revealed that Zengpo was earlier the general secretary of the Druk National Congress of Bhutan and now he is associated with Maoist rebel groups active in the neighbouring country.

Sources revealed that in June, 2007, the NDFB provided at least 50 kilograms of TNT to Maoists of Bhutan and that consignment of explosives is yet to be used, which proved that the neighbouring country is also under threat. What is more disturbing is that the NDFB has been under ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and the outfit reportedly provided the explosives in 2007, which proved that members of the outfit were involved in clear violations of the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement. Sources revealed that during questioning, the arrested Bhutanese national admitted that a team of Maoist rebels came to Udalguri and received the explosives. Unfortunately, none of the security agencies involved in counter-insurgency operations in Assam got any information about the visit of the foreign rebels and the fact came to light only after the arrest of Zengpo.

Commenting on the process of investigations into the serial blasts, sources said that the investigations were not carried out with any pre-conceived notion. “We are investigating into the blasts on the basis of physical evidence and the involvement of the ULFA and the NDFB has been established,” sources added. Sources further said that the plan was formulated by the ULFA and the NDFB at the highest level in the months of August and September and the NDFB carried out the ground work including procurement of vehicles to plant the bombs. The vehicles used to plant the bombs were with the NDFB members and supporters upto October 28 and 29. From the confessional statements of the arrested persons, it was apparent that the ULFA provided the explosives, but it is still not clear where the bombs had been made.

Sources further stated that one hardcore ULFA militant – Dhiren Nath alias Monoj Nath, was arrested near the Kalia Bhomora bridge on November 7 while he was transporting around nine kilograms of TNT and the arrested person admitted that he was involved in transporting an even larger consignment of explosives on October 25. The investigating team is now trying to ascertain whether the explosives transported on October 25 were used to trigger off the serial blasts, sources added.

Government diverting blast investigation: BPPF By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Nov 15: BPPF president Rabiram Narzary today said Maoists were involved in the blasts at Kokrajhar, but the State Government is diverting the investigation to another direction. Talking to newsmen in Guwahati today, Narzary said: “After the blasts, a special investigation team from West Bengal visited Kokrajhar and handed over names of three terrorists and the photograph of one of them,” Narzary said, and added: “The militants are Maoist-Leftist Group action commander Md Tahid Mullah hailing from Mursidabad in West Bengal, Md Tahiuddin, also from Mursidabad, and SULFA man Muslim Uddin Haque from Dhubri. When the photograph of Tahid Uddin was shown to them, the traders of Kokrajhar told the police that they had seen such suspicious people in the guise of woollen cloth traders in the market.” Narzary said: “The State Government’s honesty in the blast investigation is open to question as it is doing little progress on the ISF-IM that claimed to have triggered the serial blasts.”

Stop politicizing blasts, says Bengali youth body Staff Correspondent Sentinel
DIBRUGARH, Nov 15: The All Assam Bengali Yuba Chatra Federation (AABYCF) has appealed to all political parties not to politicize the recent bomb blasts in the State. Expressing serious concern over the present socio-political scenario following the serial bomb blasts on October 30, the State secretary of the organization, Nirmal Kanti Seal, stated that it was necessary to join hands rather than throw mud on one another for selfish political gains.
Condemning the incident in strongest term, he held both State Government and the Centre responsible for the incidents. The AABYCF secretary said that the State Government could have saved the lives of the people had it paid heed to the intelligence reports warning about possible strikes by militants. However, he preferred not to comment as to who could be behind the blasts, and said that it would be too premature to predict when a central team was investigating the incidents.
Seal was emphatic that the people who had a hand in the blasts should be dealt with an iron hand.
People should keep a vigil on the day-to-day developments and resist being swayed by the words of politicians who are bent on politicizing the issue in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, the AABYCF office-bearer added. He also demanded that adequate medical treatment should be extended to all injured and compensation paid to the families of the victims.

24 NDFB cadres ‘missing’ from Barbari designated camp From our Correspondent Sentinel
NALBARI, Nov 15: The Baksa police has nabbed two top NDFB cadres of Barbari designated NDFB camp namely R Sebja and B Fauthok following the advice of a special investigation team on November 10, which was sharply reacted by the NDFB cadres of the designated camp.
Later, the two cadres had been sent to Guwahati for high level inquiry and interrogation.
Baksa SP PK Dutta, in a press meet held at the headquarters of Baksa district police yesterday, said that situation was under control. He said that police and security personnel gheraoed the designated camp to raid on November 10 in the evening. Dutta said NDFB cadres who are bound by ceasefire agreement can never violate the ground rules. He also added NDFB cadres can never be allowed to remain outside following the SOP rules. They may be allowed only for four hours if they go out of the camp. He said that as many as 144 numbers of NDFB cadres were found in the camp out of 204 cadres. Out of the missing cadres, 19 were on leave and 13 were under treatment. But the question arises regarding the left 24 cadres whose whereabouts are not known as yet, the SP said.
Dutta said that no NDFB cadre will be allowed to go outside along with arms and ammunition as per rule of the SOP. He also added that NDFB cadres will have to abide by the rules strictly, as per the accord signed between the NDFB and the Central Government.
Naga products set to draw investors at IIT Fair Eastern Mirror

DIMAPUR, NOV 14 (EMN): Nagaland is all set to make waves and attract investors at the India International Trade Fair, inaugurated today by the Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari at Hamsadhwani Theatre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The Nagaland State Pavilion, managed by the Women Development Department alongwith Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission and Nagaland Bio Resource Mission and Horticulture Department, is expected to attract investors to the state by showcasing world-class products including Naga King Chilly Pickle and horticulture products and medicinal plants, an official communiqué informed.