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11/19/2008: "NPF criticizes Centre for suppression & oppression of Nagas Accuses Congress of creating division among UGs (Page News Service)"

NPF criticizes Centre for suppression & oppression of Nagas Accuses Congress of creating division among UGs (Page News Service)

KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 18: The Nagaland People's Front (NPF) today heavily criticized the Centre for what it termed "suppressed and oppressive" against the Naga people.
Making loud and clear the stand of the NPF, chief minister Neiphiu Rio told the party general convention that Nagas have been fighting and struggling for sovereignty and it was on the basis of Nagas' struggle and their rights that even statehood was granted to Nagas.
"But it is most unfortunate that despite granting the Nagas statehood, Delhi has refused to allow the Nagas to run our own affairs," Rio told thousands of party workers gathered at the Indira Gandhi stadium just outskirt of Kohima town. He said the Centre's approach to the Nagas would be oppressive and continue to rule the Nagas through their party high command.
"Nagas have always been suppressed and the imposition of President's Rule by dismissing the regional party led Government proves the fact that Delhi's approach to the Nagas will be oppressive and continue to rule the Nagas through their party high command," Rio said.
The oldest regional party in the Northeast, the NPF, also said at the top of the party's agenda is early resolution of the Indo-Naga" political problem. "Our commitment and role as active facilitator in the ongoing peace process and political dialogue remains steadfast," the chief minister said. He said the declared stand of the party is paving way in the event of an alternative solution that is honourable and acceptable to the people.
Earlier Rio, chief minister now for the second term, had categorically asked the Centre to discuss sovereignty issue with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), which is holding peace talks with the Centre.
He said the party is also committed that it will not stand in the way of peace but rather will leave no stone unturned to make way for lasting peace. "A section that is not part of the solution cannot deny that they are part of the problem," Rio said without naming any section or group.
The NPF also directly accused the opposition Congress of creating division among Naga militant outfits. It said Congress was active in dividing the outfits and financing certain faction. The party said it would not tolerate such divisive role of the congress.
A senior NPF leader, Noke Konyak held the Congress solely responsible for the division among Naga militants. He said the core agenda of the Congress is to divide Naga people for their 'selfish interest'.
But in quick reaction the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) rubbished the NPF stating that the party has been all out for the early resolution of Naga imbroglio and therefore it was under the initiative of the congress party and government at the centre ceasefire was declared between the Centre and the NSCN led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah.
"Towards solution to the political problem, we have committed to strive for its solution by playing the role of a mediator," NPF president, Shurhozelie Liezietsu said. He however said solution to the problem depend on the wisdom of the Naga militant groups to have one voice.
The NPF also criticized the 1960, 16 Point Agreement which created Nagaland state stating that it was signed in most against the wishes of Naga people who were fighting for sovereignty.
Former home minister and former assembly speaker, Thenucho Chakhesang in his unusual outburst said some few section of people in nexus with the Centre's agencies brought division amongst Naga people by signing 16 Point Agreement.
Chakhesang said as NPF being the regional party with solely stands for the rights and aspiration of Naga people resigned en-mass in 1964 when ceasefire was declared between the centre and the Naga undergrounds and again in 1998 the party abstained from elections as per the call and wishes of Naga people "solution not elections".
All political parties including BJP and other national parties abstained from 1998 state general elections as per call given by the Naga hoho and other Naga organizations demanding for early solution to the Naga problem. Congress under the leadership of the then chief minister S C Jamir had a catwalk.
Khekiho Zhimomi, member Rajya Sabha said he would continue to present the voice of Naga people to the Indian policy makers. He said Nagas' desire and aspiration is to remain united under one administrative unit.
Zhimomi said the foremost desire of Naga people is for integration of all Naga areas of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Myanmar. "I will sincerely work for this issue" the MP told the convention.
Meanwhile, NPF is already in election mood as Lok Sabha is fast approaching. Its hand was strengthened today with the merger of state unit of RJD with the party. Former Nagaland Commissioner T N Mannen today merged with the NPF but said modalities have to been worked out for smooth transition.
NPF calls for ceasefire among factions morungexpress
Dimapur, November 19 (MExN): Reiterating its call for a peaceful negotiated settlement of the long-drawn Indo-Naga political issue, the Nagaland People’s Front in its resolution arrived at during its general convention said the Naga political problem has eluded solution even after more than half a century of bloodshed turmoil. The NPF has made an appeal to all the warring factions to cease-fire and to declare a ‘general amnesty’ to arrive at an early solution. The NPF also assured it will adhere to its declared policy of paving the way for an alternative arrangement in the event of a successful dialogue.

The resolution also expressed support to the untiring efforts exerted by the Political Affairs Committee ever since its inception to reconcile and unite the Naga underground workers and bring them to the negotiating table. The party will also continue to lend its “unflinching support to all the peace process and to restore Naga fraternity”.
On its slogan, ‘development for peace and peace for development’, the NPF noted that the DAN Government had declared 2008 as the year of capacity-building and “true to the themes-the government under the visionary leadership of Neiphiu Rio have conquered new frontiers in leaps and bound in the overall development of the state”. While extending congratulations to all its leaders, the NPF said the performance of the DAN government has earned the ‘distinction of having achieved a milestone in this context’.

The NPF also recorded its gratitude to all the coalition partners. “But for their unwavering support, the foundations towards building a strong and self reliant economy could have never been laid today”, the NPF resolution stated.
The NPF in its resolution has also vehemently condemned in the strongest term, the acts of sacrilege committed in many parts of India where atrocities continue to be perpetrated against thousands of Christians, their churches and auxiliaries and put on record its deepest sympathy to all who have fallen victims to the nefarious design of some extreme elements. “It is duty-bound for the GOI and the concern states to uphold in letter and spirit the secular character of the constitution under all circumstances and not yield to forces which are wedded to the ideology of communal and Religion intolerance”. The NPF strongly urged the concern authorities to protect the lives and properties of the Christians in the effected states and immediately promulgate stringent measures to halt the financial campaign against Christian minorities and their establishments and ensure total implementation of the fundamental rights to freedom of Religion and belief.

The NPF resolution also made mention of Neiphiu Rio the Chief Minister of Nagaland and Dr. Shürhozelie the President of NPF under whose leaderships the Party stormed back to power for the second consecutive term despite all odds. The party also placed on record its gratitude to each and every electorate in particular and the Naga People in general for reposing their confidence in the party and its leadership yet again in the 2008 General Election. “The NPF will remain as the custodian of all these valuable mandates and ensure that it transforms into golden policies of multifaceted socio economic and political development for the Naga People”, it stated in its resolution.
NSF rally to ‘salvage the younger generation’ morungexpress

Students seen here in today’s protest rally in Kohima, demanding from the government a review of the superannuation age-limit and length of government service.

Kohima | November 19 : In demanding from the state government a review of the superannuation age limit for government employees, the Naga Students’ Federation today staged a protest rally starting from its office to the Nagaland Civil Secretariat complex.

More than 1500 students joined the NSF in the protest rally passing through the main town holding placards, shouting slogans for justice and demanding implementation of the demanded length limit of service. Interestingly, among the many placards carried by the students, some read “Grandpa/Grandma give us chance to serve you” while others appealed for youth involvement and not disregarding them from serving the state.

Expressing discontent over the state cabinet’s decision to extend the age of service without considering the length of service, the students demanded that the government employees retire after 33 years of service to give employment opportunity to the younger generation, who are educated but unemployed.

Addressing the gathering NSF general secretary, V Hetoi Chishi said the rally was organized to ‘salvage the younger generation’, by demanding the government to enforce 33 years as the length of service for any government employee. Unless the government reviews the length of service, there will be no vacancies and no chance for the educated youths to enter into government services, he said.

“We are not here by chance but by choice”, said former NPF President, Phusikha Awomi. Due to some vested interests of government employees, he said, educated youths are forced to remain unemployed giving further rise to anti-social elements. He said the youths are capable of taking decisions and parents and elders should give chance to the younger generation and that no political propaganda can move “us”. Awomi urged the student community to join hands with the NSF. “Unless you (students) stand for your rights and stand on your feet, your future is bleak” he said while assuring that the NSF is to see that the future of the younger generation is secured. “This is a fight between the deserving and the desiring” he said.

Other NSF federating units including the Delhi Naga Students’ Union also delivered speeches after the rally culminated outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat. Government service being the only avenues of employment in the state, government employees should retire after 33 years of service and give a chance to the younger generation, they said. Talking to media persons, the NSF assured to intensify the agitations if the government fails to meet the demand made.

Journalists pile pressure on Ibobi for probe BY OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union stages a sit-in in Imphal on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Imphal, Nov. 19: Journalists in Manipur today launched an indefinite ceasework against the killing of a sub-editor of Imphal Free Press.
In a memorandum to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union urged him to order a judicial inquiry into the killing of Konsam Rishikanta Singh by unidentified persons.
The union had yesterday resolved to launch an indefinite ceasework from today and suspend publication of all dailies from tomorrow.
Journalists, including editors, held a sit-in at Keishampat in the city demanding punishment to the culprits.
“We will not resume publication until the government names and arrests the culprits. The incident has terrorised the media in the state. Rishikanta is the fifth journalist killed in Manipur in the past few years,” the president of the union, S. Hemant, said. The bullet-riddled body of Rishikanta Singh was recovered by police from the Langol area of Imphal West on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, lawyers today condemned firing at the private residence of chief judicial magistrate, Chandel, B.K. Sharma, by unknown persons, last evening. Sharma said some unknown persons came to his house at Awangkhunou in Imphal West at 6.15pm and fired several rounds in the air. They also called out Sharma’s ailing wife Tarubi Devi and told her to reach a “settlement” with them before noon today.
Sharma was not present when the incident took place. No one was injured in the firing. Earlier this month, “valley operation commander” Leisemba Luwang of the Kangleipak Communist Party had served an extortion note of Rs 3 lakh on Sharma Police could not say whether the firing was carried out by the group that made the monetary demand
Sharma reported the matter to the authorities of the sessions court here, seeking protection. In his report today, the chief judicial magistrate said the attackers had threatened to eliminate him if he failed to reach “an agreement” with them by noon today. Police said patrolling at Awangkhunou had been stepped up to prevent further attacks on the judge’s residence.
“We strongly condemn the attack. No one should threaten a judge. Courts should be allowed to deliver justice without fear,” the president of the All Manipur Bar Association, A. Indrakumar Singh, said.
Cloud over Gorlosa ceasefire - Flip-flop angers Dispur The telegraph
Guwahati, Nov. 19: Dispur has all but made up its mind not to go in for any ceasefire with the Jewel Gorlosa-led faction of the Dima Halam Daogah because of the outfit’s vacillation.
Sources today said a review of the overall situation in the North Cachar Hills district had found that it would be “foolhardy” to enter into a ceasefire with the DHD (J), which is fighting for a separate Dimaraji state, despite the outfit’s apparent desire for a bilateral truce.
“Most people associated with security arrangements in the volatile district are against the ceasefire with the group, given its flip-flop attitude. The overall mood is anti-ceasefire. However, chief minister Tarun Gogoi will take a final call as he heads the three-tier Unified Command structure. Once he takes the call, either way, we will formally move the Union ministry of home affairs,” a source in the chief minister’s office said.
Gogoi not only heads the Unified Command that plans and executes counter-insurgency operations, but also heads the home department which has to take into account the impact the ceasefire would have on the two national projects — East West Corridor and the railway gauge conversion. These are already running behind schedule.
The last straw in the toughening of stand has been the DHD (J)’s ban on the movem-ent of goods trains since Nove-mber 13 in protest against the Centre’s indifference to the unilateral three-month ceasefire announced on March 17. The assessment of security agencies operating in the district, however, was based on the group’s recent fatal attack on a leader of the pro-talks faction of the DHD on October 29. A day later, an ambush took place at Doyangmukh, in which eight policemen were killed. Two Nepalis were gunned down at Umrangsu early this month and extortion and intimidation continues in the rebels’ area of operation.
“How can you count on them? You declare unilateral truce when you want to, you declare a ban when you want and you kill when you want. Peace is not a one-way traffic. A commitment is required which simply is not there,” a senior official said.
The DHD (J)’s ban on the movement of goods train has already resulted in the suspension of night trains.
“Now only a special passenger train plies between Lumding and Badarpur at 6am and comes back at 4.35pm, in place of five regular trains. As far as goods trains are concerned, only two are plying during the day. Though nothing untoward has taken place, you can never be too sure with the group,” a railway source said.
Train services were suspended in May after an attack on a train, which left two railway personnel dead. Employees left the district en masse and regular services resumed only after the beefing up of security in August.
Bike-owner surrenders A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph


Security forces apprehended three suspected Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam militants from Tezpur on Tuesday night. Three grenades and nine live rounds of ammunition were found on them. Picture by Eastern Projections
Guwahati, Nov. 19: Ranjit Ramchiary, whose motorbike was used in the Choudhury Complex blast at Barpeta Road, surrendered before the police today at his village in Anandbazar. A police team, led by Barpeta SP Debyojit Mukherjee, had persuaded Ramchiary’s parents yesterday to ensure the surrender, which apparently led to the move.
The motorbike (AS-15A-6007) was registered in Ramchiary’s name. But sources said the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) cadres had taken away the vehicle from him two years ago.
“We will now try to trace whether the motorcycle was actually taken away by the NDFB and if so, whether he knows the identity of the cadre,” a source in the special investigating team (SIT) said. The police will also try to ascertain Ramchiary’s links with the NDFB, because as per records, his relations with the outfit had become strained.
In yet another development, the city police today arrested three persons on charges of indulging in vandalism at Ganeshguri following the blast on October 30. Police said that the accused were identified as Gagan Chandra Mahanta (30) of Kamalpur in Kamrup district, Dhan Barman (27) of Singimari in Kamrup and M. Khandakar (26) of Sarthebari in Barpeta district.
“The three arrested today were part of the crowd who indulged in vandalism and instigated others, taking advantage of the situation. Their main motive apparently was to loot shops,” a police official said. The accused were subsequently produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate (Kamrup) and remanded in three days’ police custody.
In a related development, Dispur today entrusted the former director-general of Assam police, D.N. Dutt, to inquire into allegations of police inaction leading to mob violence after blasts in the city. For the first time after the blasts, two persons, identified as Abdul Rahman and Sahidur Rahman of Chaygaon, were caught red-handed by the district administration for making false claims of compensation by identifying themselves as injured blast victims this afternoon.
In connection with the blasts probe, the special investigation team (SIT) decided last evening to seek permission from the court for conducting narco-analysis tests on the two prime accused, arrested in connection with the blasts.
A sea route to northeast in the making
SHILLONG, NOV 19 (PTI): As Bangladesh continues to deny India access to landlocked northeast through Chittagong port, a little-known Burmese port on the Bay of Bengal
has promised to solve the long-standing problem.
Sittwe port on the Myanmar coast was not long ago a small village of fishing communities and farmers. Now, it could serve as a commercial sea route to the north-eastern states through Burmese territory.
A Union Commerce Ministry team, which recently came here in connection with a seminar, said that the port has attained immense strategic importance with India developing the port, expanding facilities to accommodate goods traffic under an agreement signed by the two governments in April, this year.
From Sittwe the Kaladan River will be made navigable for 225 km, up to Kaletwa (Myanmar). From there, a 62-km highway will take the traffic to the India-Myanmar border in the Indian state of Mizoram.
A road from the border will link the project to India's National Highway-54. The sea distance between Kolkata and Sittwe is about 540 km. India is financing the entire USD 103 million project.
DONER minister Mani Shankar Aiyar recently said, "The Union cabinet would soon sanction a project of the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways for developing highway connectivity in Mizoram and along the 250-km route to the port."
To improve road connectivity within Mizoram the Union ministry for shipping, road transport and highways has sanctioned Rs 120 crore to state for development of national highways during 2008-09 as part of steps to develop the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport project to link Sittwe Port with India.
The Multi-Modal project, which is to make the river Kaladan navigable up to Sittwe Port, would be connected to NH-54 at Nalkawn in Mizoram.
New Delhi's move to develop the Sittwe port in western Myanmar assumes significance in view of Bangladesh's reported reluctance to give India access to Chittagong, Ashuganj and other ports for transportation of goods to the northeastern region and the rest of India.
"Myanmar had become a country of critical importance to India in terms of trade and commerce as Dhaka has denied transit to New Delhi through Bangladesh. We can also bring goods from Sittwe to any Indian port by using sea routes," Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had recently said.
There is a river route through Bangladesh but that has not been a practical answer for steady commerce as the Bangladesh government was not very enthusiastic. Further, the shallow river bed of the Brahmaputra also did not allow movement of large vessels.
At present, all traffic is routed through the narrow and congested "chicken neck" corridor via the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal.
Ramesh said after the completion of the project in 2012, Mizoram would become a hub of international trade. The project is expected to give a huge boost to the economic activities in the landlocked northeastern states.

Murder of journalist Condemnations pour in from all sections Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Nov 18: Taking strong exception to the killing of the Imphal Free Press junior Sub-Editor Konsam Rishikanta yesterday, the All Manipur Uni- ted Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) has strongly condemned the killing.
Observing that the people of Manipur have been shouting and protesting against both the State and non-State actors’ turning their weapons to the common people, harassing them and killing people without trial, AMUCO lamented that despite the strong and persistent voice of the people, there is no let-up in violence, killings and atrocities.
Peace and security entitled to a citizen of a welfare State still remain a far cry for the people of Manipur. Only security personnel and politicians guarded rounded the clock by security personnel are safe in Manipur whereas the lives of common people are highly insecure.
The United People’s Front (UPF) has also condemned the killing of Rishikanta.
In a press release, the UPF said that it seemed too harsh to award death penalty to any media person who had been disseminating information to the public. The bereaved family would have been certainly grateful had he (Rishikanta) been given any chance to correct himself even if there was any mistake on his part.
Condemning the killing of Rishikanta in the same vein, HERICOUN has appealed to all concerned to come up with an explanation for the killing.
Observing that killing a media persons without giving any reason has put the society in a more critical situation, HERICOUN called upon all to fight collectively against the practice of making false accusations after killing people.
While condemning the killing of Rishikanta by unidentified persons yester- day at Langol, the ACOAM -Lup, Kangleipak observed that the act was a frontal attack to the freedom of press.
With an earnest appeal to all concerned to stop the rampant killing of each other, the Universal Mothers’ Organisation (UMO) has condemned the killing of journalist Rishikanta.
Joining the condemnation chorus, the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) asserted that the killing of Konsam Rishikanta (25) s/o K Budhi of Ningomthong Sairom Leirak should be condemned by one and all.
CORE further appealed to the Government to conduct an enquiry and to award befitting punishment to those found guilty.
Strongly condemning the killing of Rishikanta, the All Manipur Govt Higher Secondary Lecturers’ Welfare Association has urged upon all armed individuals/groups to stay away from killing media persons.
A special meeting of the All Jiribam Working Journalists’ Union convened today has also condemned the killing of Rishikanta in the strongest term. It also pledged unstinted support to any step taken up by AMWJU in this regard.
The AMADA has also condemned the killing of Rishikanta. While sharing the pain and anguish of the bereaved family, AMADA asked all those involved in the killing to explain their act to the public. Others who have come out strongly against the killing of Imphal Free Press Junior Sub-Editor Konsam Rishikanta include CPI(M), Manipur State Committee, the Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), SFI Manipur State Committee, Democratic Youth Federation of India Manipur State Committee, AISF Manipur State Council, Threatened Indigenous Peoples’ Society (TIPS) Manipur, Integrated Rural Development Service Organisation -IRDSO, Centre for Social Development, Women Action for Development etc.