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11/29/2008: "First anniversary of Naga unification celebrated Morung Dilip Sharma"

First anniversary of Naga unification celebrated Morung Dilip Sharma

Last year on November 22, the leaders of NSCN declared the unification of all Nagas to fight for the common cause of sovereignty. Yesterday, NSCN celebrated its first anniversary and sent across the message of unity and reconciliation of the Nagas.
THE GOVERNMENT of the People’s Republic of Nagaland/National Socialist Council of Nagaland (GPRN/NSCN) celebrated its first anniversary of Naga unification at Khehoi designated camp on November 22, sending a message across that Naga problem can be solved only through unity and reconciliation of the Nagas.
President of GPRN/NSCN, SS Khaplang in his message said that Naga people’s unity and freedom cannot be obstinately bartered away with individual ideology or principles. The people’s wishes and desire cannot be crucified on the altar of inhumanity. Khaplang’s message was read out by MIP Kilonser Alezo Venuh.

Khaplang said that the commitment of one’s patriotism should transcend across sectarian or individual interests and focus on promoting the desire, wishes and aspiration of the general Naga people.
“Today, we are anchored at the cross-road where acknowledgment of the ground reality has become indispensable,” he stated and called upon the people not to be discouraged by negative espousers. “We are obliged to take up the cudgels of pragmatic and constructive approaches collectively, so that the ugly past does not recur and our aspiration salvaged,” he added.
Khaplang further called upon the Nagas to ’to unify ourselves and rescue our cause’ from degenerating into the dark depths of the basset of human nature. He also called upon all the Nagas to rededicate themselves to the task ahead so that Nagas can build and bequeath the legacy of an assured future for the upcoming generations.
Stating that tremendous changes have taken place in the Naga political context, the GPRN/NSCN president said that the endured desire of the Nagas to concertedly expedite a final solution to the protracted Indo-Naga-Burma political imbroglio persisted. He said that on November 22, 2007, unification of all Naga people materialised, marking a significant landmark in the political history of the Nagas. “It is the realisation of the Naga people, irrespective of tribal affiliations or across artificially imposed boundaries, with a common aspiration to defend our inalienable rights as a people-nation in unity,” he stated.
Calling upon all responsible Nagas to come forward and dispense each and every person’s respective duties to achieve the goals, he said that Nagas have to openly identify and isolate destructive and obstructive elements and their views, which are up against Naga people’s reconciliation and unification. “We have to pronounce a spade a spade without any reservation,” he stated.
Stating that Muivah’s talks with the Government of India for more than a decade has yielded no results except drained and suffocated the economy of the Nagas, Khaplang said that Muivah’s failure can be attributed to orchestrated mandate and consensus of the Nagas, misrepresenting the true spirit, desire and wish of the people in concern.
He also thanked the Naga civil societies, non government organisations, Churches, public leaders, intellectuals and general Naga public for having reposed faith upon the GPRN/NSCN, stating that their tireless support, help and ceaseless prayers have enabled to attain unity and towards subsequent exploration for a final solution to the vexed Indo-Naga political imbroglio.
Giving a brief account of the initiation of all Naga unification, Kilo Kilonser, Azheto Chopy said that different organisations have been in search for sovereignty, but their desires have been turned down in the last many years.
He said unless Nagas unite, they cannot bring any solution. He said that ’Nagaland for Christ’ should not be the motto of the national workers alone but for all Nagas. He lamented that even after following the teaching of Christ, there is bloodshed amongst the Nagas.
He said the Nagas have tried to unite under various leaderships and even endorsed their support to the collective leadership in 2005, but there was no outcome, whereas the Government of India has been saying that Nagas should unite first during the peace talks. Since the Nagas were unable to unite, last year on November 22, the initiative was taken and Naga unification was declared, he disclosed.
Stating that Nagas’ stand is to bring unity amongst themselves, Chopy appealed to all the Nagas to shed differences and unite for the larger interest of all people of Nagaland.
Others who shared their views on Naga political problem, Naga unity and reconciliation were Naga Hoho president, Keviluto, DBs & GBs forum representative and FNR convenor, Dr Wati Aier.
Huge quantities of explosives recovered following encounter PTI Sibsagar/Dibrugarh, Nov 23 (PTI) Huge quantity of explosives, including 10 kg of RDX, were recovered following a gunfight between ULFA militants and security forces in Assam's Sibsagar district today.
Sibsagar SP Shyamal Prasad Saikia told PTI that an information was received that a group of about 9-15 top ULFA cadres had sneaked into the district from Myanmar through Nagaland and had taken shelter in the house of one Shivlal Sarmah.

Police and the army cordoned off the house at Hunaipur Soraihojiya under Geleki police station bordering Nagaland this afternoon and a heavy exchange of fire took place but the militants managed to escape.

Search operation was continuing in the neighbouring thick jungles to nab the militants.

Huge quantities of arms and ammunition, including 10 kg of RDX, eight electronic detonators, blankets, sleeping bags, a camera and some documents on the latest activities of ULFA were recovered from the house.

The security forces also recovered a letter, sent from the ULFA 'headquarters' with an illegible signature, that directed cadres to "take action and create havoc in Upper Assam districts and act as discussed and planned", Saikia said.

Meanwhile, two relatives of ULFA's 28 battalion commander Sujit Mohan were nabbed from Sapekhati area of Sibsagar, defence sources said.

The security forces recovered five LIC policies in the name of the ULFA leader and his wife Bijulee Barua, Rs two lakh in cash, some magazines and documents from the duo Sanat Barua and Juthika Barua, who are Bijulee's brother and sister.
Rungsung Suisa: “Pragmatic and Relevant” By: U A Shimray

In the mid 1940s, Naga leaders like Mr. Rungsung Suisa from Ukhrul region, Mr. Athiko Daiho of Mao, and Mr. Teba Kilong from Tamenglong strongly advocated for the Naga integration of Naga areas of Manipur with Naga hills of Assam province [Nagaland]. R. Suisa beliefs that consolidation of all Naga people under one political unit is one important agenda in Naga political struggle. He ridiculous the Naga National Council’s [NNC] demand for complete sovereignty. In the 1960s, Mr. Rungsung Suisa initiated that “Nagaland and India form a federation” or “Link or Relationship” to solve the Indo-Naga dispute but the proposal was totally rejected as the NNC stick to Naga sovereignty.

Indeed, the ongoing Naga political talks, Nagas are willing to explore, an “appropriate federal relationship” with India, governed by the agreement in such a way that it cannot be changed unilaterally in the future by either side. At the same time, Naga civil society organisations’ demand for the Naga integration now play significant role in region’s politics. Either Naga integration or federal relationship talking now is already envisaged and proposed by R. Suisa. Rejected agenda during his time now become relevant in the contemporary Naga politics. Today, R. Suisa’s idea rejected as unworkable is one of the important agenda in Naga peace talks.

R. Suisa: Unsung Leader
In short, Mr. R. Suisa biography can be described as- teacher, missionary, politician, revolutionary, thinker and settled down as vegetable vendor in Dimapur town [Nagaland]. In other words, R. Suisa is a Pastor, MLA, MP [Lok Sabha], Naga revolutionary [underground], later resigned from NNC and ventured to put up his proposal of India-Naga issue as Naga well-wisher. Mr. Suisa was born in Somdal Village, western side of Ukhrul district [Tangkhul Nagas region] of Manipur in 1907. Passed Matriculation Examination from Jorhat Christian High School, Assam under the Calcutta University which, during that period covered the present North Eastern region and Bangladesh [then East Bengal], and topped the University of the year.

R. Suisa began his multi-career as missionary at Pudunamei Baptist Church, Mao [Manipur]. In 1946, the President Manipur State Darbar [PMSD] nominated him as a member of Manipur’s Constitution Making Committee [CMC]. In the process, R. Suisa and other hill leaders [tribal] demanded that the hill areas should be allowed to secede from Manipur Kingdom after five years if they desired. The hill representatives of CMC declared as: “The Principal of equality and freedom as applied to all without distinction of caste, creed and race shall include the right of any section of the Hill Peoples to secede at the end of the five years period should condition within the Constitution not be satisfactory.”

The first general election in Manipur was held on 1948. Mr. PC Deb, the Returning Officer of Manipur declared R. Suisa elected uncontested to the Manipur State Assembly from No. 7, Talloi Hill vide notification dated June 1948 [Manipur State Gazette June 30, 1948 Part III]. He then served in that competence till the Assembly was dissolved just after the Manipur Merger Agreement with the Union of India.

He became an MP in the second Lok-Sabha on Congress ticket from Manipur Outer Constituency [1957-1962] and was fitted in various Committees of the Parliament. He was later directly involved in Naga politics by serving as Assistant to vice-President, Naga National Council from 1964-1966.

Journalist Harish Chandola comments [“Mr. Suisa As I Know,” in Legacy of R. Suisa, 1976] as: “But his first concern was to unite his own Naga people whose land had been divided by the British colonial power arbitrarily.”

The Proposal…
The foremost alternative proposal of Naga problem was propounded by Mr. R. Suisa however, the NNC rejected such move. Mr. Suisa informs Mr. Zapu Phizo, President of NNC that the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was ready to settle the Naga issue and place his proposed resolution. Instead of taking rational thought to the proposal, the NNC warned him with dire consequences if he persisted with his effort. At the time, the struggle is nothing less than complete independence.

R. Suisa’s proposal in short, was to have a Link or Relationship between India and Nagalim. The brief abstract of the proposal includes:
1. that Nagaland and India form a federation.
2. Nagaland and India will have a pact on defence, foreign affairs and communication.
3. some subjects of common concern to be selected if required.
4. except for the above mentioned subjects, “In all matters of her own affairs and self-concern, Nagaland will be sovereign.”
R. Suisa who envisages ahead of his time and his in-depth understanding of Naga issue is pragmatic and logical politics. R. Suisa opposed the NNC’s propaganda “Nothing short of complete independence; Nothing to do with India” and he term as “meaningless political cry.” He further denounced “go on fighting, something will be coming from outside to the aid of solution of our problem.” He considered Naga people alone have to find out the solution. However, R. Suisa became unwelcome person at Chedema [peace camp]. In his later age, he landed up as vegetable vendor and buried at Kala Kaphung [Mound of Mirror] at Hongman village, Senapti district [far away from his native village]. His life itself is “political statement.” To remarks, Suisa lived for his beliefs…
Patil concerned over State situation Spl correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Nov 22 – In a clear reflection of the Centre’s anxiety over the escalation of violence in the State, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today admitted that situation in Assam does not indicate satisfactory improvement. The Home Minister, who was inaugurating the two-day conference of DGPs and IGPs here this morning, dwelt at length on the internal security situation of the country. He mentioned about threats from across the border, besides ruling out the possibility of enacting any special act to fight terror.

The conference, an annual event when the country’s top sleuths take stock of the security threats and chalk out strategies to tackle them would be addressed by the Prime Minister tomorrow. This year, the theme of the Conference is terror and a threadbare deliberation on terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern States and Naxal infested States is high on the agenda.

Earlier in the morning, Union Home Minister gave away the Police Medals for meritorious service to officers and men of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Those who attended the inaugural session included the Ministers of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Dr. Shakeel Ahmad and Radhika Selvi,

besides National Security Advisor (NSA), M.K.Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary, K.M. Chandrashekhar, Union Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta and Director, Intelligence Bureau, P. C. Haldar.

About the North Eastern region, he said situation in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram were quite normal and peaceful. Tripura has improved by nearly 40 per cent.

Assam, Nagaland and Manipur continue to suffer, as they used to do in the past. Nagaland and Manipur situations indicate slight improvement. “Assam does not indicate satisfactory improvement,” he said.

All the three states have common international border, he mentioned, without naming Bangladesh.

Patil’s reaction reflected Centre’s concern over the latest figures of violence. It has been revealed that of the 1276 incidents of violence recorded during the first 10 months of the year in the North-east, 1179 incidents took place in the three States of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.

Terrorist activities are perpetrated in the areas, which are close to international borders, in the areas covered with thick forests, in the areas, which do not have good transport facilities and in cities. It is necessary to have plans and schemes to deal with them in these areas. Helicopter and planes can be made available to the forces to reach the places where they are needed in time, he said.

Cooperation between the States and their forces to control terrorism is necessary. Each State can have a nodal officer, who can deal with his counterparts in other States. If laws are needed to be amended for facilitating cooperation between the States that should be done. The neighbouring States can prepare plans to control terrorism in cooperation with one another, he said.

Religions or cultures do not preach terrorism. Terrorism is nothing but a kind of violent cowardice. It is different from taking a firm stand with respect to that on which you have full confidence and firm belief. But, terrorists want to use the psychology of unsuspecting and innocent persons to flare up communal disturbances. The police should never forget this and should take proper action, he said.

Terrorism need be tackled by using multi-pronged approach. Police forces can help. But, other methods to deal with it are also required. Less developed areas should be better developed. People should be helped to live better lives. No social, cultural, political and economic injustice should be done to any individuals or section of the society, he opined.

The cities are being attacked and are likely to be attacked more in future. So, plans to provide special kind of security arrangements for cities should be made and used.
‘Disability a human rights issue’ morungexpress
Dimapur | November 28: According to 2001 census, there are more than 26,000 people living with disability in Nagaland. With the exception of a few disabled people who are actively employed and involved in society, most of them live in ignorance and exclusion through inaccessible transport, accommodation, schooling, employment, public facilities, and indifferent attitudes of the “non-disabled” population.
In order to sensitise the issue of disability in Nagaland, a state-level workshop on disability and law was organised by Prodigals Home, Dimapur, in association with Disability Law Unit North-East, ‘Shishu Saruthi’, at Tourist Lodge, Dimapur today. The seminar, while focusing on the role of government and citizens to address the issue of disability, also accepted the ignorance about the help and support that could be given to disabled children to make them grow up as productive and happy individuals in spite of their impairments.
The thought about how the disabled are viewed as burdens, problems, useless objects and shame to the family, were viewed, while the whole issue of sensitisation, the organisers felt, arises because of the community/society’s indifferent and insensitive attitude most of the time to the disabled. Also, there is no form of support for the needs, problems and rights of the disabled people.
Seminar on rights of disabled persons
Resource person Leonard Aier, Principal of Dimapur City Law College, gave an overview of disability legislations in India and the legal provision under the Indian Constitution for people with disability. He also dwelt on the problem of disability as a problem confronting society, concerns in the field of employment and facilities available for disabled people. Aier said disability should now be looked at as a human rights issue, generally focusing on the basic right denied to such people despite provisions.
Short award winning films on disabled people were also shown to raise awareness and bring to light the changes people can bring about by support and sensitivity towards the disabled people. The seminar also dwelt on Acts and objectives of the Acts in protecting the rights of disabled people. The lack of political will also prompted the discussion on the roles and responsibilities of the government.
The state-level seminar is desired to bring suitable changes in the lives of the disabled people through creation of enabling environment with proper support of citizens and governments and non-government agencies working for the betterment of the society.
The role of media in Naga society Spreading alienation, disaffection By Jagdamba Mall Organizer
The constant demonising of Hindu organisations and condemnation of Hinduism coupled with glorification of anything rival to the above have weaned away the innocent Naga society from Hindus. A section of people from Nagaland always look at the members of the Hindu society with suspicion sometimes for unfounded and sometimes for petty reasons. It is because of the propaganda against Hindus.
The propaganda mechanism and media manipulation are at work very effectively in the country today. Different media houses are employed to serve their masters and employers. They look at the truth through their coloured glasses. The causes of one and single incident are described in different manners only to serve their masters and employers. They publish what they are asked for. By this partisan role of media, the powers-that-be are benefited. The mediapersons are rewarded for strengthening the position of powerfuls. But the people? What happens to the people? The innocent mass suffers in silence. This is another form of choking the voice of majority community to please minority communities because of vote-bank politics.

In this context, there is no better example of media-manipulation than that in Nagaland. In the mid eighties and before, the Nagaland media devoted most of the space on focusing the viewpoint of militant section of Naga society. It ignored the rational thinking of concerned senior citizens of Nagaland. When these enlightened sections of the Naga people chose to speak in public meetings, they were done away with. The local media could not give voice to them. Rather, media failed to give justice to these right-thinking men of Naga stock. It was mostly because of influence of church and militant organisations and partly because of threat from armed cadres. Even editorials were influenced by interested parties. Thereby, Naga society was deprived of correct information about the past, present and future of the state. The isolation of one Naga community from the other and that of whole of the Naga society from rest of Bharatiya samaj continued to persist. This has caused heavy loss to Naga society in every field. Out of many, the one perceptible and irreparable loss to the Naga society is the ever-growing hostility in a section of this community against Hindus.

The constant demonising of Hindu organisations and condemnation of Hinduism coupled with glorification of anything rival to the above have weaned away the innocent Naga society from Hindus. A section of people from Nagaland always look at the members of the Hindu society with suspicion sometimes for unfounded reasons and sometimes for petty reasons. It is because of propaganda against Hindus.

Whether one likes it or not, the fact is that Bharatvarsh is populated by 85 per cent Hindus and their population throughout the world is 135 crore and if Buddhist are included, the Hindu population becomes the largest in the world. People are amazed to notice the constant condemnation of Hindus by a section of Naga society. They are more surprised to notice that a section of local media still adds fuel to the fire that too in the age of information explosion. Who is harmed because of this? The Naga society is at the receiving end. The Naga people may boast that they are “super human being” and “God’s chosen people”. But international community is no more in dark about the truth. Of course, a very wrong and distorted image of Naga society is projected in other parts of the country and that is “terrorist”, “anti-national” and “anti-Hindu” image of Nagas. For that, national media is responsible but local media of Nagaland and militant organisations have large share. This has to be done away with. The proclamation of “unique history” is, thus, another stunt.

I have seen the various phases of changes in Naga society from 1975 onwards. Many qualitative changes have occurred and it is appreciated by right thinking observers. The qualitative changes in Naga society have occurred in perception, in life-style and many more aspects of life. Along with these, some glaring negative developments have also taken place. This has to be curbed. Simultaneously, there is a qualitative and very appreciable improvement in the Hindu perception too towards Naga community. The gulf of confusion and hostility between Hindus and Naga community is shrinking fast due to information dissemination, population exchange and many more reasons. The local media in Nagaland, too, has acquired noticeable qualitative improvement still there is a lot of scope for improvement.

History can be created but it cannot be changed. Who records the History? Is it not the media that informs the scholars to record the history? Is it not the media that informs the people to look back in the past, choose correct path in the present and plan for the future? Is it not the media that opens the various worldwide avenues of learning and employment for the youths by furnishing constructive information in the entire field? And is it not the media that guides the government and society to choose correct path? Because of this heavy responsibility, media is called as the fourth pillar of democracy. People living with the perception of fifteenth century cannot plan for twenty first century. Hope, learned mediamen in Nagaland will give a thought to what has been pointed out in fore-going lines in this small write-up and help the society to rise in the present competitive world.
India and Myanmar for stronger ties Sandeep Dikshit
NEW DELHI: India and Myanmar concluded the ninth round of Foreign Office consultations in Yangon on Sunday against the background of evolution of a wide range of cooperative arrangements between the two sides. The Indian side was led by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and the Myanmar side by Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu. The discussions covered security and border issues, trade and economic cooperation and cooperation in cross-border developmental projects, IT, energy, power and education & training.
Security issue On the security front, both countries agreed to enhance security cooperation to combat insurgent groups and arms smuggling.
The two sides also noted the decision taken to convert Indo-Myanmar border trade into normal trade, opening of a border trade point at Avakhung in Nagaland and expanding the existing border trade items from 22 to 40. They agreed to enter into an arrangement for long-term purchase of pulses from Myanmar.
Both have also agreed on renovating the Tahtaychaung hydropower project, construction of transmission lines and replacement of transformers damaged during cyclone Nargis.
Nagaland, Assam rebels irk Meghalaya OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Shillong, Nov. 26: Concerned over the activities of NSCN (I-M) and NDFB members, especially their help to local militant outfits, the Meghalaya government has decided to take up the matter with the governments of Nagaland and Assam as well as the Centre to ensure that the two outfits adhere to the ceasefire ground rules.
Assam is likely to recommend to the Centre a review of the ceasefire with the NDFB when the time for its extension comes up in December.
Meghalaya police are worried over the presence of NSCN (I-M) militants in East Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts as they are allegedly lending support to the Garo Hills-based Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) in its extortion activities.
At a recent meeting of the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police, chief secretary Ranjan Chatterjee asked the police officers to keep vigil to check the illegal activities of new militant groups like Atong Liberation Army in South Garo Hills and Achik National Security Defence in West Khasi Hills.
According to Meghalaya police, the two militant groups under the patronage of the NSCN (I-M) are carrying out extortion in the coal belts of South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts. The police also suspect a possible tie-up of the NDFB with Khasi outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and the LAEF which, according to police, is a cause of concern in the context of the overall security of the state.
Outfits asked to rejoin struggle OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, Nov. 23: The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) appealed to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and tribal militant groups of Manipur, that entered into the peace process, to review their decisions and rejoin the struggle.
The central committee of the UNLF made the appeal in a statement issued today on the occasion of its 44th raising day tomorrow.
The statement issued in the form of a 20-page booklet reaffirmed the UNLF’s stand of not entering into any ceasefire or peace talks with the Centre or the state government.
The UNLF is the outfit that proposed holding of a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations to bring a peaceful solution to the armed conflict in Manipur. The outfit came up with the plebiscite proposal on January 31, 2005. The proposal was, however, shot down by both the state government and the Centre.
Stressing the need for a joint fight, the outfit appealed to all the armed groups that entered into the peace process with the government to return to the fold of “liberation” struggle and fight against the “common enemy”.
Nineteen armed groups belonging to different ethnic communities signed a suspension of operation agreement earlier this year and the process is under way for tripartite talks between the groups, the state government and the Centre. The Ibobi Singh government is finalising the site for setting up of designated camps for the cadres of these 19 groups. The outfit accused the groups of assisting the central forces against those not responding to the peace process. It warned that their activities would trigger conflict.
The UNLF said it has started taking up projects to increase food grain products, develop small and medium-scale industries to improve the economy.
Acknowledging the losing credibility of revolutionary groups, the UNLF made a fervent appeal to all militant groups to stay away from government contract and supply activities.
On the issue of influx of outsiders, the outfit urged people not to give shelter to outsiders and also the state government to take steps to prevent the influx. It said out of 24 lakh population of Manipur, outsiders account for 9 lakh. Expressing concern over the increase in the number of cases of HIV and AIDS, the UNLF called for a united fight against the disease.
It warned that as a part of the measures, the outfit would award capital punishment to drug traffickers. On the issue of education, the UNLF urged the government to hand over the administration of schools and colleges to autonomous bodies while continuing with the present funding system. It also urged the people of Manipur to be prepared for the Look East Policy.