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12/14/2008: "Peace on Hold"

Peace on Hold
Another round of peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) is in progress in Amsterdam currently, but it evoked merely some compulsive flutters amongst expected circles and political parties and nothing more.

No explosion of euphoria or for that matter passionate opposition. It is all settling into a mundane and routine ritual, hardly even a rite of passage that such a negotiation ought to have been. And so 11 years after the talks began, the two parties are locked in a stalemate, and increasingly drearily too. Today the only real prediction that everybody, even lay observers can think of at the resumption of each round of peace talks is that at the end of it, the parties will agree to hold another round of talks to discuss more substantive issues. Whatever be the opinion one may have on the demands that are so seemingly thorny, there can be no two opinion that this state of total hopelessness
descending on an issue over which a deadly conflict had persisted for well over half a century is to say the least, tragic. We hope the negotiating parties are able to come out of their obduracy and shift stances in keeping with the emerging realities to make a breakthrough possible.

The key to the door which opens to hope of an amicable settlement, in our opinion is an acknowledgement that things invariably change. Incidentally, this holds good not just for the parties involved in the current negotiations, but also all others locked in conflict and still have not agreed to sit across the table and seek settlement. The danger of not paying heed to this thought is, to recall a familiar cliché, the fights may very well end up as a war fought on past and redundant slogans. This is why it is essential to renew the pledges of the revolutions by periodically refreshing the understanding of backdrops against which these struggles are waged, so that in the event of the backdrop having altered with time and good counsels of democracy and its institutions, the struggles are not left redundant and caricatured. To use a stage analogy, a war on stage is fought against a backdrop of a war environment. Amidst the passion of the performance, if the actors
forget that the painted screen behind them have changed to a drawing environment, the stage war itself would reduce to a grossly comic and dissonant affair.

So whenever the familiar rhetoric of discrimination, exploitation, neo-colonialism, state repression etc, come up, those behind these rhetoric, if they are honest to their consciences, ought to be a lot more careful. For all they know, these conditions may have at best been reduced to mere memories from another chapter in history and not a
reality to be reckoned with anymore. We are not disputing these conditions may have been a reality once, but this does not necessarily mean that they are still the social, political or economic order of the day. In the half century that has gone by, there would have been several generational changes of guards. The past generation’s experience also
may not be that of the present. It would be a historical injustice for the past generations to feed the generations that succeed them with their bitterness if the conditions that let to that bitterness in the first place, have altered as they probably would have. For this would
amount to ensuring peace remains elusive forever.

Ours is an assertion of unremitting optimism even in the darkest of times that we live in. This optimism stems from an intuitively held conviction that even the darkest blotches left by history’s mistakes can be washed clean by the regenerative power of life and society. The only thing essential is for the protagonists in this profound drama to be
able to acknowledge past mistakes and for those wronged by history to possess the magnanimity to forgive – a formula for peace and justice that Nelson Mandela so powerfully and convincingly taught the world. Things change, and even perceived enemies of the past can transform into friends, not out of any political exigencies or individual selfish conveniences, but because of genuine changes of hearts on both sides,
either during a lifetime, or else after generational cycles as the case may be. Those who long for a more lasting and universal justice, must have the keen eye to see these changes and respond to them appropriately. Under such a scanner then, let us examine all our most vexed issues, including the hill-valley divide in Manipur, the Naga integration question, and indeed the driving logic behind insurgency. Is there another way of seeking a more comprehensive reconciliation? [IFP EDITORIAL]
‘Naga society is in a state of deterioration’
A Staff Reporter | EMN
DIMAPUR, DEC 13: Chairperson of the Nagaland Women Commission (NWC) Sano Vamuzo has expressed concern over the deteriorating Naga society and called for a retrospection to iron out the loopholes in the social system.
“The Naga society is in a state of deterioration; people have become selfish, corrupt and violence has replaced love and hatred respect,” she said while speaking at a function at the Great Commission Kids Academy in Dimapur on Friday.
The NWC chairperson said there was pressing need for every parent to give serious thought on imparting holistic education to our children. While maintaining that faulty education and violence in the society leave maximum impact on children, she particularly impressed that improper education could lead to children growing up as social menaces.
Vamuzo further raised serious concern on the report of 63 government institutes functioning with a single teacher and stated that the students would certainly be deprived of quality education in such a situation.
Parents, teachers and the society as a whole should work hand in hand to give children a holistic education and instil honesty, sincerity, respect and character, she said, and added that there was also need for educational institutes to nurture children spiritually too.
‘Nurture Law systems of Justice & fair play’ Newmai News Network
Kohima | December 13: The governor of Nagaland K. Sankaranarayanan has said that, while “Naga customary laws” have played a very important role for many years in Naga society, but it is time that “as population increases and society becomes more complex, we will need to bring in legal processes that ensure justice and fair play.”
Sankaranarayanan was addressing the 4th general conference of the Nagaland Law Students Federation held under the theme ‘Professional Ethics and the scope of application of customary laws in the state of Nagaland’ at ATI Complex, Kohima on December 12. The governor said the fundamental principles on which both customary laws and modern legal processes ‘see eye to eye’ are the principle of natural justice. The governor said customary laws should be safeguarded while making laws as enshrined in the constitution of India and hoped that the law students and other legal brains would dwell on these issues and come up with some solution.
He also said, law students in Nagaland have a big role to play as the legal system evolves the traditional customary system to one based on modern court systems. With the separation of the executive from the judiciary in the state, he said, professionals with legal backgrounds would be required to play a vital role in establishing the judicial systems. He hoped that the law college students would rise to the occasion and contribute to establishment of a rich legal culture in the state.
‘Across the country, legal brains have contributed to many welfare measures and have even improved governance by innovative use of measure like Public Interest Litigations. Right to Information has opened new avenues,’ the governor reminded. This has opened new avenues and has given a tool in the hands of citizens that can bring in accountability in government departments and systems, he said.
In his presidential address, president of the Nagaland Law Students Federation, T Lima said that the organization came into being in the year 1998 with the motto ‘Justice for All’ and is still at the nascent stage. ‘We live in a world where true justice is hard to come by and it is their duty as lawyers to disseminate knowledge to the lowest level and through this, empower them to fight with conviction against all forms of injustice and thereby achieve an egalitarian society,’ he said.

Bandh spectre on Dimapur
- Traders threaten to close shop indefinitely after abductions OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kohima, Dec. 13: Traders in Dimapur have threatened to close shop indefinitely from Monday if two businessmen abducted this morning from GS Road are not released.
An emergent meeting was convened by the traders to take stock of the situation immediately after they came to know that two affluent businessmen were abducted at around 5.30am from the town.
Though the meeting is yet to chalk out the future course of action, sources said the traders would have no option but to resort to an indefinite closure of shops till the abducted duo are unconditionally released.
Dimapur police as well as the business community have refused to divulge the names of the abducted businessmen. Sources said the duo were whisked away while they were taking a morning walk.
The police said they were conducting search operations but did not rule out the hand of Naga militants behind the abduction.
The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce, which convened a meeting of businessmen today, said it would not succumb to any pressure from any quarter.
The Dimapur Municipal Council had recently warned the business community against resorting to any closure of shops. But this time, the traders have resolved not to give in to any pressure from the civic body and expressed resentment over its handling of the situation.
Through the municipal council, the traders have urged the Union home ministry to look into the ongoing spurt in abductions and extortions by militants in and around Dimapur. They have also asked for increased security in the town.
Imkong L. Imchen, the state home minister, sought the co-operation of businessmen in checking extortions.
This year alone, more than 20 businessmen have been killed and over 100 non-Naga traders abducted and released after payment of ransom.
The spurt in abduction and extortion incidents has also resulted in a hike in the prices of essential commodities, with the common people having to bear the brunt. With Christmas fast approaching, the closure of shop by the traders would hit the consumers hard. Already, there is a lull, with many shops being closed in the town, despite the festive season.
In Kher Mahal area, all the shops had received demand notes, on several occasions, from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), ranging from a few thousands to lakhs of rupees, which forced many traders to flee.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) has directly pointed fingers at the rival NSCN (K) for the ongoing anti-social activities and warned the latter of dire consequences if such activities were not stopped forthwith.
The NSCN (K), on the other hand, said it would not tolerate any such activity on the part of its members and assured the people that any cadre found guilty would be punished.
Intelligence rivalry costing lives in India NEW DELHI, DEC 10 (IANS):
India is paying a heavy price for differences among its intelligence agencies as they rarely exchange inputs among themselves, say insiders. And the Mumbai terror attack was a tragic outcome of this lack of cohesion.
The country has three main intelligence agencies - the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for collection of internal and counter intelligence, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for external intelligence, and Military Intelligence (MI) that collects military-related inputs.
“Rivalry between the three major intelligence agencies, RAW, IB and MI, has done a lot of damage not only to the agencies but also to the nation. The reluctance to share intelligence is the bane of all agencies, at least in India,” Major General (retd) V.K. Singh, who has retired from RAW and has seen the intelligence agencies from close quarters, told IANS.
“The proclivity to take the credit has given rise to the unpardonable trend in every agency of keeping vital intelligence close to its chest until it is disclosed to someone important enough in the political hierarchy, sometimes even the prime minister,” Singh said.
Singh in his book, “India’s External Intelligence - Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing”, noted that rivalry between IB and RAW was perhaps unavoidable in view of their past history and functions.
“An Indian recruited by a foreign militant group is definitely the concern of the IB. When he is taken across the border for training he becomes the interest of RAW. When he re-enters India and carries out strikes against the military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, it becomes the worry of MI.
“Should he be handed over from one agency to the other every time he crosses a border, or should all keep a watch on him together? Should the army and IB be allowed to monitor trans-border radio and satellite links, which strictly fall within the purview of RAW?
“These are the questions that have no clear answers and only add to the blame game between the intelligence agencies,” Singh said.
According to former IB joint director Maloy Krishna Dhar, RAW’s reluctance to share information with the IB is legendary. There have also been instances where personality clashes have deterred effective coordination between the national security advisor (NSA) and RAW chiefs.
A.K. Mitra, former director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), said: “Not sharing intelligence information is a problem between all the agencies.”
“There is no justification for holding critical information and not sharing the critical information with other agencies or security establishments. The nation is paying a price for it. If we want to thwart terror attacks, we must pull up our socks and bring the guilty officers to book,” Mitra told IANS.
After the Nov 26 terror attack on Mumbai that lasted 60 hours and in which 172 people were killed, the three agencies took potshots at each other.
RAW and IB claimed they had given information specifying the places and the time when the terrorists could strike. But the state government and the navy denied any actionable inputs. The cabinet secretary is now looking into the matter.
According to government sources, the Joint Committee of Intelligence (JIC), which analyses intelligence data from the IB, RAW and the directorates of military, naval and air intelligence and works under the National Security Council, has failed to live up to expectations.
“It is almost defunct and the chiefs of intelligence agencies have very rarely met under the JIC roof in the last two years,” said a source.
Quoting the report of the Kargil Review Committee in his book, Singh said: “The army never shared its intelligence with the other agency or JIC”.
“We should take pride in our Culture” morungexpress
Two Sumi male leading a large cultural troupe to take part at the cultural event on day two of Sumi Baptist Church Association (WSBAK) Golden Jubilee at Thahekhu Village, Dimapur.
Dimapur: Expounding on the rich culture and tradition of Sumis, Azheto Zhimomi, proclaimed “Sumis have indeed come out form darkness to light.” Dimapur III MLA, Azheto, chief guest at the cultural event on the second day of the Sumi Baptist Church Association (WSBAK) Golden Jubilee, praised the works of forefathers who have been instrumental in preserving Sumi culture and tradition and passing it on to the present generation. “It is our identity and we should take pride in our culture,” he said. He also pointed out the church has been another force in preserving Sumi culture, and said the church should to instill the value of tradition in the present generation so that the fear of losing it never grips the people.
WSBAK has come a long way from the first fellowships with Ao Baptist Mundang in Mokokchung, Angami and Kuki churches in Kohima, the association separated from these churches in 1947. WSBAK officially stated functioning separately from the All Sumi Baptist Association in 1980. Reflecting on the hard works of the founders of the church, Azheto said Sumis have the founders to honor and thank for their sacrifices and hardwork even though they are no more. He said the present church leaders have built upon the foundations of past leaders and their works shine out as they have worked under the guidance of God. “The present leaders have taught us how to blend in with the world, develop our responsibilities and yet preserve our uniqueness,” he said and added, “We have to take this forward in our times in every aspect.” The chief guest also inaugurated a traditional museum and was entertained with a host of Sumi traditional performances of troupes from different villages.
GPRN/NSCN questions NSCN (IM) on Reconciliation PUBLICITY CELL, GPRN/NSCN
GPRN/NSCN Laments the action of IM gang on the evening of 9th Dec. 2008, who barged through the door of Khapur Theja Kent Rengma son of Kerisele of Tsosinyu Village, killing him in cold blood right in front of his wife and children. This is another tragic instance where the voice of the Naga people gets drowned in the pool of blood. GPRN/NSCN mourns the death of its official. The cause that he paid for with his life shall flourish undeterred by cowardly actions of the enemies. Naga history will ever remember his contribution. May the Good Lord accept his soul and comfort his family.
The merciless action is certainly a reminder to the Nagas that anti-reconciliatory forces are not pleased with the positive responsive of the Nagas towards unity and reconciliation. The last 20 years of Naga history is replete with assassinations, killings/murders of Naga intellectuals, bureaucrats, politicians and unaccountable innocent Naga public by IM. Kidnappings, inhuman tortures, extortions, intimidations, threats have become their speciality. Only selected Civil and Military authorities in the IM have excess to this sinister game plan. Nagas have seen terrorist actions of the worst kind. Men like Dr. S.C Jamir, Niphiu Rio, K Hollohon, Rev. Dr.V.K Nuh, Huskha Yepthomi etc. are the living witnesses. They are just few miraculous survivors of the evil policy of the IM. Who is the harbinger of violence among the Nagas? Indeed, violence is a hurdle towards Naga unification. IM knows they are the perpetrators. If IM believes violence must continue, GPRN/NSCN will not remain silent.
MIP at Hebron shall continue to have eggs on its face every time it tries to make a lively discourse on the deadlocked Indo-Naga political issue. More than seventy rounds of talks in ten years of fruitless talks is never an achievement for the Nagas. How blasphemous can the so-called MIP get politically? It truly is having a wintry dream! The more they glorify the dead talks, the smaller they grow in the eyes of the Nagas. International lobby for Naga issue is important but it comes into the picture only after the Nagas themselves agree on unity and reconciliation. Neither Bangkok nor Amsterdam, the issue is home based. GPRN/NSCN believes Nagas must settle their own problem first.
GPRN/NSCN recognizes that there are many elements who do not wish to see the Nagas together. They continue to play divisive policies and create make believe political castles simply to confuse the general public. There are also individuals are indulging in extortion and kidnapping spree using and tarnishing the good name of the GPRN/NSCN. Befitting punishment shall be meted out to the offenders. Recognizing the need for social harmony and pro-people initiatives at all levels, GRPN/NSCN welcomes constructive criticisms and suggestions from all Nagas irrespective of tribal affiliation and artificial boundaries.
PUBLICITY CELL, GPRN/NSCN