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12/29/2008: "Celebration of Isak’s 50 years ntl service Staff reporter (NPN):"
Celebration of Isak’s 50 years ntl service Staff reporter (NPN):
HEBRON, (DIMAPUR NSCN (I-M) Chairman, Isak Chishi Swu’s 50 years of national service was commemorated at the GHQ Hebron, Sunday under the theme, “He guided me all along” where his video recorded message was displayed through .
A televised message of Swu’s video recording was displayed by TV sets at different locations. His autobiography titled, “My Brief Autobiography” was released by “Kilonser” FEM, Q. Tuccu in which his date of birth was mentioned as November 11, 1929.
Swu wrote that he joined the national service in 1958 under the Federal Government/NNC. Swu served under various capacities as Chaplee Kilonser in 1959, besides taking part in the rounds of talks held with the government of India under then prime minister Indira Gandhi after the signing of the first “Indo-Naga” ceasefire on September 6,1964.
Swu was elected the vice president of the Naga National Council during the National Assembly held on August 16, 1976. After the “demise of the NNC”, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) was formed at Nokpa ,later approved by the National Assembly on January 31, 1980. Swu was elected President of the Government of People’s Republic of Nagalim and Chairman of the NSCN.
The second cease fire was signed between the Government of India with the NSCN(I-M) on August 1 ,1997. Swu was reelected unopposed as president of GPRN and chairman of NSCN for the 4th term during the Council Meeting held at Hebron from January 4-5, 2005.
December 28 has been declared a national holiday by the GPRN/NSCN(I-M) in lieu of Swu’s fifty years of national service.
The golden jubilee flag was unfurled by Convenor, Steering Committee, Qhevihe Chishi Swu followed by a gun salute. Balloons signifying Swu’s message to the world were also released by “Major General” Markson, Longvibu Naga Army; advisor NSWON Dr. Unice; member Steering Committee, Toshalie Kemp and “Kilonser” B.C. Ezung. The memento was released by Speaker, Tatar Hoho, Tongmeth Wangnao.
NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Th. Muivah in his message read out by “Lt. Gen. (Retd)” Emissary to the Collective Leadership, V. S. Atem described Swu as a “God fearing man” . Muivah said Swu’s several representations of the Naga case to the outside world were heard with much attention and applause.
He expressed pride and joy in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Swu in the national service and prayed that the Almighty grant him good health and long life to lead the Nagas.
Short speeches were delivered by the eldest son of Isak Chishi Swu, NSCN (I-M) “Kilo Kilonser”, Keditsu Tsuzuh and representatives of various NGOs including ENPO, NPMHR, NSF, FNR, NBCC, UNC, Naga Council Dimapur and Naga Women Hoho Dimapur.
Gifts and cash as a mark of respect to Swu on the occasion by several organizations and individuals that were received by one his kin.
Other highlights of the celebration included special numbers by the Voice of Promise and GHQ Choir. “Kilonser” MIP, Convenor, organizing committee, Vikiye proposed the vote of thanks.
GPRN/NSCN prays Recognizing that the Naga National struggle was based on the slogan “Nagaland for Christ”, the Council of Nagaland Churches (CNC), GPRN/NSCN Designated Camp, Khehoi, held a special prayer for Chairman NSCN (I-M), Isak Chishi Swu on his 50th anniversary of being in the National Service, during its Sunday service.
Publicity Cell, GPRN/NSCN in a press release said that the congregation sought God’s intervention in the lives of all Naga National leaders for courage and wisdom to see themselves as instruments of peace and reconciliation for the Nagas. “Reconciliation and Unity among the Nagas must be the preface to National principle if it exists”, it added.
Tribute to Isak on 50 years of “national service” morungexpress
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(inset) Isak Chishi Swu (File Photo). A family representative of Isak Chishi Swu presenting a gift of gratitude to an old comrade during a function held today at Camp Hebron to commemorate “50 years of national service” rendered by Swu to the Naga political struggle. In the function held under the theme ‘He Guided Me All Along’, the chairman in absentia presented a number of gifts as a token of appreciation and comradeship. An autobiography of the chairman was released by kilonser Q. Tuccu to mark the commemoration. The chairman addressed the function via a pre-recorded video message while the message of the general secretary Th. Muivah was read out by the ‘emissary to the collective leadership’ V S Atem. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur : The NSCN (IM) today paid tributes to its chairman Isak Chishi Swu on what was stated to be his 50 years in “service”. In an article on Swu in a “news bulletin” of the MIP, the NSCN (IM) said Isak’s entry into the ‘national arena’ was during when “political expediency of the Nagas during the time was critically demanding”. He “came into the scene at the right time” when the Nagas were faced with a situation of crisis at the top of the Naga “revolutionary leadership”. The outfit also claimed his entry as “God given leadership to the Naga people” affirmed by his “re-election” for the “4th term” in January, 2005.
The MIP said the characteristics of “national” struggle during the time of Isak Chishi Swu were “remarkably noticed by leaps, catastrophes and revolution”. With the active support of his comrades, there was witnessed a drastic change in the face of Naga revolution”, the article maintained. It further commented that the so-stated “revolutionary movement” took a “leap forward in the development of Naga struggle when quantitative changes turned into qualitative ones”.
Giving a brief review of his 50 years in “national service”, Isak while speaking about the travails and hurdles said he was convinced that the ‘ups and downs of life’ helped in “coming closer to God”. “The introspection of half a century service that I have given for the nation is a reflection of how the Lord responded magnificently to the nation building process”, Isak stated.
On the present political dialogue, Isak maintained that the Indian leadership realizing the futility of adopting a military approach, sent feelers to the NSCN (IM) for political dialogue. “They too understand well that Khaplang or NNC do not represent the issue”, Isak asserted pointing out that “dead organizations and wrong leadership can never represent the Naga people”. Isak also lamented ‘the motive’ behind ‘the recent happenings’. “People from some quarters claimed India has stopped killing Nagas, but this defies the ground reality”, Isak states adding that the “enemy is still killing the Nagas through the persons of Nagas”.
According to him “We have withstood trials and ordeals many a time” and crisis of any sort is “no stranger to the revolutionary people”. That solution will ‘neither come from the east nor the west’ he asserted that “It will come only from our firm stand for the principle and for me the chosen banner is Nagalim for Christ”. Under this banner of “Nagalim for Christ” he asserted to remain ‘faithful to the people’, the cause and “the Lord”.
In a small booklet titled “My Brief Autobiography”, Isak goes on to recall his joining “national service” in the year 1958; his appointment to the post of “foreign secretary” in 1959 and elevation to “chaplee kilonser”; 1964 ceasefire and political talks and the subsequent ceasefire in August 1, 1997. Isak also gives account of the association with China and his meeting with Chou En Lai, the then premier of China besides his trip in 1968 as the “president’s special envoy”.
On the controversial Shillong Accord, Isak stated that after ‘ascertaining the news’, letters were sent to Phizo “consecutively for three times”. The first and second letters were written in Angami language signed by him while seven members signed the third letter. Isak goes on to explain that ‘in spite of repeated requests’, Phizo never condemned the accord.
“Ultimately, the pro-Shillong Accord elements at the instance of the signatories staged a military coup where all the top leaders including Muivah and myself were arrested and kept in military custody”, Isak recalled. During the 18-month long detention, attempts were made to eliminate them. Isak further discloses that the “midan peyu” of Yutang Lainung, Pawon objected to the attempts to execute “national leaders” in his region. Likewise, “Lt. col” Kholi and Konyak “national workers” were also strongly opposed to their execution, Isak stated.
The NSCN (IM) chairman went on to give brief explanation of the formation of the ‘national socialist council of Nagalim’ in the year 1980; the “abortive coup attempt” in 1988 and the NSCN’s foray into the “international center stage” including the participation in the UN conference of the Working Group on Draft Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples at Geneva from July 19-30, 1993.
Organizational representatives from Eastern Naga People’s Organsation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights, Forum for Naga Reconciliation, Naga Students’ Federation, Nagaland Baptist Churches Council, United Naga Council, Naga Council Dimapur and Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur spoke on the occasion and expressed hope that the Isak lives long to witness the dream of Naga people fulfilled.
‘‘GPRN/NSCN’ remembers Isak Swu in prayer’
Dimapur, December 28 (MExN): In a significant and welcome gesture, the ‘council of Nagaland churches’ of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Khehoi, held a special prayer for Isak Chishi Swu on his “fifty years in the national service”, during the outfit’s Sunday mass held today. “Recognizing that Naga national struggle is based on the slogan ‘Nagaland for Christ’ and as followers of Christ, the council of Nagaland churches (CNC), GPRN/NSCN held a special prayer for Isak Chishi Swu on reaching fifty years in the national service during its Sunday mass on Sunday”, informed a note issued by the publicity cell.
According to the note, the “congregation” sought ‘God’s intervention’ in the lives of all Naga “national leaders”, for courage and wisdom to ‘see themselves as instruments of peace and reconciliation’. “Only Almighty God can release the Nagas from the bondage of creed, nepotism, tribalism, and disunity. He is the creator of Naga homeland and the idea of Naga nationhood first originated from him therefore it is best to return to the author of Naga history because all else has failed miserably”, the note explained. Pointing out that the “greatest necessity at the present hour is for all Naga leaders, both national workers and overground, to redefine the idea of ‘national principle’”, the outfit said, that to overcome the present turmoil in the land, “Christian principles must be given precedence over national principle”.
“An abstract philosophy resultant of a tragic idea at a particular stage of Naga struggle cannot be regarded as a national principle today. A principle that is upheld through violence and confrontational policies, pitting one tribe against another tribe or community is not viable for Nagas anymore”, the note stated.
“Reconciliation and Unity among the Nagas must be the preface to national principle if it exists” and that “it must encompass all Nagas irrespective of factions or regions for a transparent approach towards the core issue”.
Accordingly this can only “push the Nagas towards reclaiming their political and historical rights”, it stated. The organization further pointed out that “reconciliation and unity is basically the last and only option left before the Naga to fulfill their political destiny”. If the Naga people, the note stated, still believe that a unilateral effort by one Naga group can force the Government of India to act and solve the vexed Indo-Naga political issue, either the general Naga political reasoning has reached its lowest ebb or a single group has succeeded in confusing the Naga people by repeating the same lie “seventy times to make it sound like the truth”. ‘One truth is unmistakable though; both GOI and IM are fooling the Nagas’, it added.
‘NSCN (IM) to remain on Reconciliation road’ Morung Express News
In a boost to the efforts of peace mediators such as the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, the general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim Th. Muivah has come on record to state that the group will support the ongoing reconciliation process.
“Even then, despite the unhappy happenings, we will stand for the reconciliation process”, Muivah stated in a speech commemorating the “50th national service anniversary celebration” of the outfit’s chairman Isak Chishi Swu. Today’s statement comes in the backdrop of reports that the NSCN (IM) had not participated in the last Naga peace summit held at Chiangmai, Thailand in mid-December and the Naga political group meeting in early December at Dimapur.
Muivah stated that his organization will remain vigilant to see that the reconciliation process is not ‘mishandled or exploited’. Lauding the leadership of his comrade-in-arms Isak, Muivah also dwelled on the theme of forgiveness pointing out that “though to forgive is hard for a human being there is nothing too hard for the Lord”. To do, he said, it must be through reconciliation “simply because anyone whoever might be has to repent and confess whatever crime he has committed in the past”.
“If confession done is genuine he must be gladly forgiven. We think that is the only way to reach the meeting point”, Muviah stated while reminding that to this end, Isak as chairman with the unanimous support of members, made a clear proclamation on January 13, 2007. “It is now left to the sensible people to understand”, Muivah said. It may be mentioned that Isak Chishi Swu had earlier proclaimed that “whosoever has committed crime against the people and the NSCN is forgiven”. The proclamation went on to urge those groups and individuals, who have committed serious political mistakes in the past, to seek forgiveness from the people.
Saluting his colleague, Muivah recalled how he had come to know Isak for the first time during college days in Shillong. “In course of time I found in him the very point I treasured most and that was the fear of the Lord”, Muivah stated of Isak. “There was not much problem between us. We realized the responsibility that we were to be a part of each other, to set the movement in the right direction that is towards the destination”, Muivah said. He said Isak could hold himself under all circumstances because “he was man who did not allow fear and confusion to overtake him”.
Muivah also recalled that when the bulk of “national workers” from the Sumi community broke away sometime in 1969, Isak firmly stood his ground and this “act of his inspired many”. Similarly, when the Shillong Accord was signed in the “most treacherous manner”, Isak did not fail to rise to the occasion, Muivah recalled.
Muivah also had praise for both Isak and his wife Mrs Uster Chishi Swu describing them as ‘God-fearing’. “Right from the start, Mr and Mrs Swu did not stop praying for the nation and that is indeed an inspiration to everyone who loves Nagalim. I should also say that they have run the race through the dangerous and slippery road of struggle all for the sake of our Lord and for the little Nagas”. While expressing pride and joy on Isak’s “50 years of national service”, Muivah expressed hope that the people now and the generations to come will be proud of Isak and his “unsparing sacrifices and the kind of leadership given to the little but tough Nagas throughout the perilous years of the past”.
“GPRN/NSCN” informs on firearms morungexpress
Dimapur : The “UT II” of the outfit “GPRN/NSCN” has informed the public of the region to ‘desist from using firearms and other prohibitory items’ to avoid accidents. In a note, the outfit claimed that ‘there had been a marked increase’ in the ‘number of people carrying arms and ammunitions while going for hunting/shooting wild animals, fishing, picnics and other outdoor activities’ in the “UT II region”. “The likelihood of armed miscreants taking advantage and targeting Naga army operating in the region is not ruled out. To avoid unwanted incidents owing to mistaken identity in the region, the operation commander, Naga army, UT I, “GPRN/NSCN,” hereby informs the general public of the region to desist from using firearms and other prohibitory items to avoid accidents”, the note stated.
India’s future great minds in Nagaland morungexpress
Dr. AJP Abdul Kalam, former President of India makes a point addressing science student on the opening day of the 16th National Children’s Science Congress at Living Stone Higher Secondary School in Dimapur on Saturday, December 27. The National Children’s Science Congress, a programme of the NCSTC Network is a nationwide activity since 1993, for five days of December every year and organized by NCSTC Network. The network is made up of 76 government and non-government organizations. The 16th National Children’s Science Congress witnessed the participation of around six hundred child scientists and delegates from India. This year, the focal theme of the event is ‘Planet Earth-Our Home: Explore, Share and Care’. (Photo/Deepak Sharma)
Dimapur|: Committed to its theme “Planet Earth, Our Home, Explore, Share and Care,” the 16th National Children Science Congress (NCSC) took off today with tree plantation at Livingstone Higher Secondary School in Dimapur. Thirty four participating states including eight officials from the Government of Nagaland planted saplings to keep alive this year’s theme.
The evening session was graced by eminent scientist and former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam who was received here with great enthusiasm and affection by a hysteric crowd of child scientists from across India. Against the spectrum of colorful welcome given to the former President, Kalam said Nagaland is the right platform to discuss the future of innovation of a beautiful environment. He appreciated the vibrant beauty of the state and said the 16th ICSC theme could not have been more appropriate than in a place like Nagaland. “Innovation is enabled by beautiful environment and there couldn’t be a better place to discuss a bright future than the pristine Nagaland,” Dr. Kalam said.
He expressed hope that the science congress would be a launching pad for the students to grapple with the environmental problems being faced by planet Earth. He pointed out that young people coming from different parts of the country can learn a lot from Nagaland where the environment and nature has been protected by the Naga warriors with their wisdom.
Profound words of encouragement from Dr. Kalam urged child scientists to work hard to defeat problems and with a righteous heart, to succeed in their mission. “It does not matter who I am as long as I am armed with a goal,” he pledged together with the children and encouraged them to work hard and garner more knowledge.
Dr. Kalam in his very eloquent speech enlightened the child scientists, with success stories of award winning noble laureates, who through their perseverance and hard work have revolutionized the world with their works. Envisaging “Vision 2020” for India, Dr. Kalam also said India must look ahead for a bright future. He said economic progress will bring down societal differences and peace will eventually usher in. “Economic progress and peace go hand in hand,” he said while answering a question posed by a child scientist at the programme. Taking more queries from children, Dr. Kalam pointed out that India’s 4 million unemployed people will in the course of time be employed as India’s potential grows. He also vigorously encouraged a young aspiring politician to entertain “development politics and not political politics.”
‘Terrorism is of evil minds’
On the volatile political situation in India and across the world, the former President also said terrorism is the collective work of evil minds and the good minds must overcome it. Replying to a host of questions from child scientists at the inaugural function Dr. Kalam said perpetrators of terrorism must be punished. He dismissed the apprehension of children over nuclear attacks and such. He said India is well-equipped to take care of its people and that her strength is better than any other nation. “You concentrate on your studies…we are here to take care of the rest,” he said heartily.
Dr. Kalam and a host of dignitaries were later entertained by cultural presentations organized by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC). Dr. Kalam will also be interacting with child scientist at Delhi Public School on December 28.
Also addressing the event, Secretary, DST, Government of India, Dr.T Ramasami said science and technology holds the key for global economy and to ignite the young minds, the Government of India has introduced a number of schemes and scholarships. This way, he said, children who are interested in the field of science can avail of the opportunities. President of NCSTC-Network, Prof Yash Pal expressed happiness at the huge turnout of children for the programme and hoped that more children will participate in the future. He said children should be encouraged to engage themselves in projects of environment and also learn to communicate and cultivate true scientific temper through discipline. Prof. Pal also said children should not imprison themselves with different subjects in schools but connect with the land, the people and humanitarian subjects. He further exhorted the children to step forward into the future and not to retract to the past.
NDFB activists arrested - Police claim the rebels were involved in Guwahati blasts OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Dhubri, Dec. 28: Police have arrested two NDFB cadres, including a woman, who were allegedly involved in the October 30 serial blasts in Assam . The superintendent of police, Goalpara, Akhilesh Singh said the duo were among the six persons arrested yesterday in connection with an extortion case from Soulmari. Singh said interrogation of the arrested persons led to the revelation that Aghai Basumatary, a “sergeant” in the NDFB and Jayanti Brhama, a “sergeant major”, were involved in the blasts.
“Aghai had actually assembled the bomb that was placed in Ganeshguri,” Singh said and added that the NDFB cadre had brought the bomb in an Alto and then set the timing of the explosion through a digital clock and waited in the vicinity to see the explosion.
“He went away to Diphu from where he hails after the blast,” the SP said. Jayanti was “indirectly” involved in the Kokrajhar and Barpeta Road blasts, Singh said.
Aghai had confessed that the instructions to carry out the blasts had come from NDFB leader Ranjan Daimary with whom he was close, Singh said. Aghai told the police that he was handed over the materials for making the bomb in Guwahati by another person. Aghai, who is an expert in handling explosives, and Jayanti had undergone training in Bangladesh and Bhutan.
“Aghai was an instructor in Bangladesh,” Singh said. The police yesterday also arrested Santrwb Sangma, another NDFB cadre, who is from Dhubri. The three have been remanded in police custody today for five days. The other three arrested — Biplab Das, Jogen Rabha and Narayan Boro — have been remanded in judicial custody. These three are linkmen of the NDFB.
I am still NDFB chairman: Daimary Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Dec 27: Rebel leader Ranjan Daimary today said he is still the chairman of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), a claim that has proved the media speculation that the Bodo rebel group has split. In an e-mail to the media today, Daimary said: “I am still the chairman of the NDFB, and I will continue my efforts for the self-determination of the Boros.” Daimary, however, said he is not the chairman of those NDFB cadres who have submitted a charter of demands to the Government of India and who have planned to fight election.
In its general council meet recently, the NDFB had replaced Ranjan Daimary with Dhiren Boro as the chairman of the outfit. The general council meet also decided that the outfit would fight election.
“The NDFB-BLT clash is over, and as such I request the ex-BLT cadres not to target the NDFB cadres. I have also ordered the NDFB cadres not to target any ex-BLT members,” Daimary said. Daimary is believed to be taking shelter in Bangladesh, and he has a battalion under him.
In 1998, a faction of the NDFB had joined the BLT.
Influx a major cause of underdevelopment By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Dec 27: The Government of Asom feels that notwithstanding a comfortable fiscal surplus, the State suffers a huge development deficit that has been widening over the years instead of narrowing down. The State Government has identified large-scale immigration from erstwhile East Pakistan and present Bangladesh leading to ethnic tension in the State, transportation bottlenecks and geographical isolation after the partition in 1947, the devastating earthquake in 1950 that changed the topography of the region, Indo-China War in 1965, Indo-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971 and Assam agitation that began in 1979 leading to the formation of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) as the key factors for this underdevelopment.
At the time of independence, the per capita income of Asom was slightly above the all-India average, but in 2006-07 the per capita income of the State became only 68 per cent of the national average. “Had the pace of economic development of Asom in the post-independence period been the same as that of the rest of the country, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at the current price in 2006-07 would have been about Rs 1,00,000 crore instead of Rs 65,033 crore,” an official source said, and added: “This difference of about Rs 34,000 crore can be taken as a measure of the development deficit in terms of GSDP.”
The source said that from 1901 to 2001, the growth of population in Asom had been higher than in the rest of the country, and the difference can be attributed to only large-scale immigration from East Pakistan after the partition in 1947 and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. “Both partition of the country and Bangladesh Liberation War were national problems, but it is Asom that has been made to shoulder the burden of this additional population,” the source said, and added: “Immigration to Asom from the neighbouring States and the countries has been going on even in normal times. This additional population is one of the important factors for the relatively slower economic development of the State.”
In such a situation, the source said, the Centre should provide special grants to the State so as to make it develop its economy at par with other States of the country.
Two KCP (MC) suspects slain AR scalps one suspected PLA cadre near Moreh By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Dec 28: Two suspected cadres of the KCP (MC) have been slain in a reported encounter with a combined force of Imphal West commandos and troops of 23 AR at Leimakhong Mapal under Lamlai police station at about 4.55 pm today.
The encounter ensued when the combined team, acting on a specific tip-off, moved to the area. As they challenged one black coloured Karizma to stop, the riders turned back and fired upon the security personnel, informed a police source.
In the retaliatory fire, the two motorcycle riders were shot dead.
The motorcycle (Karizma), one 9 mm pistol, four live rounds, one .32 pistol and two live rounds have been recovered from them.
The two slain individuals might be cadres of the KCP (MC), added the police source.
The corpses have been picked up and deposited at RIMS morgue for identification.
On the other hand troops of 31 Assam rifles reportedly gunned down a PLA cadre following a shoot-out at Govajang village near Moreh town in the early hours today.
A PRO IGAR (S) release conveying the shoot-out said the AR troops of 26 Sector launched an operation in the general area of Govajang village on December 27 and having laid multiple ambushes observed movement of a person at around 2.30 am today. On being asked to stop the individual opened fire and started to flee but was chased by the alert troops and subsequently shot dead, the PRO mentioned.
Besides identifying the slain person as one S/S Lt Bimol Singh of the PLA organisation, the PRO informed that the troops recovered one .38 auto colt pistol with a magazine and four live rounds, two fired cases and other items of daily use such a towel , tooth paste/brush etc. The body has been handed over to authorities of Moreh police station.
