[Previous entry: "Nagas hail Isak Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network"] [Next entry: "2008: Hope prevails over turbulence STATE STEPS INTO THE NEW YEAR ON A POSITIVE NOTE Kevi Soho EMN FLASHBACK 2008 Eastern Mirror"]

12/31/2008: "Naga reconciliation looks for hope as 2009 beckons morungexpress"

Naga reconciliation looks for hope as 2009 beckons morungexpress

Dimapur : Four peace summits abroad, the worst-ever fratricidal killings in recent years, football diplomacy to cool tensions off the field, public meetings to rally for peace—2008 was indeed an eventful year that saw both ups and downs in the Naga reconciliation process. For the Forum for Naga Reconciliation which spearheaded the peace initiatives, the coming year 2009 must “renew the people living in Naga-Land”. In a press note titled “The Timeliness in the History of the Nagas”, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation pointed out that the “Cross of Christ” was a powerful reminder to the Nagas that from a place of despair God speaks to us about hope. “From the place of disappointments, of broken relationships, of hopelessness, Jesus emerges to accompany us as we journey on. Even though we are often downcast, Jesus always speaks of hope”, the forum note stated. It reminded everyone that the hope for the Nagas was built upon the promise that whatever happens, “God will stay with us at all times, in all places” and that “God is the God of life”. Stating that Nagas are called to be a people of hope, the forum encouraged that together, we can face our despairs and that “together too, we can find the Risen Lord”. “In embracing us, Jesus gives us hope and we need to live the life He has given us, in this world of ours. Let the year 2009 be for us to share and experience this hope”, the forum stated. Standing at the threshold of the year 2009, the forum was of the view that we are in what might be called a “Post-Ambivalent” year in the life of the Nagas. “The bygone cynicism and skepticism toward ‘Naga solidarity’ will simply be a sad chapter of our national saga. Naga-Land today is no longer characterized by the past mindset of cultural and political exclucivism”, the forum stated. It was also reminded that the commanding mood of the Naga nation has been created by the people as was witnessed and attested on September 25, 2008, by 37 Naga tribes and other apex bodies, at the Sumi Baptist Church, Dimapur. “Coupled with this is the affirmation to Naga reconciliation by all the Naga groups and its leaders. This is historical. There is no turning back! Indeed, the timeliness in the history of the Nagas is our newest song”, the forum noted in its year-end statement. The forum also stated that it couldn’t agree more with the critics that soccer matches played, hoisting of white flags in homes, using car stickers, voluntarily, the ‘united national choir’ singing in churches etc., have not deterred nor sealed violence. “FNR has taken up the activities knowing fully that these are only means towards strengthening the reconciliation process in the Journey of Common Hope”, it stated even as it looked ahead to 2009 with renewed hope.
NNC core vision remains, says Adinno morungexpress
Dimapur : London based President of the Naga National Council (NNC), Adinno Phizo has said that the core vision of the NNC—Our Country is Ours (Urra Uvie)—remained, and that the NNC and FGN will never deviate from the legacy of “ownership of territory free of foreign domination” although it was taking an “awfully long time to end the conflict with India.”
In a New Year message, Adinno stated that as people look ahead in the year 2009, “truth will prevail in God’s own time.” She also stated that with the explosion of information technology and global travel in recent time, younger generation of Nagas need to be aware of increasing challenge on one’s knowledge and self-respect. “For a start, the cohesion of Naga society remarkably stood the test of time because under the aegis of NNC, the reality of Naga identity and Naga nation transcends all differences in Nagaland,” she stated while lamenting that on the other hand, enemy of Nagaland relentlessly harped on imagined history and concocted non-existent events to drive a wedge between Naga society. Sending her greetings to people of Nagaland, the NNC President thanked the Almighty God for sustaining the Naga nation despite the “evil designs of the enemy to deny Nagaland’s right to exist.” She stated that Nagas know freedom was worth fighting for regardless of some people unwilling to bear up and foolishly tinker with God’s purpose for Naga nation. “Let us, also, in humility pray to God for His guidance that Naga nation rise above interminable mindless sectarian violence, inconceivably directed against our people in the name of Nagaland for Christ, and stay focus on the real enemy trampling over the freedom of Naga nation,” Adinno stated. The NNC President pointed out that “Nagaland has confounded the world because of over six decades our resilient Naga people tenaciously weathered the might of India against all the odds.”
“In the world we live in today, no civilised nation tolerate bully or condone the use of force by one country to occupy another country,” she maintained while adding that from the outset, the non-violence path the Naga National Council (NNC) consistently pursued and the Federal Government of Nagaland’s (FGN) unflinching stand on Nagaland sovereignty symbolised an embodiment of a vibrant democratic nation of free will. “And nothing can falter the course whether on account of the unremitting Indian occupation army or enemy’s divide and rule militarized tyranny preying on a terrorized nation.”
Stating that the people of Nagaland like any people in the world yearn for peace, Adinno pointed out that the “constant militarised tyranny obviously wouldn’t engender” true peace and prosperity. “Even then, perhaps well intentioned, some Naga groups seemingly somewhat blind to tendentious symptoms could be seen blithely chasing for wistful solution all over the world instead of first identify the real cause(s) of the conflict at issue from a critical analysis of the prevailing state of affairs at home.” She maintained that “no reasonable person would trust peace and unity undertaking other than root out the fundamental cause of the conflict, namely, Indian aggression, to pave the way for peace.”
The NNC also viewed that in recent years the GoI brazenly flouted international convention on the pretext that “dallying with an anti-Nagaland non-state actor, at that from outside Nagaland, could lead towards an accord and end the perplex problem in India’s Northeast state.”
“Nothing can be further from the truth”, it stated adding that solution to India’s “problem” against Nagaland is straightforward: Quit Nagaland.
While stating that people will never forget the departed family members, patriots and inimitable leaders for their valiant sacrifices in the just cause of Naga nation, the NNC President expressed shock that in recent years an Indian-sponsored sectarian gang murdered over 2000 (two thousand) NNC and FGN National Workers and Naga civilians simply because of their unflinching loyalty to NNC.
NSCN (IM)-GoI Ceasefire review meeting held morungexpress
Newly appointed Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group Lt General (Retd.) Mandhata Singh along with Convener of the NSCN (IM) Ceasefire Monitoring Cell Brig Phunthing Shimrang
Dimapur : Newly appointed Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group Lt General (Retd.) Mandhata Singh along with Convener of the NSCN (IM) Ceasefire Monitoring Cell Brig Phunthing Shimrang today held a review meeting at Chumukedima Police Complex. The closed meeting was also attended by Nagaland Commissioner H K Khullu, IGAR (N) besides other top brass of the State police and paramilitary forces.
Lt. General (Retd.) Mandhata Singh while speaking to reporters after the meeting said that discussions were held on how best to implement the ceasefire ground rules. Describing today’s meeting as free and frank, Singh said that it was not about accusation and counter accusation but how all sides can continue to ensure that ground rules and peace and harmony can be best implemented. He also disclosed that certain suggestions of the NSCN (IM) will be looked into. Significantly, the Government of India representative also said that groups should not indulge in violence and extortion so as to make way for peace and harmony. Also speaking, Convenor of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell, ‘Brig’ Phungthing Shimrang of the NSCN (IM) commented that “small things should not be an obstruction to the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and NSCN (IM)”. Describing the review meeting as positive, Shimrang also informed that it was the first such interaction with the new Chairman and also expressed his hope that both sides can meet more frequently. Meanwhile, when questioned over speculations that the NSCN (IM) will pull out from the ongoing reconciliation process, Shimrang said that “reconciliation should not be the hindrance to the cause” and that it has to go about “gradually” in a “mature” way and “people must reciprocate”. The review meeting was also attended by other representatives from the NSCN (IM) including Salemyang Rongmei, Among Yimchunger and Lichichem.

NDFB tussle behind blast: Police OUR CORRESPONDENT the telegraph


Jayanti Brahma in police custody on Monday. Picture by Ashraful Alam
Dhubri, Dec. 30: Police today claimed to have unravelled the conspiracy angle of the October 30 serial blasts in Assam, saying the attacks were the outcome of a battle for supremacy within the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
The interrogation of an arrested NDFB member, Aghai Basumatary, who had carried out the blast at Ganeshguri, has revealed that the then NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary had ordered the blasts to establish his supremacy over the group opposed to him.
Aghai was arrested in Goalpara district during an extortion attempt on Friday. The Goalpara superintendent of police, Akhilesh Singh, today said differences between Daimary, who is based in Bangladesh, and others lodged in designated camps in the state since the ceasefire with the NDFB, have been brewing for some time. Daimary planned the blasts to prove he could still call the shots.
He said Daimary feared that the group based in the state might revolt against him and decided to show that he was still a force to reckon with. “He used some cadres close to him, including some in the designated camps, to carry out his orders,” Singh said.
Daimary was eventually replaced as president of the outfit by Dhiren Boro during the general assembly of the NDFB at Serfanguri in Kokrajhar on December 15.
Daimary subsequently said he was still the leader of the group that was waging a struggle to fulfill the aspirations of the Bodos. The police official said Aghai and Jayanti Brahma, another NDFB cadre arrested along with him, have revealed the names of all those who were involved in the execution of the nine blasts in Kokrajhar, Barpeta Road and Guwahati.
Aghai was promoted to “sergeant” after the blasts. “We cannot disclose these names now as that would compromise the investigations,” the official said, adding that one of the main accused, Ritikhang, had fled to Bangladesh. “But the others, as of now, are still believed to be in the country and we are after them,” he said.
Singh said Jayanti helped Ritikhang, a member of the 4th battalion of the outfit who was in one of the designated camps, flee to Bangladesh via Tura sometime in November.
Jayanti, a “sergeant major”, had confessed that Daimary had given her the timers to be used in the blasts at Kokrajhar and Barpeta Road and which she had brought from Bangladesh to Kokrajhar. Asked if the arrested NDFB activists mentioned anything about Ulfa or jihadi groups’ involvement in the blasts, the police official said they have not done so. “Such planning, if at all there is any connection, would probably have taken place at a higher level of which these two are not aware,” he said.
KLNLF declares unilateral ceasefire Correspondent Assam tribune
DIPHU, Dec 30 – Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) and its armed wing KNPR have declared unilateral ceasefire for two months beginning from January 1, 2009 to March 1, 2009. P Dili, chairman, KLNLF/KNPR in a press communique mentioned that the KLNLF does not want sovereign status or secession from India but wants Hemprak Kangthim (Self-rule) within the ambit of Indian Constitution.

KLNLF chairman said that “We want to create a conducive atmosphere to bring peace in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills and want our problem to be solved through political dialogue. Hence we have declared unilateral ceasefire for a period of two months and waiting a developable responde from Union, state and KAAC government”.

Dili further stated that “if the respective government do not heed us within these two months, we will withdraw ceasefire and government will be responsible for any violent situation in the district”, he cautioned.

He also appealed to people of the district to maintain peace and urged cooperation with this organisation to get their long-cherished demand fulfilled.

The organisation after expressing resentment against the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and government for its passive attitude in addressing their grievances forced an indefinite economic blockade throughout the district on December 2 which was withdrawn by them after eight violence struck days on December 9.

The outfit exhibiting good gesture urged the authority including KAAC to start the peace process within the time-frame.

On 26th of this month, the organisation expressed its disapproval on the lacklustre attitude of the authority in meeting its demand and also vehemently criticised the district police authority for adopting coercive measure.

Today’s dramotic U-turn of the organisation from its earlier inflexible stand, has brought some sense of relief for the people in general, who were anticipating re-imposition of the economic blockade. A highly-placed security official said that good gesture by the outfit may yield better prospects for a permanent solution of the vexed problem.

Bangladeshi design to annex Asom By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Dec 30: The problem posed by the unabated influx of Bangladeshi migrants into the State is bound to assume greater dimensions in the future with several hard-hitting revelations coming to light.
For instance, Bangladesh has allegedly taken up a scheme worth Rs 15 crore wherein students in selected madrassas are taught Asomiya and its various dialects. This scheme has been adopted so that Bangladeshis migrating into India do not have to face any language problems.
Over the years, lakhs of Bangladeshis are believed to have illegally migrated to Asom. A proper set-up for transporting people from across the border is also in place in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi agents reportedly charge around Rs 1,500 for transporting a person into the Indian side. These revelations are part of a CD which was prepared by a senior Indian journalist from outside the Northeast a few years back. The journalist had submitted the CD to the then Asom Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha for his perusal. An updated version of the CD has now found its way into the hands of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The CD has been updated till the devastating October 30 serial bomb blasts.
The CD also contains video footages of seminars being held in interior areas of Bangladesh to justify migration to India. Besides asserting that Asom is a part of Bangladesh, the idea of a greater pan-Islamic state, comprising Pakistan, Bihar, West Bengal, Bangladesh and Northeast India, was also discussed in the seminars.
After watching the CD today, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary told The Sentinel, “It is really shocking to watch such seminars being held in Bangladesh. This is sure to spell doom for Asom.”
Stating that the Central Government should take the threat posed by Bangladesh very seriously, Patowary said, “We knew that a senior journalist from outside the State had given a CD to former Asom Governor SK Sinha, but we had never seen it.”
The AGP president said, “After the Asom serial blasts and the Mumbai terror attacks, Parliament has finally woken up to the threat posed by the neigbouring country. The Centre should immediately hold discussions with the Bangladesh Government.”

‘Strip militant leaders of citizenship’
By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Dec 30: The Assam Public Works (APW) today said the ULFA, NDFB and other militant groups should be given a chance to come to the negotiation table, and if the rebel groups do not come for a peaceful solution to their problems, they should be shot dead wherever they stay. Talking to newsmen here today, APW director Abhijit Sarma said: “If the militant groups don’t come for peace process, they should be stripped of their Indian citizenship. Pakistan is blamed by the world for the terror attacks in Mumbai, and if the ULFA and NDFB carry out such attacks in other countries, India will be at the receiving end from the world community.” Launching a scathing attack on the Asom Government and the Police Department for their failure to trace escaped drug lord Pakhi Miyan, the APW warned the Government of massive attacks, planned by Miyan, if he is not arrested.