01/30/2009: "PC tough talk on NSCN NISHIT DHOLABHAI"

PC tough talk on NSCN NISHIT DHOLABHAI Telegraph

New Delhi, Jan. 29: Home minister P. Chidambaram today made it clear that he favoured an end to the impasse with Naga militants because he believed that the ceasefire with the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) had gone on for too long.
At a security meeting today with senior home ministry and defence officials, Chidambaram took a tough stand, especially in view of the standoff between the Assam Rifles and Naga militants in Shiroy village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district for the past 11 days. The NSCN (I-M) and the Centre are in ceasefire in Nagaland since 1997.
“He sounded tough,” a source said after the meeting. Yesterday, during a meeting with Outer Manipur MP Mani Charenamei, the home minister made no bones about his reservations on the unending ceasefire. He is understood to have told the MP that the NSCN (I-M) will have to mend its ways.
Though there is little possibility of either the Centre or the NSCN (I-M) calling off the truce in a hurry, it is certain that the standoff in Manipur has brought about a change in Delhi’s stance. Till now, the Centre had maintained that it would not like to lose the hard-earned peace in Nagaland. To a no-nonsense Chidambaram, however, results seemed more important within a timeframe. Home ministry officials said the outfit has a tendency to blow small issues out of proportion. “In Shiroy, they were allowed to leave with their weapons but are now asking us to provide them a camp,” said an official.
Under the ceasefire, the outfit has 11 designated camps in Nagaland but none outside the state. The present camp, near the hometown of the outfit’s general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah, is the fourth one in the state. Since 1995, even after the truce with the Centre that was limited to Nagaland state, the NSCN (I-M) maintained three camps in Manipur. However, Shiroy seems to be the last straw for security forces.
The NSCN (I-M) set up the camp in 2007 at Shiroy, best known for the exotic lily, despite opposition from the security forces. The abduction of Assam Rifles jawans a month ago and the outfit’s unwillingness to admit its mistakes led to the stalemate, officials said. The issue will be taken up again this week at a follow-up meeting and another with interlocutor in Naga talks, K. Padmanabhaiah, sources said.
DGP’s claim on Siroy refuted KHELEN THOKCHOM The Telegraph

Women protest the standoff in Siroy on Thursday. A Telegraph picture
Siroy (Ukhrul), Jan. 29: Not a single Naga militant has stepped out of Ukhrul’s Siroy camp since the Assam Rifles laid siege to it on January 18, the forces said today, refuting claims made the Manipur police chief yesterday that the rebels began leaving four days ago.
So tight is the Assam Rifles vigil that they are disallowing everyone, including mediapersons, from venturing into the 500-metre radius of the Siroy camp set up by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah).
Troops closed in on Siroy, some 100km from Imphal, last week after the militants, who are not allowed to camp on Manipur soil under ceasefire ground rules, refused to surrender their arms or move to a designated camp with arms.
Disallowing any movement anywhere near the camp, in fact, is part of the Assam Rifles strategy to cut off all supplies to the Siroy camp and force the cadres to surrender once their ration stocks are exhausted.
A walk along the perimeter of the camp, set up in a government tourist lodge atop Siroy hill, offered a real view of the “siege”. At least 1,000 troops are keeping an eye on the camp, villagers said, not permitting anyone to enter it or come out it.
The situation on the ground, and accounts of the villagers and the Assam Rifles contradicted the report submitted by the director-general of police, Yumnam Joykmar Singh, before the cabinet yesterday, claiming that the cadres have begun leaving.
“No cadre has left the camp after the cordon. We will not allow them to leave with weapons. We will give them safe passage if they decide to go to any of the designated camps,” the commandant of the 17 Assam Rifles Col D. Yadav, who is in-charge of the siege, told The Telegraph.
Ngatangkhui Tangkhul, the head of Siroy village, confirmed that not a single rebel has left the camp. The forces tightened their cordon amid cries from the villagers to move out. They have even constructed a barbed wire fence around the camp .
A magistrate, Lakshmikanta Sharma, and a few police personnel are posted at the entry point to the village but cannot regulate movement of people without permission from the Assam Rifles. The troops have also cut off food, electricity and water supply to the camp.
The cadres are surviving on their earlier stock. “They have a stockpile of ration,” Col. Yadav said. The forces are now hoping that the cadres will succumb and move out once their stock runs out.
“The cadres are on the verge of starvation. If the Assam Rifles troops do not pull out immediately, the cadres will die of starvation and sickness,” Artex Shimray, the spokesperson of Tangkhul Coordination Committee on Siroy Seige, said. This committee was formed on January 25 to resolve the impasse. The Siroy villagers also formed Siroy Non-violence Committee to put pressure on both sides to solve the standoff.
“We want the Assam Rifles to pull out first and then we want the cadres to move to the jungles where no civilian lives,” Rock Wulgnayom, convenor of the Siroy committee, said. Residents are holding daily sit-ins at Gandhi Chowk in Ukhrul praying for an end to the impasse. Women from various parts of the district continue to keep vigil, squatting between the rebels and the Assam Rifles to pre-empt any possibility of bloodshed.
Every morning, the women arrive at Siroy in a bus to take turns for the vigil. Earlier, the Assam Rifles had allowed 80 women near the camp. But since the eighth day of the siege, they reduced the number to 50. Though the troops are asking people to continue with their normal life, the villagers feel they, too, are living under “siege”.
“So far we are trying to convince the people here about the need for peaceful means of agitation. But if this situation continues, the agitation may turn violent,” Shimray said.
Villagers said the NSCN (I-M)’s camp has been there for the past two-three years and that the government and the Assam Rifles had full knowledge of it. Col. Yadav, however, maintained that they came to know about the camp “only recently”. The Tangkhul committee has called on human rights groups, student organisations, NGOs and civil society to join hands against the “violation of basic rights” of the people of Siroy.
Shiroi Siege... morungexpress

Already into the eleventh day of standoff with NSCN (IM) cadres, 17th Assam Rifles troopers (top) seen here in a private house compound while a girl (left) tends to her younger sister at home, in Shiroi village. In protest against the Assam Rifles-NSCN (IM) standoff in Shiroi, women (below right) sit underneath a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Ukhrul town, Manipur, January 29. (Morung Photos)
DIG’s claim draws fire from NPMHR
Dimapur : The reported statement of the DIG of Assam Rifles, PS Mander, made during a public meeting at Shirui (Shiroi) village on Wednesday that there was no ceasefire in the State of Manipur, has kicked up a storm. The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has reacted sharply by saying that the statement is “utterly irresponsible” and one that has undermined the political negotiations between the Nagas and the Government of India.
“It suggests that the Assam Rifles is more interested in confrontation than in the peaceful settlement of conflict. We would like to question the sincerity of the Assam Rifles in resolving the situation and also question whether it is implementing the directive of the Union Home Ministry or the interest of vested communities and individuals,” stated a press release issued by the NPMHR.
The NPMHR reminded that the standoff between the Assam Rifles and NSCN (IM) cadres in Shirui has entered its eleventh day without any sign of solution. In such a serious situation, it is necessary that everyone, especially officers in charge of the “siege,” take precautions not to aggravate the situation through provocative statements, the NPMHR stated.
The organization has extended support to the demands of Shirui villagers put forward to the representatives of the Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation and other frontal organizations, and also to the DIG of 17 Assam Rifles that the situation in Shirui be immediately resolved through peaceful negotiations. The siege of Shirui had adversely affected the livelihood and survival of the villagers, the organization stated while pointing out that the present seed-sowing season is a crucial period for villagers who depend entirely on their paddy crops for survival and existence. The future survival of Shirui villagers is at stake as no one from the village had been able to take up farming activities for the last ten-eleven days due to the siege, the NPMHR stated.
The rights body also said that Shirui Village, for the first time in its history, had to cancel their seed sowing festival scheduled for January 27.
“NPMHR states that in the event of a famine or hunger breaking out in the future as a result of the siege, the Government of India through its officers in the district will be solely and exclusively responsible,” the release declared.
Listing out the hardship being faced by the villagers, the organization said even the right to education of many students from Shirui village is being violated. There are many students are who are about to appear their board examinations the following month. They cannot study due to the prevailing tension, the NPMHR stated, and asked the DC of Ukhrul to immediately depute a senior magistrate to look into the violations of rights
Also, the central government is asked to immediately withdraw the Assam Rifles from Shirui village and the Manipur government to intervene to resolve the situation at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Shirui villagers are said to have formed a separate committee on Wednesday called the “Shirui Non-Violence Committee”. The committee was formed as a response to the need for the villagers ‘themselves to articulate their needs’, it was informed.
Ulfa rebels escape, NSCN holds on Fleeing militants kill cops on bike OUR BUREAU Telegraph
Dibrugarh/Guwahati, Jan. 29: Two policemen died when a group of Ulfa militants fleeing from an encounter with security forces opened fire on them in a village in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district around 2.30pm today.
A six-year-old boy, Debojit Swargiary, was injured in the crossfire at Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk village under Sonari police station.
Sivasagar superintendent of police Shyamal Prasad Saikia said a huge contingent of police and army personnel, led by Charaideo sub-divisional police officer Jayanta Sarathi Bora, moved in at No. 2 Puroni Jaboka around 1pm after receiving information that a four-member Ulfa gang was holed up in the area.
Puroni Jaboka is approximately 1km from Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk.
“We had information about the presence of a Ulfa group taking shelter in the residence of a villager, Khagen Gogoi. As our men surrounded the house, they were greeted with heavy firing from inside. Though our men fired back, the rebels escaped,” a senior police official said. The police seized an IED weighing around 10kg and some incriminating documents from the encounter site.
“As soon as the news of the encounter and the rebels’ escape reached the police stations and forces stationed at various locations, they were alerted and all exit routes sealed,” the policeman said.
During one such movement of forces, the two policemen who were riding a motorbike (a TVS Victor — AS 30-3708), came face-to-face with the fleeing Ulfa group at Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk.
The policemen — whether they were carrying weapons could not be immediately officially confirmed — could not put up much of a resistance and died on the spot. They were assistant sub-inspector Bhimkanta Upadhaya and constable Debojit Borgohain. Upadhaya was the in-charge of the Tingalibam outpost on the Assam-Nagaland border.
The Ulfa rebels, local residents said, later fled towards Nagaland, around 2km from Bansbaripathar Chetiachuk .
Army sources involved in the encounter in Puroni Jaboka said one militant had died in the gunbattle. They said the group included dreaded militants like Rupantar Kakoty and Bhaity Baruah.
Majuli operation
Sources in Jorhat said the 10-day drama festival in Majuli was coming in the way of launching an operation to flush out the militants. Besides, the despatch of commandos for the operation in Majuli would take “a little time” as they would have to be oriented with the island’s historical and religious background. “The commandos are trained in a particular manner which could prove counter-productive in certain situations,” a source said, pointing out that civilian casualties could not be allowed.
The sources said Dispur today was thinking of keeping the army, too, on standby although there was a technical obstacle to such a move as the island is located in Jorhat district, which is outside the jurisdiction of the Unified Command.
Aya A. Shimray
AR-NSCN (IM) 'Stand-Off' at Shirui: Volatile Situation Continues
Ukhrul, Even as the agreed deadline between the NSCN (IM) and AR expires this evening, both the contending parties are apparently not prepared to pull out from Shirui village, triggering fear to the local populace and nearby Ukhrul residents.
As per the deadline, both the parties should move out from the village within 72 hours. When contacted, Dharmesh Yadav, C.O Assam Rifles who has been camping here since the impasse broke out refused to divulge any comment in regard to the expiry of deadline. When queried about the use of 'electrified barb wire' around the IM Camp as claimed by a human rights organization, he denied of such use. However, it has been ascertained from local sources that the AR have laid barbed wires around the whole vicinity of the camp. Access to the perimeter of the camp is restricted to all beyond the first AR bunker. Even photos taken media persons within the permitted perimeter are scanned by CO himself. The AR men were seen positioned at the first bunker, which used to be the bunker 1 of IM cadres before this stand-off. Sporadic movements of AR men within the IM camp area were noticed. Heavy AR re-enforcement has been reported during the last 48 hours, in addition to nearly 500 AR personnel already stationed in the village. On the other hand, the IM cadres believed to be numbering around 15-20 are still holed-up inside the camp, cut off from any humanitarian supply for the last 7 days. Water, food, electricity supply has been disconnected since 20th of this month. They are believed to be manning the three bunkers inside the camp with heavy weaponry. It is very apparent that with prolonged shortage of food items and other necessary commodities, the cadres would run out of their patience, prompting hostile situation.
The village looks very deserted and gloomy, with very little sign of life around this otherwise bustling scenic village. Only scenes replete with AR men in full uniform and weaponry are noticed at every pockets of the village. Except for few children and women attending to their daily chores, only few menfolks were seen moving around the village – reasons largely attributed to the fear of a possible 'show-down'. It has been reported that since the impasse ensued, most of the villagers have not attended to their paddy works, hampering its economy. "We want peace to reign in again so that we can continue to go for work and sleep peacefully". No instance of intimidation by the AR has been reported so far. However, as one local stated, "the huge concentration of the Indian Army in the village vicinity has not only deprived privacy but has also created fear psychosis in the minds of the local population, especially the children".
To prevent both the parties from confrontation, and also to facilitate peaceful withdrawal from both sides, a large number of womenfolk have been camping here near the first bunker since the stand-off began on 19th January 2009. Similarly, two sit-in rallies which were attended by women from all walks of life were staged at two places at Ukhrul town today.
As the stalemate enters 7th day, the civil societies have been working round-the-clock to avert any unwanted situation brewing from this. At the time of filing this report, a host of leaders from the community's social based organization have arrived at the village. They will obviously appeal to both the AR and IM cadres to leave the village, peacefully. Unless an amicable understanding is brokered immediately, it is speculated that an inevitable but possible 'show-down' could be the only option

Naga MLAs ask Governor to intervene in Siroy stand off
The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jan 29: The Naga MLAs of the state Dr. Khashim Ruivah, W Morung Makunga and M Thohrii have submitted a memorandum to the state Governor Gurbachan Jagat on the matter of the stand off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN(IM) at Siroy village in Ukhrul district of Manipur.

In their representation the MLAs have reiterated that the Indo-Naga peace process should continue and both sides should ensure that the peace process is not disturbed.

Stating their firm opinion that the confrontation between both the sides should be avoided for the sake of peace, the memorandum urged both sides to disengage themselves immediately and in the interest of peace maintain the status quo while also asking the Governor to intervene and restore peace in the state.

They further said that the Indo-Naga peace talks should not be disturbed and the present stand off between the NSCN(IM) and the Assam Rifles should be solved amicably.

Peace in the district should be maintained at all costs, women respected and human rights protected, the memorandum said while calling on the Government of India and the Naga group to maintain the ceasefire in letter and spirit for the protection of the property of the local people.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal(S), Manipur has said that it is greatly shocked to learn that Outer Manipur MP Mani Cheranamei pretends not to understand that the ceasefire agreement between the government of India and the NSCN(IM) does not extend to Manipur or Assam or Arunachal Pradesh or beyond Nagaland.

Even though people may not have been aware of this fact earlier, surely after the June 2001 incident in Manipur everyone knew that the ceasefire did not extend beyond Nagaland, as specifically notified by the government of India too, it said.

Stating that Cheranamei`s reference to the ceasefire of 1964 till 1972 with the then NNC (Naga National Council) and the government of India as quite irrelevant and out of context, it said in a statement that the clarification by the 17th Assam Rifles that the militants of NSCN(IM) were not supposed to set up camps outside Nagaland was quite true.

The ANSAM has also in an appeal to the concerned authorities asked for immediate intervention in order to amicably resolve the war like situation at Shiroy village.
AR nabs NSCN cadres Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Kohima, January 29 2009: ACTING ON specific intelligence regarding movement of cadres, a joint mobile check post was laid by 42 Assam Rifles and 164 TA Battalion near Iron Bridge at Kukidolong in Nagaland yesterday.

Confirming the reports, Assam Rifles sources today revealed that they intercepted a suspiciously moving Santro car and arrested 2 NSCN-IM cadres.

They also recovered uniforms and 50 rounds of ammunition of 303 rifle.

Later, the same troops arrested 4 NSCN-K cadres moving from Kohima to Dimapur in an Alto car and recovered three 9mm pistol and 32 live rounds, besides 4 mobile sets.

All the accused to handed over to Nagaland police.

Assam Rifles source further clarified that a state of high vigil is being maintained all over the state to ensure that ceasefire ground rules laid down by Government of India are adhered to by all the underground factions.

Stringent measures will be adopted against erring cadres violating laid down ceasefire ground rules within the state of Nagaland, sources added.
JD (S) fires salvo Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 29 2009: Janata Dal (S) Manipur president W Kulabidhu Singh has expressed that his party is unhappy rather greatly shocked to know that Outer MP Mani Cheranamei pretends not to understand that the ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and NSCN (IM) does not extend to Manipur or Assam Or Arunachal Pradesh or beyond Nagaland.

Even if this was not widely known to laymen earlier, it has been specifically made known specially after the Great Uprising of June in 2001 in Manipur, Kulabidhu, who is also a former MP said in a statement, adding that the Government of India had clearly and specifically issued a notification announcing that the said ceasefire does not extend beyond Nagaland.

The JD (S) State unit president further said that the Cheranamei's reference to the ceasefire of 1964 till 1912 with the then Naga National Council (NNC) and the Government of India is quite irrelevant and out of context.

Hence, the clarification of the 17 Assam Rifles that the militants of NSCN (IM) are not supposed to set up camps outside Nagaland (viz.

Siroy village of Ukhrul) is quite true, he noted.
Traders Meet 2009 conducted in Dimapur morungexpress

Bankers and business community engaged in a dialogue during the Traders Meet which was held with an aim towards carrying out “business developments in Dimapur in particular and Nagaland in general.

Dimapur : A Traders’ Meet was conducted on January 21 by the Dimapur-based branches of State Bank of India at the Conference Hall, R.O Super Market Complex, Dimapur, wherein the trader community was invited for a close discussion with bankers, with an aim towards carrying out “business developments in Dimapur in particular and Nagaland in general”.
S C Sen, Assistant General Manager, R.O Dimapur, announced the opening of new branches in Dimapur to facilitate the business community and provide better services to them. He highlighted various products available with SBI in the form of loans and advances, both Fund Based and Non-Fund Based, Instant Fund Transfer through RTGS, NEFT, internet banking, free ATM/Debit card, CBS all over India, including facilities like ‘power pack’ and ‘power gain’ suitable for the business community.
New SBI branches in Dimapur to assist business community
S H Leo, Chief Manager (Rural), R.O Dimapur, recalling the earlier Traders’ Meet wherein due to communication gap certain projects presented by the traders did not materialise due to non-feasibility and economic viability, requested the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce (DCC) to inculcate banking system with local traders. U Purkayastha, Assistant General Manager, SME, LHO Guwahati, discussed selected products most suitable for the business people in Dimapur. He expressed his optimism that the business community in Dimapur would take Dimapur to greater heights in terms of economic development of the people of Nagaland, while also advising the participants to be more involved.
Kasheto Yeptho, president of DCC, and Basu Damani, general secretary of DCC, also attended the meet. The businessmen present at the meet expressed their views on the need for financial assistance from the Bank at some point. They spoke of the convenience of fast means of fund transfer through RTGS and multi-city cheques which have been found useful during business trips. They showed keen interest in the different products of the Bank and asked the Bank to encourage local entrepreneurs on merit basis.
Informing this in a press release, the AGM of SBI Regional Office, Dimapur, added that the meet ended with vote of thanks by Paneer Mazumdar, Manager (DBD) Dimapur Branch, while printouts of demand products were handed over to the participants.
Bangla to crack down on terror Assam Tribune
DHAKA, Jan 29 – Bangladesh’s new government is proposing a South Asian anti-terrorist task force to tackle cross-border movements of militants. The proposal for such a force was floated in the election manifesto of the ruling Awami League party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and envisages setting up a cooperative mechanism with police forces and judiciaries of neighbouring countries to “track down militants and bring them to justice”.

Hasina outlined this proposal while speaking in the Parliament, where she said her new government has issued orders to uproot militancy in the country while an initiative was under way to pursue the formation of a South Asian Anti-Terrorist Task Force.

“I have already directed the ministries concerned to deracinate militancy and asked all intelligence agencies to activate themselves,” Hasina said. “I have also asked concerned authorities to find out their (terrorists’) patrons and financers and source of their weapons,” she said.

The premier’s remarks assume significance as a number of Indian outlawed north-eastern insurgent groups are reported to have established safe havens in Bangladesh. New Delhi has been asking Dhaka to extradite some of the top leaders of the banned ULFA.

Hasina said she has also asked madrassas to keep their institutions free from extremism, while warning of tough actions against banks and other institutions found involved in financing terror.

“We will have multifaceted sincere efforts to control militancy,” the Prime Minister said. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni earlier said terrorism would be the priority agenda of their new government, installed with three-fourths majority in the December 29 general elections, while it would play a pioneering role for effective regional cooperation to fight militancy in South Asia.

“Terrorism turned out to be a matter of worldwide concern (but) we will take effective steps in consultation with our neighbouring countries against it,” she told reporters on the first day in office earlier this month.

Awami League proposed the formation of the regional taskforce to fight terrorism and militancy while Hasina in her post-election press conference reiterated it saying it could end the mutual blame game on the issue of terrorism “between the countries in our region”. – PTI
Girl, jawan injured in encounter with NDFB
: From our Correspondent Sentinel
MANGALDAI, Jan 28: A minor girl student and a jawan of Army sustained serious injury in an encounter that took place between two cadres of Ranjan Daimary group of NDFB and the troops of Army on January 27 at Ambagaon in Udalguri district, while the Army was successful to arrest a cadre though the other managed to escape.
The arrested NDFB cadre has been identified as one William Daimary of village Nalbari near Daipham adjacent to Udalguri town and the absconding cadre namely Ajay Daimary is of village Balisiha under Udalguri police station and has been apprehended by the troops of 172 Field Regiment and police in the early hours today from Rowta area in an injured state. The incident took place at about 10.30 am on Tuesday.
Significantly, even after facing the firing from the militants, the Army showed a great restraint not to open firing on the militants only to save the lives of the nearby innocent people which have widely been appreciated by the people of the locality.
As reported, the troops of 172 Field Regiment of Red Horns Division operating in Udalguri district acting on a tip off, while intercepted two militants riding on a red-colour Pulsar motorcycle, one of the militants started firing upon the Army causing serious injury to a jawan and a girl student of class IX standard. The Army nabbed William Daimary and recovered a grenade from his possession while Ajay Daimary managed to make his good escape. The injured girl namely Ranjali Baglary (14), daughter of Binoy Baglary of Ambagaon area, and the jawan was immediately shifted to Udalguri Civil Hospital and later referred to Guwahati Medical College Hospital.
Significantly, the Udalguri police and the Army offered an amount of Rs 25,000 to the injured girl for her medical treatment on humanitarian ground.
In an another incident, the troops of 65 Field Regiment operating at Kalaigaon in Udalguri district recovered two crude bombs, seven numbers of detonators and one bottle liquid substance concealed in an abandoned bag at village Daloipara near Dalongghat under Kalaigaon police station on January 27.
Bodo National Festival concludes

: From our Correspondent Sentinel
KOKRAJHAR, Jan 28: A week-long Bodo National Festival held at Bijni in Chirang district concluded recently with the significant resolution of unifying all Bodo people living in Asom, NC Hills Tripura, Nepal, West Bengal and Bangladesh. The festival was most significant as the leaders of Bodo people from inside and outside the State assembled to exchange their views to prepare a common platform to speed up the unification process.
In the conclusion ceremony, president of Kok-Borok Sahitya Sabha Nanda Kumar Debberma addressing the gathering said there should be only oneness of language, culture, literature and race under the strong leadership of the Bodos of Bodoland. He said the Bodos of Brahmaputra Valley must take the leading role for uniting all the Bodo people living within and outside the State, and for that mission, the Boroks of Tripura and Dimasas of NC Hills as well as Bodos of West Bengal, Nepal and Bangladesh will have to join hands in the move to bring back the lost identity and glory of the great race.
He said he is happy with the unification move which is going on with regular meets within the community people here and there. He also called upon the Bodo youths to come forward to revive the identity of the race.
The open meeting which was chaired by Rakhao Basumatary, president of Bodo Writers’ Academy (BWA) was also addressed by BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary, Minister of Agriculture Ms Pramila Rani Brahma, MLA of Nepal Chandralal Meche, MP SK Bwiswmuthiary, president of Twipra Students’ Federation Upen Chandra Debbarma, president of Kok Borok Sahitya Sabha Nanda Kumar Debbarma. The open session was inaugurated by Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary.
In an interview, in the sideline of the meting, Nepal MLA Chandralal Meche said the Bodo National Festival was most significant in uniting the great Bodo race, because the Bodo group of people from various regions could come together and exchange their views in a common platform. He said such festival should be conducted on regular basis to strengthen the community. He also hoped that through holding this kind of festivals, the language, literature, culture, tradition, identity and security could be well-protected and effective change may come in this way.
President of Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) Upen Chandra Debbarma said that the festival was a historic milestone for unification of the Bodos, adding that there will be Bodo National Festival every year and resolved to hold the festival in NC Hills, Tripura, West Bengal and Nepal in the years to come.
NE handicraft goods take Thailand by surprise
: By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Jan 28: An inspired Northeast won the hearts of thousands of Thai people as the rich and colourful handicraft of the region were showcased here last night when the crowed swayed to the music of Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Jubin Garg.
Dr Trirong Suwankiri, Former Deputy Prime Minister and advisor to present Prime Minister of Thailand inaugurated the first-ever stand alone exhibition on indigenous handicraft products of the Northeast India aptly titled “Made in North East India” at Fashion Island Shopping Centre Bangkok, one of the biggest shopping malls in Thailand.
The exposition organized by Industries & Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA), in association with DC (Handicraft), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and with support of Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi and Thai Council of Commerce took the elite evening crowd at the stylish mall by surprise as all the participants, including the organizers came out in traditional dresses of the Northeast commemorating the country’s Republic Day.
Dr Trirong Suwankiri impressed with the colourful designs of Northeast handicraft pointed out that mixture of Thai and Northeast Handicraft can capture the world market.
The huge evening crowd at the mall cheered as the senior political leader posed in colourful Naga jacket.
Yaomi Sasa, a National Award winner from Ukhrul district of Manipur, could not stop his tears as Dr Trirong hugged him seeing in his traditional dress.
“I couldn’t believe that there is such a beautiful world waiting outside,” said Sasa.
Manendra Deka from Barpeta district of Asom had difficult time convincing people that the bamboo replica of his rickshaw is not for sale.
The fashion conscious Thai people made a beeline for the colourful jewellery of Suresh Das from Tripura. “Surprisingly the young generation liked my design more with some girls finding it fit for trendy wear,” said Das.
Bangkok with its humid climate welcomed the sital patti by Ranjit Kumar Dey with open arm.
“It looks so cool and comfortable. Fit for Thai homes,” commented Kanjana of DEP.
The organizers were overwhelmed by the love and affection showered by Thai community on the artisans on their maiden visit to the country.
“Every second moment we are receiving invitation from the visitors for either lunch and dinner.
Some even brought Thai food to our office. Everybody finds a connection between Northeast India and Thailand,” informed Rajesh Das, Vice President, ITFAA.
Sunisa of Department of Export Promotion (DEP) Royal Thai Government could not stop praising the rich and colourful embroidery of Nagaland, Rabha handicraft and Meghalaya.
“The small household articles made of pine wood by Isabella Pakma of Meghalaya is definitely going to occupy a very important position in my residence,” said Sunisa.
Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) has the distinction of introducing Thailand in its flagship trade expositions International Guwahati Trade Fair held regularly in Guwahati for the last 16 years.
Aptly summarising the mood of the expositions, Madhukar Asnani, First Secretary (Commercial) Embassy of India, Thailand pointed out that the goodness and simplicity of Northeast India shows in the works of the participating artisans.
The exposition which began on January 26 will continue till January 31 aspiring to leave a permanent mark on the heart of Thai people.

Nagalim.NL News

01/30/2009: "PC tough talk on NSCN NISHIT DHOLABHAI"