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02/22/2009: "‘Let My People Go’ morungexpress"

‘Let My People Go’ morungexpress


Dimapur | February 20 : The Forum for Naga Reconciliation is all set to take “Naga Reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope” to another level with a two-day Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace. To be held at Kohima local ground, the convention is scheduled for February 21-22. With the theme “Let My People Go”, the convention is expected to be more than just another “purely spiritual” meeting but rather, a new resort to listen to the voice of the Naga people.
The convention is open to all Nagas. According to the forum’s convener, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, the Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace will be a time for the Nagas to look at the current difficulties and “trying to figure out as to where do we go from here”.
The meeting will dwell on reconciliation while also acknowledging and supporting the Naga political talks, on with the centre. “We are not saying that the talks (Indo-Naga talks) should stop and reconciliation must happen. But we want that both the talks and reconciliation must be given equal emphasis” Dr. Aier said.
Over the theme of the convention – “Let My People Go” – the forum’s convener said it had always been the message of the Nagas’ founding fathers. “It is a message, a slogan and a commitment….a phrase we have used for more than 60 years” Rev. Aier said. Everything about the call of the Nagas boils down to the phrase ‘let my people go’ he explained.
Naga Convention on Reconciliation and Peace today; open to all Offering a brief highlight of the event, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier said the convention would have solidarity messages from civil society and Naga churches. There would also be music from different choirs while a session called ‘Celebrate the Naga Spirit’ which is to be a couple of musical hours from renowned Naga musicians, will be held. The main speakers of the convention are Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, general secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and Rev. Dr. Wati Aier.
Further, Rev. Aier said the convention was organized in response to the resolution of September 25, last year’s convention at Sumi Baptist Church in Dimapur, to organize a bigger meeting of the Naga brethren. He also clarified that the registration of delegates was meant only for tribal delegates to ascertain how many people from different tribes attend the event. Welcoming all to attend the convention, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier said that it is the duty of every Naga to be there so that the voice and aspirations of the Naga people can be communicated to all the Naga “political groups”.
Military Ops Suspended

In view of the Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace to be held February 21-22, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation informs, that both the NSCN (IM) and the “GPRN/NSCN” have agreed to abstain from any kind of “military operations”; and maintain ceasefire from February 20 to the 28th.
Manipur, Nagaland under Delhi scanner NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph
New Delhi, Feb. 21: Union home minister P. Chidambaram has put Manipur and Nagaland under the scanner and sent a firm message to the militant groups, including the NSCN (Isak-Muivah), following the recent disturbances in Manipur. He has also instructed the governments of the two states to maintain peace. An apparently peeved Chidambaram is learnt to have taken an uncompromising view of the situation in the region, especially after the killings of three government employees posted in Ukhrul district of Manipur.
The Centre fears a potential communal fall-out of the situation as the Meitei groups have accused the NSCN (I-M) of murdering the employees. The Meiteis and the Nagas are at loggerheads since the NSCN (I-M) revived the old Naga demand for uniting all the contiguous Naga-inhabited areas. Chidambaram yesterday called a high-level meeting to discuss the Naga problem. It was attended by senior home ministry officials and the chairman of the ceasefire monitoring group in Nagaland, Lt Gen. Mandhata Singh.
One of the causes for Chidambaram’s stern warning is the untimely reaction of the NSCN (I-M) through a leader of the outfit in Dimapur immediately after the home minister’s visit to Manipur and Nagaland. The leader of the outfit wrote to Singh, criticising Chidambaram and accusing the Centre of neglecting the Naga problem and endangering the ceasefire, sources said.
During his visit to Nagaland, Chidambaram had indicated that the solution to the Naga problem lay within the ambit of the Constitution. The Centre has reacted to the letter, which many term as a knee-jerk reaction from the rebels, in the run-up to the general elections by saying that no major change can be expected before the elections. According to sources, the home ministry feels a definite forward movement of the decade-long negotiation will be brought if the UPA returns to power.
The NSCN (I-M), already under pressure from Delhi and Imphal, has constituted its own “special investigation team” to probe the murders of the three Manipur government employees. The central security forces, mainly the Assam Rifles, are at loggerheads with the NSCN (I-M) since December when five Assam Rifles personnel, including an officer, were “abducted” by the rebels.
Soon after, the Assam Rifles vacated a rebel camp in Ukhrul. However, with the killing of an SDO and two of his subordinate staff by unidentified gunmen last week, the Centre sees risk of communal tension in Manipur. “The issue came up at the meeting and the Centre is concerned,” a home ministry source said.
‘A New Dawn through Reconciliation’ morungexpress
Seen here at the inaugural convention of the Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace at the local ground, Kohima, is (top) Oriental Theological Seminary’s choir in performance; a section of leaders from Naga civil society with special dignitaries (below) and participating citizens (below-right) in praise and worship. (Photo:Caisii Mao)

Kohima | February 21 : The two-day Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace commenced today at Kohima local ground with General Secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council Rev. Zhabu Terhuja saying that the time has come for the suffering Naga people to enter a new dawn through the gate of reconciliation.
The convention is on way under the aegis of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and with the theme ‘Let My People Go’.
Dwelling on the theme ‘Let my people go’ in the context of the Naga people and their struggle, Terhuja in his keynote address said “everything is not well, but everything is not lost”. The Nagas can rebuild their future if they hold on to this aspiration, the church leader said.
“Time has come for Nagas to enter a new dawn and reconciliation is the gate to that future,” he told the gathering. The gathering comprised of hundreds of Naga people from all walks of life and almost all Naga-inhabited regions.
He said the only way out for Nagas is to reason and dialogue together. Referring to Moses’ demand to the Pharaoh to ‘Let my people go’, the church leader said in this case, God himself took the initiative. If the Nagas too believe that God himself had inspired Naga leaders, Rev. Zhabu Terhuja reminded, then they should return to God and seek his wisdom instead of relying on own earthly wisdom.
The church leader said the problem with the Nagas today, is their going astray from God. But on the other hand again, the church leader reminded, many of the Naga “national” organizations and prayer groups claim to have received revelations from God, which are all contradictory to each other. For this, infighting, disunity and killings continue among the Nagas, he said. “Today our division can be the greatest strategy for anybody to keep us divided. Let us be wise enough,” he advised.
He also quoted former Naga underground leader “gen.” Thenosilie’s comment that “we (Nagas) have no national government but only factional government, no national leaders but only factional leaders”. Rev. Terhuja said the time has come for Nagas to come together to achieve the desired, common aspiration since “our resources are too fragmented.”
Questioning the type of goals the Naga “political” leaders could have in mind and whether they can build a new road ‘so that Nagas can travel safely and securely’, Terhuja said if the Naga leaders do not have an answer, then they should let the people and public decide their own future. Nagas need to build a moral and ethical integrity in order to travel the road to progress, he said.
Messages of solidarity were read out by representatives from the Eastern Naga People Organization and Council of Naga Baptist Churches (CNBC). Tizu Area and Rengma Baptist Church Kohima choirs performed at the convention while Oriental Theological Seminary, Bade, and Call of God Ministry, Kohima, led the praise and worship.

Query on IM camps irks CM Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2009: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has iterated that the ceasefire agreement between the Naga rebel group NSCN (IM) and the Government of India is confined only in Nagaland and there is no camp of the Naga rebel group in Manipur.

In response to a query during a press conference at his office chamber here today, Ibobi asserted that there is no designated camp of NSCN (IM) in Manipur.

"Can you identity any of the designated camps of NSCN (IM) in Manipur ?", the Chief Minister retorted in response to the query posed by a journalist who quoted Assam Rifles sources that said such camps are in Manipur but the State Government has not taken note of them. The Chief Minister's clarification or rather the outburst came in the backdrop of public suspicion on possible involvement of NSCN (IM) cadres in the recent killing of SDO of Kasom Khullen Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two subordinate staff after being abducted from Ukhrul district.

The JAC formed in denouncement of the brutal killing had also demanded the State Government that no NSCN (IM) camp should be allowed to exist within the territory of Manipur. It may be recalled here that recently a stand off occured between the Assam Rifles soldiers and armed cadres of NSCN (IM) at Siroy village in Ukhrul district over setting up of a camp by the Naga rebel group.
Cong told to guard its camp morungexpress
Dimapur, February 21 (MExN): Responding to the salvo of the Congress party, the NPF today listed out a number of political developments in the recent times where money had played a part. A note from the NPF central office’s associate press secretary cautioned the Congress to “guard and keep their house in order”.
The NPF mentioned the “lasting, powerful image of the three BJP MPs showing the packets of money” in the Parliament allegedly from the Congress “during the nuclear deal”. Stating that the event is “still fresh” in the “eyes of the nation” and “more fresher” in the “eyes of the Naga people”, the NPF referred to Lok Sabha MP Wangyuh Konyak succumbing to the same lure. “…to save the government, Congress lured and bribed as many as 16 MPs from non-UPA constituents with some MPs cashing in Rs.30 crores,” the associate press secretary stated.
Likewise, the NPF central office asserted that “during the 10th MLA”, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee led by the then CLP leader, I Imkong, “lured and bribed around ten disgruntled NPF MLAs and forcibly made them resign”. The NPF’s note went so far as to claim that Imkong with other leaders “threatened their high command” with “dire consequences” if President’s Rule was not imposed in Nagaland.
According to the NPF, whenever a regional party is in power, the Congress party “never spared to complete the full term”. Since statehood of Nagaland, the Congress has imposed President’s Rule four times, “that too, when regional party was ruling the state”, the NPF stated. Referring to the statement of the recently-resigned Congress legislators, the NPF said the Congress is besieged by crisis and a divided house.

NSCN(I-M) vows to deliver justice (NPN): Dimapur,
NSCN-IM ‘kilo kilonser’ Kedutsii Tsuzuh assured that if any NSCN members were found involved in the brutal killing of SDO Kasom Khullen SDO and two of his subordinates, befitting punishment will be awarded to them to deliver justice. “No such persons, big or small, shall be spared from facing the severest penalty,” he said in a release on Saturday.
He however asserted that the NSCN stood its earlier statement that it had no hand in the killing. Another release issued by ‘Col’ Levi Zimik, PRO/IPR, NSCN-IM/GPRN, said the brutal killing has come as a great shock to the Naga Army. The release also clarified that the killing had nothing to do with any “official sanction of army authorities whatsoever” and assured that in the event of any Naga Army personnel found involved, the Naga Army would not fail to award punishment to those perpetrators befitting the crime as per the army rules.

GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF NAGALIM
Press Release21st Feb. ‘09

Kilo Kilonser
( Home Minister)

Taking into consideration the gravity of the brutal killing of Kasom Khullen SDO and his two staff the NSCN stand by its statement that it has no hand in the killing. But in the event of some NSCN members found to be involved in the killing befitting punishment shall be given and justice shall be delivered. No such persons, big or small, shall be spared from facing the severest penalty.

Sd/- (Kedutsii Tsuzuh)

PEACE CONVENTION BEGINS, NEED FOR UNITY UNDERSCORED

KOHIMA, FEB21 [EMN] : The Naga convention for reconciliation and peace, which got underway today under the theme ‘Let my People Go’, underscored the need for inclusive unity amongst all Naga underground groups as well as he public without which there can be no common hope and future.


Nagas should reorganise and forge ahead as one, as division and factionalism has broken the spirit of Naga unity, said Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) general secretary Rev Zhabu Terhüja, delivering the keynote address on the inaugural day at Kohima local ground (Khouchiezie), and rued that so many Nagas have died in the last ten years while querying who had been killed by whom and to what destination this was leading. This should serve as a lesson for all, he said.

Furthermore, he said the various underground groups ‘claim to have got many revelations from God, but they seem to have separate revelations and therefore fight one another.’ Even our legislators also know how to pull down each other instead of building one another, he said. He impressed that this situation would be the greatest strategy for anyone to keep the Nagas divided forever, and called upon the wisdom of the Nagas to come together as one. The Reverend also reminded that the Naga movement had been divinely inspired from the beginning and stressed that Nagas need to go back to God to seek His divine counsel as He is the author of this divine initiative.

Nagas need to strongly resolve to rebuild a moral, ethical integrity which is essential in human relationships, he said, adding that only then can the people move on the road to progress and change. Speaking on the same lines, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) president Manko Phom stressed that solution cannot be an anticipated proposal unless Nagas unite. He also emphasised that all factions should come to an understanding and stop killing one another as ‘no one is enemy to the other’ and added that peace, tranquillity and prosperity of life can be enjoyed only in a united family with a spirit of reconciliation.

Also echoing similar sentiments, Rev L Bizo of the Council of Naga Baptist Churches (CNBC) said, “We have a vision and a dream that one day all Naga people will live together in one territory, one country, as a nation on this planet earth. There will be no such thing as Nagas of Nagaland state, Nagas of Manipur or Myanmar and Nagas of Assam or Arunachal Pradesh but all are one Naga people living in one common territory and one country.” “There will be no such thing as Angami, Ao, Sumi, Lotha country and so on but one united state of the Naga nation,” he stated. He further said that ‘unity is not uniformity or organic, it is not bird of the same feather nor like mindedness but unity is inclusiveness, harmony, beauty and love’ while adding that we need to seek for the kind of unity that transcends all barriers through effective dialogue leading to correct and clear harmonious understanding of problems and issues involved.

Today’s programme was chaired by Rev Vezopa Tetseo, executive secretary, Nagaland Police Baptist Churches Association. Special songs were delivered by Oriental Theological Seminary, Dimapur, Tizu Area choir, Rengma Baptist Church and Christ King Catholic Church, Kohima. A prayer for children and families affected by factional violence was also held on the occasion. People from all walks of life, including leaders and representatives of Naga underground factions and various tribal organisations, gathered for the opening programme to celebrate the 'spirit of reconciliation' and peace within the Naga community. The session was followed by a concert ‘Celebrate the Naga spirit’ with Tali Angh and Jungtina Jamir as conveners.

Naga frontals appeals Manipur government Newmai News Network
Imphal | February 21: CONTINUING WITH their strong condemnation of the abduction and subsequent murder of an SDO and his two subordinates in Senapati, the United Naga Council (UNC), the Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) today once again appealed the Manipur government to act promptly and nab the culprits responsible for the crime and award them befitting punishment. The latest appeal by the Naga organizations come in continuation of their strong condemnation of the killing of Dr.Thingnam Kishan, MCS along with his driver, staff and the missing of three other staff and also the subsequent appeal to all people for restraining in words or action with communal tone. The Naga frontals in a press communiqué appealed the state government for immediate and prompt action to trace the culprits for befitting punitive action as per the law and also rescue the still missing government staff.
"If the demeaning expression shown by some section of society pointing their fingers on certain organization is to be true then the organization authority should swiftly act and rope in those cadres responsible for the dastardly act of necessary punishment," the Naga frontal organisations asserted while adding, "We also express our anguish to the state government authority for its untimely intervention in saving the lives of the decease by interrogating the employees is by what Mrs.Romita, wife of late Dr.Kishan testimonial to the press are anything to go by." The four Naga frontal organisations also expressed their concern over the ugly divisive statement of some underground groups in singling out particular community in this period of anguish agony, when the entire people is shocked over the horrendous triple murder, which call for collective responsibility of all people to nib this inhuman act which is spreading like a disease in the society in the bud.
"Lastly, we appeal that at this time of anguish agony, the whole people irrespective of caste, creed and color should be addressing collectively for justice and comforting the bereave families over the tragic lost of their dear ones. We believe politicizing over the innocence of will be unfortunate and amounts to crime as human being", they added.

AR responds to doubts of NSCN (IM) morungexpress
Dimapur, February 21 (MExN): The Army today responded to the aspersions cast on the role of the Assam Rifles by the NSCN (IM) recently. “The article is NSCN (IM)’s malicious and fabricated propaganda against security forces to cover their nefarious and unlawful activities as also to absolve themselves of their wrongdoing and misinformation to the public” the Army said in the rejoinder issued through PRO of Defence Lt Col Nirupam Bhargava.
Responding to the allegation the outfit made that the security force staged an explosion, the AR said no incident of blast in Ukhrul on February 9, 2009 was reported to the local police or in media of Manipur where the incident allegedly took place.
“This attempt by the group is to sensationalize an event which is a figment of their imagination to mislead the public. The sheer fact that an article has been published ten days after the alleged date of the incident, confirms the intentions of calculated propaganda rather than being a factual truth” the Army stated. Moreover, the rejoinder said ‘no other media present in Ukhrul reported any such matter at the time the incident is purported to have taken place or even thereafter’. This brings into light “the questionable veracity” of the article forwarded by NSCN (IM), the army stated.
“The Assam Rifles, besides maintaining security, is doing yeoman service in the entire north-east, a fact well-known to the people. Such malicious campaign obviously will not find favor with the local masses” the AR said. The Assam Rifles have assured to continue to discharge their duties in a professional manner towards ensuring peace, tranquility and development in the north-east region.
Impasse, curfew continue in Imphal The Hindu Iboyaima Laithangbam
IMPHAL: For the third consecutive day, curfew continued in Imphal East and West on Saturday, following agitations in the wake of the murders of three government officials in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
The police have picked up three Tangkhul tribals who have been missing since their abduction along with the slain officials on February 13. The tribals are being brought here for interrogation.
No agreement could be reached between Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and representatives of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the Apunba Lup (AL), an umbrella body of 32 social organisations and groups, in talks held on Friday night.
Demands rejected
Defying curfew, the JAC and the AL held a public meeting here earlier on Friday to chalk out the further course of agitation demanding action against the murderers.
Their demands include interrogation of the suspended District Collector Pankaj Kumar Pal after registering a criminal case on his alleged involvement, and closure of the camps of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland(Isak Muivah). But Mr. Ibobi rejected the demands.
Early on Saturday, when hundreds of women vendors assembled in some markets for selling vegetables and fish, the police fired teargas canisters and used mock bombs to disperse them. Some vendors and customers were injured.
Life disrupted
Life has come to a standstill in the twin districts with all offices, educational institutes and public places remaining deserted. Police and paramilitary personnel are deployed at all places to disperse people who attempt to take out processions.
More forces have been rushed from other districts to Imphal East and Imphal West.
Civil organisations and political parties are demanding a judicial inquiry into the murders.
The government, which earlier decided to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, has instead set up a departmental inquiry headed by L.M. Khaute, IGP (Intelligence).
13 AR Raising Day commemorated morungexpress

Dimapur, February 21 (MExN): The 13 Assam Rifles on February 15 celebrated its 51st Raising Day. 13 AR was raised at Gaya (Bihar) on February 15, 1958 and after initial training the battalion was deployed in Ghaspani (Nagaland) in March 1959 and then at Dimapur in September 1959. The battalion also served for a considerable duration in Mon District till 2003 before it moved to Ukhrul District in Manipur and again to Nagaland in Chieswema under Headquarter 5 Sector Assam Rifles in May 2008.
Informing this in a release, PRO IGAR, Major. Pallab Choudhury noted the role of 13 Assam Rifles in guarding the North East frontiers, maintaining internal security and carrying out varied civic action programmes for the welfare of the people of the region particularly Manipur and Nagaland.
Referred to as “Thundering Thirteen”, the 13 AR is replete with heroic actions in Counter Insurgency Operations in Nagaland and Manipur, the note stated. While the 13AR through the civic action programmes has been continually proactive to live up to its motto ‘friends of the hill people’ , the unit has also excelled in all professional spheres and has earned a plethora of accolades, the note concluded.
BPPF lashes out at Hagrama
A CORRESPONDENT
SRIRAMPUR, Feb 21 – “Hagrama Mahilary is acting like an autocrat in BTC. An armed organisation having indirect favour of the ruling BPF is carrying out activities like kidnapping and murder throughout BTAD”, so said ex-MP of the Rajya Sabha, U G Brahma on the prevailing condition of BTC in a public gathering held on the premises of Bhomrabil High School field recently.

The meeting organised by the Srirampr Anchalik Committee BPPF was presided over by Mainul Hoque Choudhury and attended by Rabiram Narzary, president, Central Committee BPPF, Mozaffar Hussain, central organising secretary and other central and district committee members. The ex-MP in his speech also accused the BTC authority of having indulged in knee-deep corruption. Brahma also accused S K Bwismuthiary (MP, Kokrajhar) who wants to make BTC a heaven now, have already spent ten years on the floors of Parliament but did not utter a single word for the non-Bodos living within BTAD.

While delivering welcome address Mozaffar Hussain said that Hagrama Mahilary was an extremist and his nature has not changed yet because he (Hagrama) and his ‘bahini’ still masterminds some heinous crimes like murder of innocent journalists and creating ethnic riots. Also he alleged that Hagrama Mahilary is using the Muslims and other non-Bodos as vote bank only. Rabiram Narzary in his speech mentioned that the BPF activists are playing foul politics and appealed to all sections of people particularly the minorities to select the right candidate in the following forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

Children’s plight: Greater Srirampur comprising about 15 villages have been neglected by the government since independence. The socio-economic condition of the people’s is very low. Many children born of poor parents in Srirampur and its adjoining area such as Simul Tapu, Dawaguri, Haraputa, Rangapara, Telipara, Bhomrabil, Jacobpur, Grahampur, Rangsupur and so on cannot continue their education because of poverty and are forced to work in the fields and private houses. Again those who migrated to the towns, are being exploited in the tea stalls, hotels, establishments, farms, factories and mills for long hours and in trying and unhealthy conditions. The brick-kilns and some tea gardens also use child labour. Besides the small (light) vehicles like Tata Sumo, Auto-rickshow, Tempo, Tata-Magic etc also appoint children as fare collectors. Small girls who work in other people’s homes are subjected to torture, exploited sexually and even killed.

Various NGOs and social organisations are trying to stop child labour but they are yet to create public awareness and motivate the masses against it. Local conscious citizens have demanded government steps to abolish child labour, implement the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act as well as to punish those related with child labour employment.