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03/23/2009: "NPMHR cries foul on arrest morungexpress"
NPMHR cries foul on arrest morungexpress
Dimapur, March 22 (MExN): A number of people arrested in connection with the recent murder of SDO and others in Manipur, are being victimized for “no fault of theirs”, the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (south) today said.
Following in the trail “of travels” made by the “kidnapers” of murdered SDO Thingnam Khisan, and two others, five people are languishing in the prison “for no fault of theirs in the crime” the NPMHR (south) asserted in a note today. “Their evident crime could be no other than either looking after fellow human beings in need or doing something under duress” the organization asserted.
Of the prisoners, the organization said, two are taxi drivers ‘who earn their livelihood by taking people to and fro’ but they were charged with kidnapping and abetting crime. The other three are “responsible village elders”, and are responsible only for extending “hospitality to way-farers” the note said. “This is human culture which is universal. This fine culture has been duly made universal convention instituting basic humanitarian standard even to convicts proven guilty of one or more crimes. It is therefore seen and taken as direct affront to our indigenous tribal culture” the NPMHR said.
These prisoners had “extended sincere cooperation to the state police and have divulged all they saw and knew” the NPMHR (S) said and queried “what more do the state police want from them?”
Further, according to the organization, the prisoners in question are also accused of not informing to the law-enforcing agencies “for what they had done to the militants”. “What about Mr. Ranjit Singh, the Works Minister, Government of Manipur, who visited Kasom Khullen (the workplace of the Late SDO) a day after the late SDO was taken hostage and was well aware of the missing SDO and his staffs, did not inform the police nor do anything to ascertain their where about?” the NPMHR (south) questioned. The organization observes that “it is very evidently clear that the Manipur government is looking for scapegoat and unfortunately those innocent persons who choose to help and clear their conscience are the target”.
Demanding justice for the murder of Dr. Kishan and two of his staffers, the NPMHR however, said “those innocent persons” should not be further victimized “as they do not deserved imprisonment”. The NPMHR (s) has demanded their immediate release “Otherwise, the course of action of bestowing justice will get diverted and eventually arriving at a satisfactory and just verdict would not be possible in this case”, it added.
UN asks govt to repeal AFSPA PTI
New Delhi, March 23 (PTI): Criticising India for continuing with laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act which it said breaches international human rights standards, the United Nations today asked New Delhi to repeal them and raised the issue of alleged disappearance of people in Kashmir. “India should repeal those dated and colonial-era laws that breach contemporary international human rights standards. These range from laws which provide the security forces with excessive emergency powers, including the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, to laws that criminalise homosexuality,” UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navnetham Pillay said here.
Expressing concern over reported disappearance of people in Kashmir, the United Nations today proposed India to have independent investigations into it and wanted New Delhi to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). “India can invite special rapporteurs for independent investigations,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay told reporters. She said India could invite international observers during elections in Kashmir.
“In the past two decades, hundreds of cases of disappearances have been reported in Kashmir. These cases must be properly investigated in order to bring a sense of closure to the families who for far too long have been awaiting for news,” she said. Pillay met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram here and took up the issue of laws like AFSPA. “I told the ministers that human rights activities need to be strengthened in India. I raised the concerns of civil society about the way the AFSPA is implemented. I also raised the issue of having a UN’s office of human rights here,” she said.
‘Nagas have withstood all odds’ morungexpress
Dimapur, (MExN): The ‘Kedahge’ (“president”) of the FGN has greeted the people on the accession of “republic day” held on March 22. In his message “gen” Viyalie Metha recollected the “heroic deed and farsightedness vision” of AZ Phizo and other Naga patriots that their “unflinching sacrifices sustained our nation from the flagrant invasion of the enemy”.
Metha stated that the Naga nation’s foundation was laid on ‘solid grounds’ yet “people continued to suffer for generations in the hands of unceasing Indian militarized tyranny”. “But we have withstood all odds and now Naga people can see the silver lining in the horizon that, with the advent of modern technology in communication and globalization, more nations understand and are aware of our plight. India can no longer hide its terrorist activities perpetrated upon Nagaland”, he said.
According to the FGN, Nagaland is facing “internal conflicts because of few self-seeking individuals and renegades who had fallen prey to evil designs of the enemy”. He said the people are fed up with the ‘evil doers and have now geared up to confront them with the truth’. “I would like to assure our people that we will handle our future but diligently and efficiently” Metha said. The ‘Kedahge’ also made mention of the recent past that “there has been much ado about a fruitless Naga reconciliation and unity supposedly between numerous factions by holding get-together magnified as so-called convention and consultation purportedly for a political negotiation with Indian”. He claimed that a “few of educated and even some clergymen were being tricked by an Indian agent who, ever since setting foot in Nagaland had been constantly trying to fool our people by setting up this and that organization and forums”.
He said “such perpetrator/s should know that the ‘Indo Naga conflict’ can be resolved only through universal law which can neither be suppressed nor altered by might”. Further, the FGN leader said that the “truth should no longer be hidden or added with sweeten words”, and that “Indians and Nagas are completely two contrasting people by race, culture, tradition, and even religion”.
Metha said that the Nagas have wasted precious time “but God has been gracious to us all”. ‘He gives us life to this day so that we may reconcile with him in truth and start a fresh life loving one another. As such, I beseech Naga citizens to come together in upholding our national rights and proclaim to the world for our national destiny he appealed.
Meanwhile it was informed that the “54th republic day” was held at TPC, Kohima on March 22. The programme was led by I. Toshi, “medical kilonser”, while the scriptures and prayers was conducted by “col” VS Jonio. Metha unfurled the flag. Cultural items were performed by the Zeliangrong, Sumi and Chakhesang regions of the outfit.
Confusion over ultra groups’ strength R Dutta Choudhury Assam tribune
GUWAHATI, March 22 – The sharp difference between the figures of the number of members of militant groups available with the security agencies and the figures that come out after the groups sign ceasefire agreements with the Government has raised doubts whether the security agencies including the police were totally out of mark in assessing the strength of the militant groups or whether these groups indulged in recruitments even after signing ceaseifire agreements. Highly-placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that in case of almost all the militant groups, which signed ceasefire agreements with the Government, this sharp difference has been noticed. Sources admitted that this is a matter of concern and would have to be looked into seriously by the Government while signing ceasefire agreement with any militant group in future.
Sources revealed that according to assessments of the security agencies, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, (I-M) had around 2,500 cadres at the time when the outfit signed ceasefire agreement with the Government of India more than a decade back. But the strength of the outfit is now around 9,000. Similarly, the assessment of the strength of the NSCN (K) by the security agencies at the time of signing of the cease-fire agreement was around 1,200 and this has now increased to more than 5,000.
Sources pointed out that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), once considered one of the most dreaded militant groups in terms of the level of violence, was the worst sufferer in the operation launched by the Bhutan Government in December, 2003 to evict the militants taking shelter in that country and at that time, the security agencies assessed that the strength of the outfit would not be more than 200 cadres. But at the time of signing of the ceasefire agreement, the outfit submitted a list of 1027 cadres and the Government accepted the same without proper verification. However, according to reports available with the police and security agencies, the outfit indulged in fresh recruitments even after signing of the ceasefire agreement in clear violation of the ground rules of the agreement and batches of new recruits were even sent to Bangladesh for training.
Same is the case with the ANVC, a Meghalaya-based militant group as the security agencies estimated the strength of the outfit to be around 40-odd militants and now the strength has gone up to more than 150.
Now the question is whether the security agencies totally failed to estimate the strength of the militant groups or whether the groups indulged in fresh recruitments even after signing ceasefire agreements with the Government. Security sources said that there have been clear indications of the militant groups going for fresh recruitments after signing ceasefire agreements to increase their strength in an apparent bid to increase pressure on the Government. Security sources further admitted that the policy of the Government to keep the problems under wraps instead of trying to find permanent solution to the problems is primarily responsible for the present state of affairs. The Government has recently decided to make the ground rules of the ceasefire agreements more stringent to prevent violation of the ground rules by the militant groups. As per the new ground rules, all the members of the militant groups would have to deposit their weapons and stay in the designated camps. Butthe past experiences proved that the security agencies failed to assess the number of cadres of the militant groups and under the circumstances, it will not be possible to make an exact assessment of the number of weapons at the disposal of the militant groups to ensure that all those are surrendered.
AR refutes NSCN (IM) allegation morungexpress
Dimapur, March 23 (MExN): The Assam Rifles today strongly refuted the claims of the NSCN (IM) earlier that the security forces were moving about close to the outfit’s camp. A note from the IGAR (north) clarified that the Assam Rifles troopers were on their routine area patrol in the general areas of Toshozu and New Hajadisha and not as alleged by the outfit. “At no point of time, the patrol was close to the Hebron camp. There was no intention of the AR personnel to cause any discomfort or harassment to the general public or violate any CFGR” the AR clarified. The AR advised that the NSCN (IM) ‘has no reason to get perturbed and express displeasure’. The organization should refrain from levelling such allegations, the AR added.
Have A Dream for Nagas Amen Longchar Morung
MEx I have a Dream Campaign Please share your Dreams at: mexdream@gmail.com
As Eleanor Roosevelt put it, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”, one should never stop dreaming.
• I have a dream of a day when all the denizens in Nagaland will be able to travel without the fear of sirens wailing amidst the heavy traffic jams. Instead the legislators flying in choppers without any escorts.
• I have a dream for Nagas where a day will come when people will remark, “all roads in Nagaland are as smooth as Hema Malini’s face not Om Puri’s” (part extracted from Laloo Prasad’s quote)
• I have a dream when Government employees in Nagaland are made to feel secured in their jobs instead of feeling insecure by constant change in Government Policy in Superannuation age/Length of Service.
• I have a dream for all young, energetic, educated, hot-blooded Nagas NOT to be one of the Unemployed Educated Youths. One should never lose the courage to explore new avenues.
• I have a dream where professions of Naga Teachers, Police, and Pastors/Missionaries are taken seriously instead of taken up as the last option (no offence meant to a few serious/dedicated ones). Because they are the Mentors/Guardians/Saviors/Pathfinders or Enlightener for the present and future generations.