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03/25/2009: "Naga issue to be Cong plank- Party kicks off Nagaland campaign, douses rebellion in Assam- No choppers for Tripura OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Naga issue to be Cong plank
- Party kicks off Nagaland campaign, douses rebellion in Assam
- No choppers for Tripura OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


K.A. Sangtam
Kohima, March 24: Former chief minister and convenor of the Nagaland PCC election campaign, K.L. Chishi, today kicked off the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls and by-elections to the four Assembly constituencies.
Chishi said they would go to the voters with a national perspective to address issues such as the long-drawn Naga political problem with the Centre.
Addressing party workers here, the former chief minister said the “Indo-Naga” political problem would be the main election plank this time.
The party today officially handed over tickets to K. Asungba Sangtam and the four candidates who are contesting byelections to the four Assembly constituencies — K. Therie from Chizami AC, Wangto Chang from Tuensang Sadar-II, Y. Vikheho Awomi from Dimapur-III and W. Wangyuh Konyak from Tizit constituency.
Konyak is a sitting Lok Sabha MP, expelled from the NPF for voting in favour of the UPA during the Indo-US nuclear deal issue.
He joined the Congress this month.
Elections to the Assembly constituencies were necessitated because of the resignation of four Congress legislators — Azheto Sumi, Deo Nukhu, Aloh Konyak and Kejong Chang — from the Assembly last month.
Chishi said the party, if given the mandate, would lobby at the Centre to hasten the ongoing Naga peace process and find a solution to the decades-old imbroglio.
He urged the Congress workers to remain united to fight the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) alliance for both the Lok Sabha and Assembly byelections.
“We should not be nervous,” he added.
On Sangtam being the party’s candidate for the Lok Sabha seat, Chishi said, “An MP must represent our aspirations”.
PCC president K.V. Pusa criticised the ruling DAN government for allegedly destroying the fabric of Naga society.
“We are prepared to rebuild and restore whatever had been undone by the DAN government,” he said.
He said the Congress would strive to make a new beginning through unity and understanding with a clear vision to ensure a prosperous future for the Naga people.
Slamming the four Congress MLAs who had resigned from the Assembly last month to join the Nagaland People’s Front and were now contesting against the Congress, Pusa accused the NPF leaders of using “dirty and foul” means.
Former CLP leader I. Imkong termed C.M. Chang, the NPF Lok Sabha candidate, as a man “who has no moral right” to represent the Naga people in Parliament.
Naga issue to be Cong plank - Party kicks off Nagaland campaign, douses rebellion in Assam OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


K.A. Sangtam
Kohima, March 24: Former chief minister and convenor of the Nagaland PCC election campaign, K.L. Chishi, today kicked off the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls and by-elections to the four Assembly constituencies.
Chishi said they would go to the voters with a national perspective to address issues such as the long-drawn Naga political problem with the Centre.
Addressing party workers here, the former chief minister said the “Indo-Naga” political problem would be the main election plank this time.
The party today officially handed over tickets to K. Asungba Sangtam and the four candidates who are contesting byelections to the four Assembly constituencies — K. Therie from Chizami AC, Wangto Chang from Tuensang Sadar-II, Y. Vikheho Awomi from Dimapur-III and W. Wangyuh Konyak from Tizit constituency.
Konyak is a sitting Lok Sabha MP, expelled from the NPF for voting in favour of the UPA during the Indo-US nuclear deal issue.
He joined the Congress this month.
Elections to the Assembly constituencies were necessitated because of the resignation of four Congress legislators — Azheto Sumi, Deo Nukhu, Aloh Konyak and Kejong Chang — from the Assembly last month.
Chishi said the party, if given the mandate, would lobby at the Centre to hasten the ongoing Naga peace process and find a solution to the decades-old imbroglio.
He urged the Congress workers to remain united to fight the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) alliance for both the Lok Sabha and Assembly byelections.
“We should not be nervous,” he added. On Sangtam being the party’s candidate for the Lok Sabha seat, Chishi said, “An MP must represent our aspirations”.
PCC president K.V. Pusa criticised the ruling DAN government for allegedly destroying the fabric of Naga society.
“We are prepared to rebuild and restore whatever had been undone by the DAN government,” he said.
He said the Congress would strive to make a new beginning through unity and understanding with a clear vision to ensure a prosperous future for the Naga people. Slamming the four Congress MLAs who had resigned from the Assembly last month to join the Nagaland People’s Front and were now contesting against the Congress, Pusa accused the NPF leaders of using “dirty and foul” means. Former CLP leader I. Imkong termed C.M. Chang, the NPF Lok Sabha candidate, as a man “who has no moral right” to represent the Naga people in Parliament.
Naga groups urged to renew commitment morungexpress
Naga leaders stand shoulder-to-shoulder to express their commitment to the Naga reconciliation process, during the Naga Convention for Reconciliation and Peace at Kohima in February, 2009. (Morung File Photo)
Dimapur, March 25 (MExN): Following the recent factional offensives, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation today sent out a reminder that feelings of bitterness and mutual distrust are being fuelled at the “ground level” by the ‘provocations’. Reiterating the hard-won reconciliation process thus far, the Naga “political” groups are appealed to, by the forum, to renew their commitment to the ‘covenant of common hope’.
“If the Naga reconciliation process were to breakdown, the Naga people will be the greatest losers from the fall out”, the forum reminded in a statement issued today.
Since August 2008, the forum said, the spirit of “A Covenant of Common Hope” has by large been respected, implemented and upheld. The courage, willingness and patience of the Naga groups to take positive steps under difficult and trying circumstances are appreciated. These efforts have given new hope to the Naga people, the statement said.
However, the statement reminded, the offensives are fuelling the bitterness and mutual distrust between the groups, threatening the distance covered thus far. “…it is also true that continuing acrimony at the ground level have led to sporadic incidents of violence and provocations, thereby fueling mutual feelings of mistrust and bitterness”, the forum reminded. These ‘acts of sporadic violence’ threatens to jeopardize the progress made towards Naga reconciliation and it has the potential to cause serious setbacks to the process; If the Naga reconciliation process were to breakdown, the Naga people will be the greatest losers from the fall out, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation said.
The forum said the Naga people’s desire to see and experience the realization of reconciliation among all the Naga groups is a matter of truth. To strengthen the reconciliation process and to bring an end to all forms of violence between the Naga groups, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and the Naga people appealed to the leaders to act on their commitments. “The forum strongly calls upon the leaders to sincerely and publicly demonstrate their intentions in deeds for Naga reconciliation.

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation further urges all the Naga groups to renew their commitment to ‘A Covenant of Common Hope,’ and to cease all military operations so that conducive atmosphere can be created to enable the Naga reconciliation to take place at the highest level of all Naga political groups” the statement appealed to the groups in concern.
In the Naga Peace Summits at Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2008, Naga political groups (NSCN/GPRN, GPRN/NSCN, FGN, and NNC) and a Naga non-political group (NNWPSG) along with Naga participants made “A Covenant of Common Hope” before ‘God in the presence of the Quakers and American Baptist Church leaders’. The spirit and purpose of the covenant was further upheld and strengthened by 37 Naga tribes and other related organizations in September 2008 in Dimapur; and more recently by 49 Naga tribes and 12 Naga organizations including the Church in February 2009 in Kohima.
The covenant, the forum reminded, was in response to the desire of the Naga people for reconciliation, unity and peace and a joint commitment to move forward together in the spirit of forgiveness and mutual acceptance. It said that the commitment expresses the shared desire to enable Nagas to reconcile on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas. The Naga groups, the forum said, by entering into ‘A Covenant of Common Hope’ exercised their commitment to have wider and honest conversations to build better understanding and to constructively address differences and difficulties of the ground realities that stand in the way of Naga reconciliation. “The covenant further implied that the Naga groups exercise utmost restraint and shun all forms of confrontation and violence that may result in further divisions among Nagas” the Forum for Naga Reconciliation reiterated the vision.
NSCN (I-M) Kyong region issues ‘Azha’ DIMAPUR: Nagaland Post
NSCN (I-M) Kyong region has issued various “Azha” (directive) in the greater interest of the public of Wokha town and Kyong region after seriously considering and evaluating the situation of the region.
NSCN (I-M) Kyong region CAO, Renthungo in a press statement asserted that vehicles plying in and around Wokha town without proper number plates and moving in suspicious manner would be frisked without any warning, and that such vehicles caught without valid documents would be seized. CAO Kyong region has directed the public to stop roaming in Wokha town and its vicinity in military fatigue as it was unnecessarily creating fear psychosis in the minds. Further, the statement maintained that the directives were issued in the back drop of recent disturbances created by some “anti-social” elements in Kyong region. NSCN (I-M) Kyong region has informed the public to cooperate, so that it would enable them to check the growing “anti-social” elements while maintaining peaceful atmosphere in Wokha town and Kyong region. Meanwhile, NSCN (I-M) Kyong region has cautioned that it would not be held responsible for any consequences if anyone fail to comply with its directives.
No designated camps in Manipur, insists IG AR Our Correspondent | EMN
IMPHAL, MAR 25: Inspector General of Assam Rifles Major General AK Choudhury on Wednesday again clearly stated that there is no ‘designated camp’ of NSCN-IM in Manipur. The IG said this in response to a question relating to the recent vacation of NSCN-IM camps from Shirui village and subsequent reports during an interaction with media persons at AR headquarters (South) at Mantripukhuri near Imphal.
“I repeat, there’s no designated camp in Manipur,” he said. He was, however, unable to give any comment on the reported presence of some camps of the group in Manipur.
The NSCN-IM cadres try to settle down in Ukhrul, but whenever we notice we vacate them, he informed, while adding ‘we cannot stop them when they (IM cadres) visit their homes in Manipur without any arms’. “There is liberty to come home”, he felt. But if they break any rule, we’ll take action, he assured.
On the other hand, he said his troops will not allow any unlawful activities by the Kuki militant organisations undergoing Suspension of Operation with the state and central governments in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls in Manipur.
Manipur will go to two-phase polls on April 16 and 22 respectively for which some candidates of the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, which comprises of five hills districts and eight other assembly constituencies in the Valley, have already started to file nomination papers.
Around 18 Kuki militant organisations operating in the state are under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the central forces since last three years. It was made operational with the state and centre government from August last year.
Apprehensive of interference by militant organisations in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, many political workers have been urging the ruling front to create a conducive atmosphere for a free and fair election.

Journalist killing evokes protest, condemnation Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, March 25 – The Journalists Action Committee (JAC) has served a seven- day ultimatum to the State Government to nab the culprits behind the killing of Anil Mazumdar, Executive Editor of Aji. The committee has warned that lackadaisical attitude on the part of the Government to carry the investigation forward will compel the journalists fraternity to take up vigorous protest programmes. Meanwhile, condemnation of the dastardly act has been pouring forth from across the State as well as from the international community.

Assam Governor SC Mathur has expressed his anguish and grief at the killing of Majumdar, and termed it a barbaric incident. “This is an irreparable loss to the state in the field of journalism…I pray to the Almighty for peace of the departed soul,” he said in a statement.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, New York has through an email condemned the killing and has called upon the government to punish the guilty. The Journalists Federation of Assam, Northeast Newspaper Society, Adda, AASU, AJYCP, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, CPI, Assam Public Works, All Assam Shramik Krishak Kalyan Parishad, National Students Union of India, Sanmilita Yuva Tirtha Assam, and many other groups and individuals have condemned the killing and have demanded the arrest of the culprits.

It needs to be mentioned here that the State has witnessed killing of journalists since 1987 when K Agarwalla of The Assam Tribune, Kampur and Pabitra Narayan, The North East Times, Sivasagar gave their lives. Since then there has been rise of such cases and more than 20 journalists have either lost their lives or gone missing. Mediapersons gathered at the Navagraha crematorium ground to bid last farewell to their colleague. Earlier the body of Mazumdar was brought to the Guwahati Press Club where scribes paid floral tribute to the departed soul.

As the mortal remains of Mazumdar was consigned to the flames, a deep felt anger by the journalist fraternity ultimately took the shape of an impromptu meeting which resolved to take up intensive protest programmes. The JAC has chalked out a week-long protest programme and has appealed to the management of the newspaper houses to support the programme.

The protest measures include blank editorial on March 26 by the daily newspapers and the weekly newspapers will follow suit as per their convenience. March 27 will be observed as Black Day and all mediapersons will put black badges to register their anger against the killing of journalists. On March 28, a memorandum will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro), on March 29, a signature campaign will be launched to garner opinion against killing, on March 30, protest programmes will be undertaken by the media persons at the district level, on March 31, the papers will carry a black strip in first page and a slogan demanding protection for journalists, on April 1, a meeting of all the journalist bodies will be held at the Guwahati Press Club and on April 2, a protest march will be taken out by the media persons.

Condemning the killing in the strongest terms, the Assam Press Correspondents’ Union today declared the late Mazumdar as a martyr and resolved to launch a mass movement unless the Government arrested the culprits at the earliest. It also lambasted the Congress Government in the State, saying that a number of journalists had to sacrifice their lives during its regime.
It will observe March 27 as protest day. The Assam Photojournalists Association has condemned the incident and has decided to stage a sit in demonstration on March 27 in front of the Guwahati Press Club.

Our Correspondents add:
NALBARI: The brutal killing of Anil Majumdar has cast a pall of gloom in Nalbari, his home district. The Nalbari unit of All Assam Journalists’ Union (AAJU) has called a 12-hour Nalbari district bandh from 5 am to 5 pm in protest against the killing. Different organizations including Nalbari Zila Karmachari Parishad, Nalbari unit of AASU, AJYCP, etc., have condoled his death.

The Nalbari unit of CPI (M) today organized a series of street meets in the town to condemn the incident. The AASU also organized a protest meet that was widely attended.
DIBRUGARH: Journalists from both the print and electronic streams, in a protest-cum-condolence meeting held at the Dibrugarh Press Club today condemned the murder and demanded detection and punishment of the guilty, apart from compensation to the tragedy-struck family, and rehabilitation of those associated with the late Majumdar’s Assamese daily, Aji.
The Dibrugarh Press Club called for adequate security to all journalists of Assam, and observed that print and TV journalists are the most insecure communities in Assam today. The DPC president, Prabir Chakraborty said providing security to journalists is most necessary, given the increasing hostilities towards journalists from various quarters, including ministers and sundry politicians.
SONARI: Various organizations of Charaideo subdivision have condemned the brutal murder of Majumdar. In an emergent meeting held at the Charaideo Press Guild office, the local journalists decried the murder and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident besides adequate financial assistance to the bereaved family members.
DHEMAJI: A protest meet held at the Dhemaji Press Club today condemned the murder of Majumdar and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits besides ensuring safety and security of the journalists.
NAZIRA: The Nazira-based journalist bodies strongly condemned the killing of Majumdar, terming it as an attack on the entire media fraternity. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
TEZPUR: Condemning the killing of Majumdar, different media organizations of Tezpur today demanded immediate arrest of the guilty. They said that such acts of cowardice and brutality would serve nobody’s interests rather it would create a social crisis.
GORESWAR: A protest meet held at the Goreswar SDC office today demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment to the killers of Majumdar. Representatives from AASU, ABSU, AJYCP, AASKSU, SFI, Sahitya Sabha, etc., attended the meet.
SRIRAMPUR: The Srirampur Press Club today strongly condemned the killing of Majumdar and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident besides asking the Government to ensure safety and security of journalists.