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04/25/2009: "Impact of 15th Lok Sabha Election in Senapati District, Manipur Dr. R.B. Thohe Pou"

Impact of 15th Lok Sabha Election in Senapati District, Manipur Dr. R.B. Thohe Pou

Some people believe that politics is a ‘dirty game’ but they continue to involve in politics. Some people believe that developments can be brought through politicians only forgetting the work of the NGOs. Personally I believe that politics is not a ‘dirty game’ but many politicians and the people involved in politics play the dirty game. How many politicians and the people who involve in politics are honest, respectable and work for unity and development of the people?

In 1952 under the leadership of Phizo – the Naga (NNC) boycotted the Indian election, which was quite successful. The general election in 1952 was totally boycotted in Naga areas; not a single nomination was filled in the Naga areas; not a single vote was cast. The Nagas also stayed away from the District Councils. The school teachers and other govt. employees resigned their jobs and the people refused to pay taxes. Let’s also try to examine the cooperation, unity and capability to convince and mobilize of the present Naga leaders who boycotted the Indian election and commenced to involve in so called Indian election. please warn about this to nscn leadership

In last 13th Lok Sabha Election – the NSCN-IM again boycotted Indian election in Nagalim as they don’t want to come under the constitution of India. In this election – the Outer Manipur seat was won by Kim Gangte (a non Naga candidate) as the Naga people boycotted the Lok Sabha election and other communities selected her unanimously.

However the strategy and the policy of the Naga underground changed in 14th Lok Sabha election; the Naga underground wanted to have their own candidate who will represent in Indian parliament for the Naga people in Delhi. In this election – Mani Charenamei (an Independent MP candidate) was chosen by the NSCN-IM faction for the Naga people and he was elected in last election. However many villagers and leaders said that NSCN-IM compelled them to vote for Mani only. When we studied the Naga political history it is observed that the Naga underground did not want the Naga people to involve so called in Indian election and boycotted twice. However the Indian politicians (leaders) want the Naga to be the part of the India and participate in every Indian election. Now the policy of the underground is just reversed and the thinkers and the people who are interested on Naga issue may be abstruse to comprehend this reversal policy.

In this 15th Lok Sabha election – the Naga underground wants MP Mani Cheranamai to represent again for the Naga people in Delhi. However they did not stopped any other Naga candidate to nominate and it is strange that after nomination – the people were not allowed to cast for other candidates except for Mani. Why don’t they make understand and stop the aspiring MP candidates before their nomination is done? There were some round of talks between the village leaders and other leaders with the NSCN-IM leaders in Senapati and its peripheral areas.
However the NSCN-IM could not convince and mobilized the public leaders and ultimately the voting day arrived. In Poumai Naga areas – the NSCN-IM once again commenced to threaten the village leaders to vote for Mani Charenamei only. On the day of election – most of the underground went to their own villages and started to woo the villagers to vote for their candidate but the villagers were not convinced without any muscle power.

Many villagers were forcefully made to vote for Mani and this news spread like the wild fire in all the villages and in the peripheral of Senapati areas as they have now better communication due to cell phone revolution. Learning the news about the booth capturing by the underground – the public or mass of the people got irritated and started to gather around Karong and Senapati areas and the annoyed mass of the people pelted stones on the vehicles coming from Mao and Poumai areas polling stations.
Unfortunately, one of the NSCN-IM Kilonser’s Bolero (vehicle) was coming from Poumai area side and the aggravated mass of the people stoned the vehicle and almost crushed into pieces but the NSCN-IM Kilonser and the others travelling in that Bolero were safe with some injuries in their bodies. On 22nd April, the alleged two leaders of the people who were involved in pelting stone to NSCN-IM Kilonser’s Bolero were taken to Hebron, Dimapur – the NSCN-IM Head quarter for further interrogation.
There was meeting between the Naga leaders from Senapati District and the NSCN-IM leaders in Hebron camp on 23rd April till late evening. On 24th April the two alleged were bailed out by the Naga leaders from Senapati. Kudos goes to the NSCN-IM for releasing on time the two alleged leaders who were alleged to lead the group in stoning the Bolero.
Now the question is why the underground could not convince and mobilize the gullible villagers to vote for their candidate? Why they made the public irritated and brought such kind of consequences? If that is the standard and quality of the underground leaders, will the NSCN-IM be able to deal the top Indian politicians who are 99% more clever and educated than the Naga villagers in Senapati District (where one of the Primitive tribes of India is also live). It is also interesting to note that there was not news report in Manipur or Nagaland news paper about the pelting of stone and injury of the NSCN-IM Kilonser near Senapati H. Quarter.
But one of the simple reasons may be that there is not a single local news reporter available in Senapati and the freelancers may be afraid or unworthy to get the price of reporting for such kind of report as it may bring heavy price on them for reporting such kind of ground reality and facts to the newspaper.
With this kind of consequences through election problems in Nagalim may bring bitter relationship between the public and the Naga underground. Not only the relationship between the underground and the public but the relationship among the people also will be affected enormously. The Naga leaders from Senapati appreciated the NSCN-IM for solving the problems amicably with prayers and mutual understanding. Disunity and bitter relationship may be the sadness to one community but it may be happiness to other communities and the leaders of every community may need to understand and bring good relationship and unity amongst their community.

Impact of 15th Lok Sabha Election in Senapati District, Manipur
by johnshimray96
The internal contradiction in Naga society is becoming more conspicuous. The NSCN (IM) continues to play terror tactics to pursue their own interest, in the guise of national interest. Those Public stone throwers should have stoned to death the so called Kilonser, whose only job is to snatch away the fundamental right to vote of the people.
We tangkhuls are so dirty in our thoughts that even our own brethrens begin to drift apart from us. It is high time NSCN IM does some serious introspection before its too late. Muivah - a person who killed his own loyal cadre to have his wife as his own like biblical King David, who live in lap of luxury in foreign shores while his own people in interior areas live in abject poverty, proclaiming Nagalim for Christ while at the same time indulging in brutal genocide against other communities - should no longer be allowed to lead the Naga society as he wish. He is a demon is sheep's clothing. I think we enjoy more freedom living under India. Even before getting Nagalim, our very fundamental right has been regularly suppressed. One wonders what would be the situation when Nagalim becomes a reality; Muivah may not even allow us to have a wife of our own...before enjoying the first night.

Re: Impact of 15th Lok Sabha Election in Senapati District, Manipur (Score: 1)

I agree with Dr Thohe. NSCN-IM has made more foes than friends after the ceasefire period because of two main factors – (i) involvement in Indian election and (ii) inter-village cases.

Thohe talks about Senapati district in particular. But let me put in general. Election is a multi-party game wherein only one party wins. If NSCN-IM chooses a candidate/party and wins, the rest candidates/parties are hurt and will definitely become their antagonist. But the supporters of the losers are more in number when combined. Is Mani Cheranamei or those PDA MLAs really better than the others? Will those who are not blessed by NSCN-IM not work for the Naga cause? In my humble opinion, like Mani, Naga blood runs in Adani and Ms Valley Rose Hungyo also.
If at all, they want to involve in Indian election, it would have better for the NSCN-IM to allow a fair fight and request/advise the winner to work for Naga cause. Who knows, Adani or Ms Rose may be more vocal than Mani, who was bureaucrat. If they want selection and not election, why allow other’s to file nomination? Why should the candidates waste time, money and energy? Why the public should stand in queue for hours to caste votes? Let’s not waste time if the NSCN-IM anointed somebody to represent them.
Likewise, involving in inter-village cases has more demerits than merits. To be very precise, there are no legal experts in the NSCN set-up. So its better for them to leave at the hands of those who should deal the cases as of now.
Looking at the trend the NSCN-IM is heading, it is apparent that the only objective of their involvement in Indian electoral politics is – to set up a representative whom they can handle and share the funds.
Stage set for NSF conference morungexpress
DIMAPUR | APRIL 24: The stage is set for the 23rd general conference of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) to be held at Mopungchuket village, Mokokchung district, from April 27-30 under the theme “Forging mutual destiny.” State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Morung Makunga, MLA from Manipur, will grace the inaugural function as the chief guest and special guest respectively, while deputy chairman, State Planning Board, Neiba Kronu will be the special guest for the “Cultural Regale” programme (April 29) and Home minister Imkong L Imchen will be the “valedictory guest” on the closing day.
Hosted by the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), the 4-day conference will focus and debate on two burning issues confronting Naga society – influx of immigrants vis-à-vis its impact on the socio-economic and identity of the Nagas and, the present educational system in the State.
The NSF has also allotted stalls to the Nagaland Bamboo Mission, Nagaland State Blood Transfusion Council and Climate Change Leaders.
Briefing mediapersons here Friday before their departure to Mokokchung, NSF President Imchatoba Imchen, General Secretary Hetoi Chishi and vice president Charles Lotha, appealed to all Naga organizations, public and students to extend co-operation and to attend the conference.
The federation also expressed gratitude to individuals and organizations who have rendered help and support for success of the conference.
The host unit has invited 100 members from each NSF federating unit and 50 members from each subordinate body as official delegates. Mopungchuket village, which has been accorded as a “tourist village”, is situated some 16km away from Mokokchung town.
NSF for ‘forging mutual destiny’ morungexpress Calls for ‘reality check’; reassessing the idea of Naga national struggle
Dimapur The Naga Students Federation has come out with a concept paper for the upcoming General Conference under the theme ‘Forging mutual destiny’. Giving a refreshing outlook to what it termed as the “unending journey” in the Naga struggle for nationhood, the NSF observed that generation after generation had been treading the same road without any logical outcome. “When the world is advancing rapidly the Naga people are still stuck in the ancient/ancestor’s trend of thought that - Nagas can live in isolation with what believes to be Full Independence”, the NSF concept paper states while adding that today’s generation needs to do a thorough “reality-check” and that Nagas need to realize that the world has become interdependent and not “fully independent.”
“We need to reassess the idea of our struggle and bring to a logical end without compromising the basic features of an independent nation”, the NSF observes. Pointing out that time was running against us, the NSF cautions that Nagas cannot afford to lose even a single moment from now but to “put our ideas together to see what is within our reach and what is attainable as this moment”. It states that this unresolved political issue has been “tremendously disturbing the minds of the younger generation” and that it was “impossible for the youths to develop themselves fully in the midst of conflict situations”.
The NSF also observes that Nagas are not engaged with the entire world as far as its struggle for nationhood is concerned. “But it is with Burma and India to whom we are directly concerned with as half of our home is within the administrative control of Burma and other half within administrative control of India”. As a matter of fact, the NSF calls for the need to “examine” the growing strength of these two nations and accordingly, “forge our mutual destiny.”
On the other fundamental concern for peace and unity, the NSF points out that the “inner differences within the Naga family require an urgent attention of every Naga” and that this has to be sorted out without any further “procrastination”. The NSF cautions that there are some forces actively involved in fragmenting the Naga family and “therefore a practical mechanism needs to be evolved in order to bring entire Nagas together”.
“Instead of the Naga Political Issue occupying the centre stage, we have been unconsciously pushing our inner differences to take the centre stage, which has been overshadowing the main issue for too long”, the NSF paper laments. The students’ body states that even as Nagas continue to put its efforts towards healing the wounds and bringing all sections of the Naga family together, it is “absolutely imperative that we carry forward the present Indo-Naga Peace Process vis-à-vis Political Dialogue as we have missed too many opportunities in the past”.
Naga women writers to publish book on short stories Staff Reporter NPN):



(Sitting 2nd from left) NEZCC director, Hekali Zhimomi with participants at a workshop –cum- seminar for women writers, Saturday. (NP)
DIMAPUR With a purpose to provide a creative platform for the ‘voice’ of Naga women writers to be heard and acknowledged by people globally, a daylong interactive workshop –cum- seminar for writers on “Naga Stories of Everyday Life as Seen Through the Eyes of Women”, sponsored by NEZCC, Dimapur, was held at IMC Lobby, Dimapur, Saturday.
Encouraging the participants to give ‘voice’ to the many issues that were prevailing in the Naga society through exploring creativity and creative writings, NEZCC director, Hekali Zhimomi, urged the participants to fill the void which was present in Nagaland as far as literary work was concerned.
Congratulating Holiday Abode for Writers and Artists (HAWA), for organizing the workshop cum seminar, Hekali expressed hope that more such similar workshop would be organized not only in Nagaland but also in regional level in order to encourage women writers to find themselves a place even in national and international arena.
21 participants including Hekali Zhimomi, renowned Naga women academicians, writers, social workers and journalists of the state were part of the workshop-cum -seminar, picked and invited to participate.
Being gifted and literarily versed but some of them relatively unknown, the participants were given an assignment three weeks prior to the workshop to write a short story which was context based and creative non-fiction in nature where they were later assisted by the resource persons---Susan Waten, a columnist in different local dailies of the state and also the founder director of HAWA, Dimapur, and Buno Iralu, who holds a Doctorate of Ministry in pastoral care and counseling, and is presently a lecturer at Shalom Bible Seminary, Sechu, Kohima, presented a paper each on “A Philosophical and Spiritual Approach to Literary Art and the making of Literary Artist” and “Musings, Hunches, Ideas and Writing” respectively.
Each of the participants who attended the workshop narrated some gist of the pre-written short story in order to open the floor for meaningful interaction and exploration of the short story’s scope towards a larger readership for which the ambience was set for informal, interactive and comfortable in order to enable each of the participants to emote and express their ideas freely.
For the participants, they were expected to do a little ‘finishing touches’ after the seminar by rewriting, expanding, modifying and editing their stories with the fresh new inputs they receive from the resource persons after which the stories would undergo a final editing before they were ready to be published in a book of short stories written by Naga women.
Highlighting about the short stories, Susan Waten said Naga stories centered around different plots and themes including family life, insurgency movement and its effect on individual’s lives, personal struggles and achievements, social problems and youth culture, outstanding Naga personalities, about innate talents, the educational system and its benefits or any other area of concerned.
She also said that the stories were based on reality pertaining to real persons in real-life situations for which creative techniques were applied to protect the identity (s) of the protagonist if one desired while also avoiding the tone being ‘preachy’ or moralistic but has depth, empathy, social significances or even ‘irony’ which made for a wide readership, going beyond small socio-cultural and religious boundaries in making genuine connections with human beings.
Besides creating platform for women writers, the object of the workshop was also to revive and promote the art of story telling in Naga culture from a woman’s perspective, to collect and compile contemporary stories pertaining to Naga life in book form for future references and also to let the participants share their ideas and gain valuable insights for personal growth and expansion through meaningful interchange with women of similar gifting, experience and interests.
It may be pertinent to mention that HAWA is a platform for writers, poets, journalists, research scholars, intellectuals, philosophers, thinkers and mystics; for painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, designers, architects, musicians, singers, dancers, stage performers and theatre artistes, for people in film and TV arts, for just about anybody pursuing creative and aesthetic endeavours either as amateurs or professionals or even for individuals seeking artistic self expression in the closet.
NSF general conference to reassess idea of Naga struggle
DIMAPUR/MOKOKCHUNG, APR 24 (EMN): The Naga political issue will once again be in spotlight as the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) seeks to banish
into darkness the demons of inner differences dogging the heels of the Indo-Naga Peace Process and forge mutual destiny sans conflict.
Come Monday, the 27th of April, the scenic Mopungchuket Village, known for its eco-tourism will witness the largest annual convergence of young leaders as the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) hosts the 23rd NSF General Conference.
With no pragmatic amicable solution the long drawn Indo-Naga Peace Process and its occupying the minds of the Naga,.
Under the theme ‘Forging Mutual Destiny’, the NSF has chosen to motivate a reality-check into the long drawn Naga Political issue and reassess the idea of Naga struggle, vis-à-vis the growing strength of India and Burma, inter-dependency of the world and the inner conflict of Nagas.
Sharing the limelight with the Naga political issue would be issues of ‘influx of immigrants’ and educational system.
An unprecedented turbulence within the NSF precedes its 23rd General Conference and for that and many more reasons, all eyes will be on the Federal Assembly (April 28) and Election (April 29) for the tenure 2009-2011.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will raise the curtain on the Conference on April 28 with Manipur MLA Morung Makunga as the special guest at the inaugural programme. Former Judge of Supreme Court, Justice HK Sema will be attending as resource person along with Principal of Baptist High, Kohima, Pfelie Kesiezie.
Meanwhile, the host village of Mopungchuket, located 16 kms away from Mokokchung, Town is all dressed up to welcome its guests.
The Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) is striving to maintain eco-friendliness over the four days of the Conference by substituting conventional diesel generators with solar lighting system.
In a press briefing at Hotel Nagi, NSF president, vice-president and general secretary appealed to all, especially the common Naga to attend the Conference.
“We want our own people as dignitaries”, president Imchatoba Imchen said.

NSF Speaker Controversy
“The NSF has been caught unawares” over the scandal allegedly involving its Speaker in an attempt to capture the ballot box during the April 16 polls, near Porba village under 17 Chizami A/C.
NSF president Imchatoba Imchen informed that the Federation is “in the process of authenticating evidence” and assured that investigation into the issue would be completed before the Federal Assembly scheduled for April 28.
“If he (Speaker) is found wrong, action will be taken as our constitution doesn’t permit political affiliation,” general secretary Hetoi said while vice-president Charles Lotha asserted that the present team will clean up the image of the Federation before leaving office.

Bodo leaders escape NDFB ambush on convoy The Telegraph


One of the vehicles which came under attack in Panbari on Friday and (Below) an injured at the Gossaigaon Civil Hospital on Friday. Telegraph pictures


Kokrajhar, April 24: A host of senior Bodo leaders, including sitting Kokrajhar MP S.K. Bwiswmuthiary, ducked indiscriminate bullets and lay in a forest for 30 minutes as militants hiding in the foliage emptied their sophisticated ammunition on a convoy of 25 vehicles near Panbari around noon today.
The driver of an escort vehicle and a personal security officer accompanying Bodoland Territorial Council executive member Mono Kumar Brahma died on the spot while six Bodoland People’s Front workers were injured.
Parliamentary secretary Parmeswar Brahma, BTC Speaker Reoreoa Narzihary and a few journalists were also travelling as part of the convoy which was on its way to Tipkai where five houses were torched by unidentified trouble-makers last evening.
The vehicles carrying the BTC executive member and the BTC Speaker bore the brunt of the attack though they were just ahead of the police escort. Mono Kumar Brahma’s vehicle was believed to be the prime target. One of the bullets hit Brahma’s security officer, Mannaf Ali, who died on the spot.
The other to be killed was driver Sudem Mushahary. Among the injured are Manla Brahma, Devo Kumar Narzary, Brinda Brahma, Guru Narzary, Swrang Brahma and Pulen Daimary. The condition of Manla, hit in the stomach, is said to be critical.
The security personnel accompanying the leaders retaliated, forcing the militants, who are suspected to belong to the National Democratic Front of Boroland, to flee.
“We were heading towards Panbari to take stock of the situation after some houses were set on fire last evening. When our convoy was in the middle of a forest, suddenly it came under heavy firing from either side of the road. We somehow managed to save our lives by lying on the floor. Then we crawled out and lay on the ground for about 30-40 minutes. It was a horrifying situation, getting so close to death,” BTC Speaker Narzihary said. He, too, surmised that the vehicle carrying Mono Kumar Brahma could have been the target.
“I first mistook it to be blank fire, but as the firing continued, I realised it is an ambush and got out of the vehicle and lay on the ground,” said another BPF leader Jaikhlong Brahma, whose vehicle was next to Mono Kumar Brahma’s escort car.
BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary was also on his way to the village in Tipkai, but his convoy fell a little behind and hence escaped the attack.
On hearing about the ambush, he returned to Gossaigaon.
Army and CRPF personnel rushed to the area and launched a combing operation.
Bwismuthiary sniffed a political conspiracy behind the incident and blamed the rival BPPF for the attack. His vehicle was among the last in the convoy.
“Today’s incident is a political instigation of U.G. Brahma and Rabiram Narzary,” Bwiswmuthiary said and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Both Bwiswmuthiary and Mohilary were certain that the NDFB was behind the ambush.
“It is the work of NDFB,” Mohilary said.