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08/28/2009: "Bhutan, India plan 2003-like ops against NE rebel groups Nagaland Page"

Bhutan, India plan 2003-like ops against NE rebel groups Nagaland Page

GUWAHATI, August 27: Six years after the Royal Bhutan Army flushed out Indian rebel outfits from its soil, the Himalayan kingdom is planning a similar operation against ULFA and National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants holed up in that country.
This comes in the wake of reports of the two Assam-based outfits setting up training camps in southern Bhutan along with militants of the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist). The Bhutan outfit is by and large run by Bhutanese of Nepalese origin and was accused of carrying out a campaign against the monarchy and the newly-elected government there.
According to sources, ULFA and NDFB are not just training their cadres in the neighbouring country, but are also giving guerrilla training to the Bhutanese Maoists for the last two years and preparing them for carrying out subversive activities in Bhutan.
Security sources said there was specific information of mobile training camps in the Sarpang area of southern Bhutan, close to the international frontier. The sources added that Indian security forces, sticking to their 2003 strategy, would stand guard on its side, while the Bhutanese army would try to close in on the militants in their territory.
"There's information that certain elements within Ulfa and NDFB are trying to spread misunderstandings and antagonism against Bhutan because of the 2003 operations," Bhutan's state-run newspaper, Kuensel, reported recently quoting joint secretary (Law and Order Bureau) Karma T Namgyal.
"We can't rule out occasional, temporary incursions," the joint secretary was quoted as saying in the Bhutanese newspaper. He reportedly said that in a bid to stop this, both the countries have agreed to intensify border patrolling. There was also a proposal for joint border monitoring.
"This means that the patrol groups will coordinate with each other to ensure that when the Indian forces patrol the East, we can guard the south and vice-versa," Kuensel quoted him as saying.
When Union home minister P Chidambaram visited the Himalayan country on Tuesday last, Bhutanese officials assured him that they would not allow ULFA and NFB to re-establish bases there.
In 2003, the Royal Bhutan Army had launched a full-scale operation against Ulfa, NDFB and Kamatapur Liberation Organization, which had their set-ups in various areas. Ulfa had its central and general headquarters in eastern Bhutan.
During the 7th Border Coordination Development meeting between Bhutan and Assam on August 4, the Tarun Gogoi government had warned that Ulfa and NDFB were regrouping and might try to enter the neighbouring country to set up camps in collaboration with outfits like the Bhutan Communist Party (MLM), Bhutan Tiger Force (BTF) and Revolutionary Youth of Bhutan (RYOB).
According to state home department sources here, 30 ULFA and NDFB cadres entered Bhutan in July from Arunachal Pradesh, north of Bhairabkunda in Assam's Sonitpur district.
Last year, Maoist guerrillas, along with Indian militants, had killed four Bhutanese forest rangers at Phibsoo near Sarpang in a landmine blast. (TNN)
State Pulse: Nagaland: Curbing Naga insurgency Editorial Central Chronicle
A comprehensive proposal will first be submitted to the Union Cabinet for its approval. It will then be conveyed to the two militant groups for their final nod- Insaf
The Centre has reportedly come up with an interesting proposal in its latest bid to resolve the vexed Naga insurgency, a proposal that has implications both for the other States of the North-East region and Jammu and Kashmir. It is said to be willing to give Nagaland greater autonomy by way of some more financial powers along with additional control over socio-cultural issues as against the insurgents' demand for Greater Nagaland and sovereignty. This is proposed to be done by enlarging the scope of Article 371A of the Constitution under which Nagaland enjoys special status. The article ensures that `no Act of Parliament shall apply to Nagaland in relation to religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to the Naga customary law and ownership and transfer of land and its resources. The Naga insurgents have been keen on a separate constitution as in the case of Jammu and Kashmir. But the Centre has firmly over-ruled the demand.
The Centre's proposal has been drawn up on the basis of informal feelers that the two main militant outfits--NSCN (IM) and NSCN (Khaplang)--would go along with it. A comprehensive proposal will first be submitted to the Union Cabinet for its approval. It will then be conveyed to the two militant groups for their final nod. Although there is no word from the Government on the proposal so far, a hint was reportedly dropped by the Union Home Secretary during his visit to Manipur last week that it would provide a ground for friendly negotiation. Importantly, he reaffirmed that the territorial integrity of Manipur will not be disturbed. This rules out the demand for Greater Nagaland. That, however, is not all. The Centre's proposal is certain to trigger off demands for greater autonomy in the North-East. Remember, all these States closely follow developments in Jammu & Kashmir and are clear that they must enjoy all the privileges extended to it by New Delhi,
Funds Unutilized In J&K
Grand plans of Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to usher in peace through development appear to be mere words, if the recent revelation in the State Assembly is anything to go by. A whopping 78 per cent of the funds provided under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan remain unutilized! A highly embarrassed State Government has asked the Centre to give it more time to implement the schemes. On Friday last, Finance Minister Abdul Rahman told the Assembly that of the Rs 29954.85 crore allocated only Rs 6367.53 crore were utilized. Thanks to the lackadaisical approach of officials. The Plan, announced by Manmohan Singh on his first visit to J&K in 2004 was to be implemented in three years. However, despite several extensions the State failed to meet the goals. Worse, not a single paisa of the Rs 634 crore sanctioned for the Srinagar-Leh transmission line and Rs 1,470 crore released for a sewerage and drainage project for greater Jammu along with another Rs 1741 crore for Greater Srinagar has been spent!
Haryana polls advanced
With his eyes set on retaining the Chief Ministership of Haryana for yet another term, Bhupinder Singh Hooda had the Governor dissolve the State Assembly almost seven months ahead of its term, which ends in mid-February. His calculations to get maximum mileage from the Congress stunning victory in the recent Lok Sabha polls coupled with a weakened Opposition, is likely to pay-off. For one, the BJP-Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) alliance has fallen apart over a seat-sharing agreement. With the BJP deciding to contest all the seats alone even though its performance in the past has been dismal. Worse, it is in the thick of internal bickering. At best, Hooda will need to watch out for the recently formed BSP-Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) alliance, whether it would cut into the Congress Dalit and Jat votes and improves its performance. In the last Assembly poll, the BSP, HJC, NCP, BJP had won only one seat each as against 64 of the Congress in the 90-member House.
Myanmar tense amid fears of full scale war Morung AFP

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, refugees fleeing from Kokang in Myanmar arrive at the Chinese border town of Nansan in southern China’s Yunnan province. Thousands of people have fled from northern Myanmar into China to escape fighting between a local militia, government troops and a breakaway faction, and are taking shelter in an uncompleted housing complex, area residents said Friday, August 28. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK, August 28 (AFP): Fighting between Myanmar’s isolated ruling junta and rebel ethnic armies in the remote northeast has driven up to 30,000 refugees into China, the UN said, as analysts warned of a full-scale civil war. As thousands fled across its border, China issued a rare admonishment to its southern neighbour and close ally, urging it to resolve the conflict that has broken out in Kokang, a mainly ethnic Chinese region of Myanmar’s Shan state.
A battle between the Kokang rebel group and the government’s army began on Thursday in violation of a 20-year ceasefire, according to the US Campaign for Burma (USCB), which uses Myanmar’s former name. The mass exodus began after Myanmar’s junta deployed troops in the region on August 8 and now “only elderly peoples are left at homes”, while at least one Myanmar policeman was reportedly killed during the battle, the USCB added.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which is liaising with local Chinese authorities on the displaced people’s needs, said up to 30,000 crossed into the Chinese border town of Nansan, in southwestern Yunnan province. “We have been informed that local authorities in Yunnan province have already provided emergency shelter, food and medical care to the refugees,” UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said.
A statement from the Chinese foreign ministry said it “hopes that Myanmar can appropriately solve its relevant internal problems and safeguard the stability of the China-Myanmar border”. “We also urge Myanmar to protect the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens in Myanmar,” said spokeswoman Jiang Yu in the statement, posted on the ministry’s website. China is Myanmar’s main source of military hardware and a major consumer of its vast natural resources, despite Western concerns over the military-ruled nation’s rights record.
Chinese state media reported Friday that Beijing had increased its number of armed police along the Myanmar border. The English-language Global Times, citing local officials, said that Myanmar nationals were still crossing the border into Yunnan province, without giving a specific figure. Another ethnic group, the United Wa State Army, has now reportedly joined the Kokang forces’ fight against the Myanmar junta, according to Khuensai Jaiyen, editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News.
“People say they have been hearing gunshots and explosions,” he told AFP, warning that other groups currently under ceasefire agreements could join in. “If the Burmese army is returning to a reconciliatory stance it might get better, but if not it might be blown into a full-scale civil war.” He added that the government was trying to create stability ahead of elections scheduled in 2010 but warned: “It will be the opposite.”
David Mathieson, a Myanmar analyst at Human Rights Watch, agreed full-scale civil war was “a very real fear.” “This could potentially be the flashpoint that draws in several other groups to the resumption of open conflict,” he said. Myanmar, under military rule since 1962, has signed ceasefires with 17 ethnic armed groups. The USCB said before the battle that the Kokang forces -- known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army -- had split, with one faction joining the government’s troops occupying Laogai, capital of the Kokang region.
The other faction had refused to obey the junta’s order to place its troops under army control. Peng Jiasheng, leader of the rebel group, issued a statement via USCB late Thursday on the “urgent need of peaceful and patient discussion between all parties concerned.” Refugees began to flee three weeks ago after Myanmar sent dozens of military police to crack down on a gun-repair factory suspected of being a front for drugs production, sparking fear among locals, Chinese media said. According to the USCB, the junta has since deployed thousands of troops to the region and announced that Peng Jiasheng and his family were fugitives wanted for narcotics production.

NNC is the parent body of all Naga political groups Kiheto Sumi
The NNC Sumi Region with constrain have to write in reference to the write up of FGN Brig. (Retd) Singnyu Group) of Rali Wali about donations and taxation accusing others but this group of FGN was part and parcel of Shillong Accord group of 1975 under Adino Phizo leadership, only a few years back this splinter group separated themselves and become a non-accordist FGN (Singnyu/Zhopra group). In fact, this splinter group of recent one is causing more problem to the people in the Naga Homeland in collection of donations and taxation because earlier there were and are only four Naga political Groups known to the people in particular but this splinter group has created another one and causing hardship to the people. Therefore, the people must know this fact and beware of it.
The NNC is the Naga Political Foundation and the Parent Body of all the Naga political groups and stands for the recognition of historical and political rights of the Nagas as a sovereign Nation. The Sumi Region may write more in the near future if necessary and compelled in this matter of concerned.
Kiheto Sumi,
President,
Sumi Region, NNC

GPRN/NSCN clarifies on tax exemption EMN
DIMAPUR, AUG 28 (EMN): Referring to the assurance of Ato Kilonser N Kitovi to look into the grievances faced by business establishments, particularly in and around Dimapur
, the GPRN/NSCN today clarified that the tax exemption to local entrepreneurs mentioned was meant only for new businesses and only for a specified period.
“He had also granted tax exemption to local entrepreneurs by which he meant that all Naga investors who establish/open new offices/shops would be exempted from paying annual tax to the GPRN/NSCN for a specific period only,” Chaplee Kilonser GPRN/NSCN Alezo Venuh today clarified in a release.
Kitovi had made the assurances in an earlier interaction with DMC members and business community leaders at Camp Khehoi. The release today said the ‘specific period’ exemption was ‘to encourage and assist local entrepreneurs to stand on their own feet during initial days of their businesses. Therefore, it said Kitovi’s pronouncement of non-taxation on local businessmen ‘shall be applicable only to entrepreneurs who are in their first year of business’.
It is also informed all other local business centres, establishments and proprietors that ‘regular tax shall be levied under existing format issued by the Chaplee Ministry, GPRN/NSCN’.
Defiant villagers stand up to Ulfa RIPUNJOY DAS The Telegraph


The road under construction. A Telegraph picture
Dibrugarh, Aug. 27: In a rare show of defiance to Ulfa’s extortion spree, several thousand villagers of Puroni Sapekhati area in Charaideo subdivision in Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district today asked the proscribed outfit not to eye government funds meant for development of the area.
Since the villagers have no direct channel to communicate with Ulfa, they are generally speaking up: “If you desire that we the people of this economically backward area should live in peace, please spare the development funds.” They will soon launch signature and poster campaigns.
The villagers made the collective appeal after the outfit slapped an extortion demand of Rs 50 lakh on a contractor, engaged in the construction of a crucial road in the area. A development committee was formed by the villagers to put pressure on the outfit to withdraw its demand.
Puroni Sapekhati comprises around 200 villages — mostly dominated by the Ahom community. The area was once prosperous with agriculture being the mainstay of the people. However, because of poor communication and transport facilities, the area started lagging behind. After repeated applications and appeals, the government recently sanctioned a road linking the area with Dibrugarh. Accordingly, the North Eastern Council (NEC) was asked to carry out the 22.081km road project between Sapekhati Chariali to Pithaguti. A fund of Rs 14.14 crore was sanctioned under the Tenth Plan.
But the project hit a roadblock when a firm which was hired to construct a 6km stretch of the road from Sapekhati Chariali at a cost of Rs 4.23 crore stopped work after Ulfa served it an extortion demand of Rs 50 lakh. “This is pathetic. After decades of neglect by successive governments in Delhi and Dispur, finally when something positive was happening for the poor people here, the work had to be stopped. We have come to know from various sources that the project was stalled because Ulfa had demanded money. We ardently appeal to Ulfa to withdraw its demand in the greater interest of the poor people and society,” Bijoy Gogoi, a member of the committee said.
“This will be a severe injustice by Ulfa to the poor people of our locality if it does not revoke its demand note. Therefore, we have appealed to the outfit to withdraw its demand and let construction begin,” said Keshob Gogoi, assistant general secretary of the committee.
Though the strength of the outfit in Upper Assam had dwindled after the two companies — Alpha and Charlie — of the 28 battalion of the outfit declared a unilateral ceasefire on June 24 last year, the outfit continued to wield influence in isolated pockets, Sapekhati in Sivasagar district being one of them. The outfit is facing stiff resistance here, with the villagers in no mood to allow the outfit to sink its teeth into development funds. “We will soon start a signature, poster and banner campaign in the area, appealing to the outfit to withdraw its demand. We will put up these posters and banners in prominent places. There will also be graffiti and distribution of leaflets wherein the outfit would be asked to refrain from extorting public money,” Gogoi said.