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09/11/2009: "Home Ministry package a mockery: NSCN (IM) morungexpress"
Home Ministry package a mockery: NSCN (IM) morungexpress
Dimapur, September 9 (MExN): A Joint Council Meeting of the NSCN (IM) has seriously viewed the news item carried by local dailies regarding the proposal of the Home Ministry of India to “offer the package to the different Naga groups by November”. “And when the political negotiation is going on at the highest Prime Ministerial level any proposal to come in the form of this or that package from the Home Ministry level itself is making a mockery of their Prime Minister’s Office and we find no wisdom in their approach”, stated a press note issued by the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) while hoping that the GOI will not be so naïve to make such an approach to settle the Indo-Naga issue.
“If it reflects the opinion of the present UPA government to settle the Indo-Naga issue, an antithesis to the bilateral agreement signed between the NSCN and the GOI in 1997 and therefore not acceptable to the Naga people”, the NSCN (IM) statement went on to add while also stating that there was “no logic in inviting the various other groups while the political talk is continuing with the NSCN”. The MIP note also termed itself as the “only mandated political organization to negotiate with the GOI”.
The NSCN (IM) statement has also made it clear that the Indo-Naga problem is “that of forced occupation of Nagalim by India and it cannot be resolved through social, economic and cultural packages”. It stated that after killing hundreds of thousands of “our people, molesting and raping our mothers, sisters and daughters, after burning down our villages”, whether it was possible on the part of the Nagas today and tomorrow to bargain “our birth right with economic largesse from Delhi”. “It is simply not acceptable to the Nagas rather it is an insult and amounts to adding salt to the open sores”, the MIP note stated.
Affirming the inherent right as well as democratic aspiration of the Nagas to live together under one administrative roof as one family, the NSCN (IM) stated that this right cannot be compromised to please the interest of Indian people “whether for the better or the worse, whether for the richer or the poorer”.
The MIP note reminded that the NSCN (IM) had entered into the current Indo-Naga ceasefire and the political negotiations “after intense parley with the officials sent by the Prime Minister of India”. It disclosed that at the beginning the Collective Leadership was hesitant to be persuaded that the Prime Minister of India is really sincere to find a peaceful negotiated settlement to the Indo-Naga issue. According to the NSCN (IM), in the past the policies of the government of India towards the Nagas were short of sincerity and respect. It was only after the landmark meeting on 12th June 1995, Paris between the then Indian Prime Minister Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao and the Collective Leadership of NSCN wherein Mr. Narasimha Rao said: “I believe in political solution. We must solve the problem through political talks and dialogue. We should be patient enough and tolerant in tackling the problem”, the Collective Leadership of the NSCN agreed to declare ceasefire and start political negotiation with the Government of India (GOI).
The NSCN (IM) has pointed out that both the parties agreed in unambiguous terms that the talks shall be without conditions from both sides; the talks shall be at the highest level i.e., at the Prime Minister level and the venue of the talks would be anywhere outside India. The MIP note stated that keeping the Nagas divided and seeking solution through imposition of Indian will on the Nagas is never a sign of political maturity of the Indian leadership. The application of colonial ‘divide and rule’ policy by the Indian state towards the Nagas would create more problems for India than solving it, it cautioned.
New N-E division with eye on China? Nirmalya Banerjee , TNN
KOLKATA: The Army is creating a new Mountain Division for the Northeast, headquartered in central Nagaland or the adjoining areas of Upper Assam.
Although it will be stationed in an area when the Army is engaged in counter-insurgency operations, sources say the division could also have the task of keeping an eye on the Chinese border in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, sources indicated.
The Army brass is keeping the plan under the wraps, since there were protests from China some time ago that induction of more troops in Arunachal could lead to an arms race in the region. The Army is cagey about the role of the proposed division.
"It is nothing much,'' a senior officer based in Dimapur said. "It is not that we are going to induct 50,000 new troops.'' According to the brass, the role of a new formation can't be determined properly until it participates in a war game. The formalities are yet to be completed, said another officer, although it is learnt that the proposal was sanctioned long ago.
Nagaland earlier had a division stationed there to fight insurgency the 8 Mountain Division which was subsequently shifted to Jammu and Kashmir and played a crucial role in the Kargil operations. Insurgency in Nagaland is now on a low key, after the two National Socialist Council of Nagaland factions entered into ceasefire agreements with the Centre.
Analysts say a division stationed in central Nagaland could have a counter-insurgency role in places like Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal which are not far from the Myanmar border. It could also be mobilized rapidly to the India-China border in Arunachal in case of an emergency. Places like Lohit and Dibang valley in eastern Arunachal, bordering China, are accessible from the area.
Placing the mountain division away from Arunachal would circumvent the problem of inducting more troops near the international border in contravention of international agreements, sources said.
It is generally acknowledged that China has an upper hand in the Arunachal sector of the border. With extensive road and railway infrastructure at its disposal in the Tibet plateau, China can quickly mobilize a large number of troops to the border. Chinese claim on Arunachal, incursions across the Line of Actual Control and presence of disputed areas, like Wangdong valley, Asaphila and Madan Ridge, have heightened India's concerns. Compared with this, the road infrastructure on the Indian side of the border lags far behind, especially in the central and eastern parts of Arunachal.
Frequent Chinese incursions across the LAC have prompted the strengthening of the Army presence in Sikkim by bringing back to north Bengal a division that had moved to J&K during the Kargil conflict, the sources said.
Six-point strategy for overall development of Nagaland morungexpress
Dimapur | September 10 : Nagaland Government is adopting six strategies in its planning process for overall development of the State, informed a top official of the Planning Department. According to additional development commissioner, Temsuwati, the strategies are reduction of poverty, education and health care facilities, better livelihood through creation of employment opportunities, improvement of standard of living through economic growth, enhancement of wealth through sectoral growth and, creation and improvement of infrastructure.
Temsuwati who was the chief guest of the valedictory function of the three-day convention of community development facilitators, organised by Agency for Integral Development Agency (AIDA) here at AIDA premise, said in order to achieve these strategies, everything has to start from the grass root or community level. Stating that change or transformation should begin from the bottom or grass root level, the commissioner said the State government had realised this and was therefore giving priority to development of backward and rural areas.
In 2004, the Government established a new department called Department of Under-Developed Areas (DUDA) to accelerate development in backward areas, he added. Exhorting the community development facilitators and workers, Temsuwati said they should be dedicated and have visions if they really want to improve the lot of the masses.
Lt Col KS Bankoti of 24 Assam Rifles, the guest of honour in the valedictory function, in his address said he had witnessed tremendous development and change in Nagaland since his first posting to the State way back in 1974. He said the initiatives and awareness spread by agencies such as AIDA, have also contributed to the rapid strides in field of development.
Director AIDA, Fr. Tony who also spoke on the occasion, expressed happiness that miracles and transformation were taking place at the level of the community development facilitators since AIDA embarked on a mission of nurturing leaders at village level a decade ago. He said one of the key beliefs of AIDA is that effective development is possible only if comes from grass root or community level.
Highlights of the closing function included cultural presentations and individual sharing by delegates. Later, Lt Col KS Bankoti inaugurated the IT Enabled Services training centre of AIDA. Around 250 community development facilitators from the four states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland, took part in the convention. AIDA, the developmental wing of Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) was founded on December 8, 1985.
Look East policy yet to be properly defined: Minister Our Correspondent Morung Express
Kohima | Speaking at the state level consultation programme on Vision 2020 & Look East Policy at Dimori Cove, Kigwema under the aegis of the Confederation of Tribal People in Development (COTPID) on Wednesday, Minister for planning and coordination T.R. Zeliang regretted that the Policy as announced by the Government of India is yet to be properly defined.
In this regard, he said, that the Nagaland government had raised certain issues before the Centre and questioned whether the Look East Policy means looking east from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to the Asian economy, or whether it is a policy for India to look east for the development of the north east and the eastern region of the country and thirdly whether the Look East Policy means that India look east at the Asian economy through the north east
India.
“This is yet to be clarified and therefore, at present, we are going ahead with our understandings which are to open up the economies of the north east India with the neighbouring countries,” he said adding that it is our effort to try and pave the way for the economy of India make connections with the neighbouring countries through the north east.
For this a number of initiatives have been taken. Firstly, it had identified international border trade points in the state. It includes Longvah, Pangsha, Mimi and Avangkhu.
The government of India has given official recognition of Avangkhu and presently trying to connect the point from Pongkhungri by a road under the NEC. Also it was trying to upgrade the health care facilities, especially in the private sector.
The Referral Hospital has been taken up on a PPP mode under the aegis of the CISHR while funding has been arranged for Zion Hospital at Dimapur and the Bethel Hospital at Kohima from the NEC.
The Naga Hospital upgradation with a world class ICU has also been funded. All these are being done so that in the near future, with tertiary medical facilities extending to organ transplants, we can soon export to Myanmar and the neighbouring countries by attracting patients to Nagaland.
The third area of the government’s efforts is for promotion of entrepreneurship and attracting investment in the state. The minister also stated that there is fourth area of infrastructure such as roads, railway and air connectivity adding that these are being pursued.
“From one National Highway, Nagaland has today four- NH 39, NH 61, NH 150 and NH 155- crossing our state. A fifth is on the anvil to connect NH 37 at Sibsagar to NH- 155 at Tuensang going through Mon and Tobu,” the minister said adding the other programmes under SARDP are also being pursued as also the railway line from Dimapur to Kohima that will eventually connect with Myanmar.
“The basic issue that emerges from the above situation is that we cannot expect India in far away New Delhi to implement the ‘Look East Policy’ for us. The Look East Policy has to be fulfilled by us. We can put the infrastructure in place but we will need to develop fast ourselves if trade and commerce with the neighbouring countries is to emerge,” he said.
The Minister also stressed on the need to create conducive atmosphere for development to take place at a fast pace and the need to open our minds and our land for the process of globalisation to affect our state in a more positive and beneficial manner.
“We will need to resolve our long standing political problem at the earliest and bring about peaceful and congenial atmosphere for business to prosper. We also need to reform and restructure our land tenure system from the narrow definitions of a tribal society especially the manner in which we understand the meaning ‘landowner’ which constricts a lot of the development process including the exploitation of our rich mineral resources,” the minister said.
While preserving and building up our rich culture and tradition as a way of life, he said, as we come to terms with the process of globalisation we will also need to change and restructure our tribal systems to suit the new global paradigm.
“We need to indeed change in many ways in order to attain our goals outlined in our Vision 2020 as also reap the rich economic benefits of the “Look East Policy’ through which Nagaland can become a global player in the emerging mega commerce that will connect the economies of India, China and South East Asia,” he stated.
AR steps up vigil against extortion in Dimapur. Nagaland Post
Dimapur, September 10: The Assam Rifles authorities have stepped up operations against extortion by factions and movement of armed cadres within Dimapur with an aim to establish peace and security to prevail in Dimapur District.
According to Major Pallab Choudhury, PRO IGAR (North), a MVCP established by 24 Assam Rifles at Green Park Junction, Dimapur intercepted a suspiciously moving Santro car (NL 06 2465) towards Hebron Camp. Search of the vehicle led to apprehension of two NSCN (IM) cadres besides two pistols and several live rounds and cash.
The apprehended cadres were later handed over to Diphupar Police Station.
Earlier on September 9 last a joint operation by 24 AR carried out with police in Walford Colony Dimapur led to search of a suspected NSCN (K) hideout and recovered several incriminating documents related to extortion and statement of accounts.
The AR appealed to the factions to desist from carrying out any illegal activities or armed movement outside designated camps in contravention to agreed cease-fire ground rules, which will invite stringent actions from SF.
Patrolling, MVCP frisking of suspected vehicles and personnel would continue to thwart any attempt by UG factions to break the security dragnet and vitiate peace in the area, the PRO informed. (Page News Service)
GPRN/NSCN on Z’bto doctors issue (EMN
DIMAPUR,: Issuing a rejoinder on the matter of manhandling of CMO Zunheboto by some national workers, Chairman of the Sumi Region, GPRN/NSCN, Huvito Sumi today said
the decision of the Dy CMO Zunheboto and his subordinates to go to the print media ‘without any attempt to look into the socio-political background’ is unfortunate. Informing of this ‘background’, Sumi said in 2007, the Sumi Hoho had resolved to support and contribute only to GPRN/NSCN since it ‘truly stood and vouched for the unity and reconciliation of all Nagas’, adding all Sumi villages, government and private institutions, Govt employees, and businessmen under Sumi region were informed of the same and till date it is being adhered to.
However, he said the CMO, ‘with clear knowledge of the Sumi Hoho resolution’, was found preparing to pay tax to ‘the very group which banned the Sumi Hoho’ which was why GPRN/NSCN Sumi Region had requested the CMO to reconsider his decision on ‘payment of tax to Muivah’s group’. While admitting that ‘some harsh words were exchanged during the course of making our points clear to him’, the official denied that the CMO was manhandled or mentally harassed as alleged. It further termed it ‘unfortunate’ that ‘even the Nagaland medical minister has jumped to conclusion and issued condemnation note without ascertaining the truth’.
Maintaining that the Dy CMO Zunheoto and his subordinates are ‘a respected lot’, the GPRN/NSCN official said their allegations in the media were unfortunate.
Also informing that the issue has been sorted out with the CMO ‘in the interest of the Nagas’, the release said the money deducted from the medical department for the NSCN-IM ‘has been returned to the employees for it belongs to them’.
KSU banks on Neso’s support OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Shillong, Sept. 10: The Khasi Students’ Union is planning to make the Meghalaya cabinet’s decision to allow the UCIL carry out pre-development projects a regional issue.
The KSU has claimed the support of North East Students’ Organisation (Neso), the apex body of all the student organisations in the Northeast, to widen the ambit of the anti-uranium mining protests.
“Neso has always supported the common issues and if we launch an agitation, it will also support our cause like in the past,” KSU leader Samuel Jyrwa, whose union too is part of the organisation, told this correspondent today.
“We will meet tomorrow to discuss our action plan but will wait till September 15 to give the government time to revoke its decision on uranium mining.”
On August 24, the cabinet approved pre-development activities at the uranium mining sites by the UCIL. A week later, the KSU decided to serve a 15-day ultimatum on the Meghalaya government to change the decision. The ultimatum came into effect from September 1.
Chief minister D.D. Lapang, however, reiterated that there was no question of going back on the cabinet decision and held several meetings with senior police officers.
The Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People alleged that the government’s decision was against the state’s land transfer act.
The UDP has sought a white paper. The Associations of Meghalaya for Development and Advancement today organised a public meeting at Umdohlun near the mining sites and urged the people to support the project.
India, Bangla agree on crucial issues Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 – With India-Bangladesh relations back on tracks, the two countries agreed to finalise pacts on transfer of sentenced persons and to combat international terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug trafficking. In a reflection of the new sense of bonhomie between the two neighbours, India and Bangladesh today reiterated their resolve to strengthen cooperation to deter recurrence of terror incidents and conclude three agreements related to it, including mutual legal assistance on criminal matters.
The decisions were announced in a joint statement that came at the end of a four-day visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni.
New Delhi and Dhaka re-emphasised the resolve not to allow the use of their territories for activities inimical to each other’s security interests. Later, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh told newsmen that Dhaka would not allow anti-India forces to use its soil.
India is pleased with the new dispensation in Dhaka. Awami League Government has mounted albeit low-key crackdown on militant leaders hiding in the country. Top ULFA leaders have reportedly fled the country, some of their known accounts frozen and a few midium and lower level cadres have been handed over. The probe into the Chittagong arms haul case has been reopened, with few key players being detained.
“The visit was marked by warmth and cordiality and a commitment to strengthen bilateral relations. Each side showed a keenness to respond positively to the concerns of the other,” the joint statement said.
The two Ministers reiterated their resolve to strengthen bilateral co-operation to deter the recurrence of terrorist incidents. Both sides also reiterated their resolve not to allow the use of their territories for activities inimical to each other’s security interests, the statement said. Both sides agreed to conclude and agreement for mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, on transfer of sentenced persons, on combating international terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug trafficking, the joint statement said. During her tour, Dr. Moni called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Water Resources Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal, besides holding talks with External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna.
Dr. Singh said India attached highest priority to its relations with Bangladesh and reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit at an early date.
The two countries held wide-ranging talks that included issues such as security, river water sharing, connectivity, energy and cross-border trade.
The joint statement said both sides agreed to comprehensively address all outstanding land boundary issues. Both sides expressed their intent to resolve outstanding issues relating to Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves and the Tin Bigha Corridor. Both sides also recognised the need for electrification of Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves as a humanitarian gesture.
Bangladesh also welcomed India’s reassurance on Tipaimukh Dam that it would not take steps that would adversely impact Bangladesh, while appreciating the cooperation extended to the Bangladeshi Parliamentary delegation that toured the Dam site. Significant progress, however, was made on bilateral trade front with both the sides recognising the importance of bilateral and regional connectivity. Both sides discussed designating Ashuganj, as a new port of call under Article-23 of the Inland Water Transit and Trade Agreement, as well as the use of Chittagong port by India.
Bangladesh side agreed to provide access to Ashuganj Port to facilitate the transportation of the Over Dimensional Consignments for the Palatana Power Project in Tripura. Access to Chittagong Port and transit facilities to India through Bangladesh were two of major bone of contention between the two countries.
As a quid pro quo New Delhi agreed to facilitate Nepal-Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh connectivity. Both sides agreed on the re-opening Sabroom-Ramgarh trade point, as well as opening a land route at Demagiri-Thegamukh on the Mizoram border for bilateral trade.
India also agreed to provide at least 100 MW to Bangladesh on a priority basis. Ahead of this, it will also undertake a feasibility study on power grid inter-connectivity for transmission lines from India to Bangladesh.
India agreed in principle to provide a Line of Credit for railway projects and supply of locomotives, coaches and buses. India offered to take up construction of Akhaura-Agartala railway link under Indian assistance.
