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10/05/2009: "Govt. breaks silence on Common Platform morungexpress"

Govt. breaks silence on Common Platform morungexpress

Dimapur, October 3 (MExN): Over the controversy surrounding the recently formed Common Naga Platform (CNP), senior minister in the DAN government Dr Shurhozelie has stated that Nagas should not repeat the mistake of ‘jumping on presumptions.’ It should not be so without knowing ‘what lies ahead of us’ as was in the case with regard to the CNP, the minister, also president of the Naga People’s Front, said today.
According to a press statement issued by Dr Shurhozelie, the consultative meet, which had resolved to set up the Common Naga Platform, “has no link whatsoever with the previous Political Affairs Committee” and that from the very hour the consultative meeting started, “the whole responsibility was thrown upon the shoulder of leaders of the meet”.
Rues ‘jumping into presumptions’
“Since then, this consultative meet has no link whatsoever with the previous PAC. It becomes the common property of the Nagas”, Dr Shurhozelie stated. He stated that many had decided to go against it thinking it to be a ‘property’ of the DAN government. “One should not jump on presumption and by imagining things”, the NPF president stated. Dr Shurhozelie also stated that it was “learnt” that the platform was yet to be set up except that one or two persons have been entrusted to consult all groups or factions on how best the platform can be organized “so as to serve the desire of the Naga people”.
As such “before the platform is fully set up, various Naga groups/factions have declared their non-cooperation,” Dr Shurhozelie stated. The NPF president nevertheless pointed out that it was the DAN government which had set up the PAC “but that it was done not on party line but was constituted with few elderly persons who took the trouble and discussed the problems with all underground factions, hohos, civil societies etc.” Dr Shurhozelie stated that “on the advice and with the consent of all concerned, the consultative meet was said to have been convened”.
The NPF president lamented why ‘many Naga people were going against it even before the platform was constituted.’ “Then who or what force is there behind to sabotage all actions which are supporting the Naga unity and human dignity,” Dr Shurhozelie queried. The senior Naga politician also urged that one should look at things with a positive attitude “and you will find the change.”
Stating that the Nagas have missed “so many good opportunities in the past”, he said “Naga national workers have gone a step backward by splitting up themselves into factions.” “They are fighting for supremacy over one another and it is difficult for the Nagas to take it as a sacrifice for us,” Dr Shurhozelie stated. “We have to gain the backward step first to bring the factions together before we talk about solution to the Indo-Naga problem” he said. He also reflected on the opinion that “many people say that the Naga political problem has become complicated.”
“Yes, it becomes complicated within ourselves but it remains the same with others”, he reminded. Dr Shurhozelie said it was “absolutely necessary for the Naga leaders, be it over ground or underground, to understand the ground reality and take justifiable stand accordingly.” Also, the NPF president reminded that the state political parties have their defined jurisdiction and it is “not proper for national workers to get themselves involved in state politics.”

On meddling and “white paper”
In this regard, Dr Shurhozelie pointed out that “of late, some national workers are implicating their own stand by playing the role of Opposition in the state assembly alleging the state government of mismanagement of fund and diversion of fund from Nagaland to other states.”
It is “impossible for a state government to siphon off fund meant for the development of Nagaland to another state”, the minister pointed out and that this “needs no further explanation.” “We have no further argument at the moment but wait to see that white paper which is likely to be released soon by one underground faction”, the NPF president stated.
“We want all our national workers to remain honorable. We want all of them to remember ‘do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven…for with the measure you use, it will be measure out to you… (From the New Testament)’.” The NPF president added that they are even addressed as “national workers” and hoped that now “they will not force the people to use the prefix ‘so-called’ to their name.”

On ‘Political package’
While also welcoming the news that the “GPRN/NSCN is awaiting a formal invitation from the Prime Ministerial level for political talk”, the NPF president stated that it was their persistent demand that Government of India should talk to concerned underground factions in Nagaland. “We also hold the opinion that the ongoing talk between the government of India and NSCN (IM) has not ended in a deadlock”, Dr Shurhozelie maintained.
On the reports of some “political packages to be given to the Nagas,” it was pointed out as premature to talk about it at the moment and that even if something happens, “Nagas cannot be forced upon to take it if it is not acceptable to all sections of the Naga people.”
“Perhaps, Naga people will get the opportunity to take up the matter only after we come to know what is there in that package if at all it happens.” Dr Shurhozelie stated while pointing out that this is one of “our mistakes all these years that we jump often on presumption without knowing what lies ahead of us”.

E-mail threatens war against India NDTV
Bum La, October 3 (NDTV): At Bum La in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, the founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China was as usual - a joint celebration by two armies on a tense international border. That border could get even more tense, with news like Google showing Arunachal as disputed territory. Now, a threatening email in Chinese is being circulated in India’s north-eastern state
“All the tour operators in Arunachal Pradesh have received the threatening email. It shows all of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China; we are concerned,” says Tsering Wange, Managing Director of Himalayan Holidays. Three Maps are attached to the mail. One shows all of Arunachal within China, another marks Indian territory and the third marks New Delhi with a message in Chinese - that the People’s Liberation Army needs just 2 days to occupy this place.
Wange has shown this email to authorities in Arunachal, but it is not known whether the state government has acted on it yet or shared it with the Centre. “The Central government should act more seriously on this issue and should make this area more accessible to everybody. That way we can show to the world that this is very much part of India or else as now with the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) not many people can come,” he says.
China also doesn’t grant visas to the residents of Arunachal Pradesh, generally, and has allegedly scuttled development funding by international agencies like Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank in that state. And with the Dalai Lama scheduled to visit Tawang in November, the MacMohan line continues to be the most precipitous fault line in India’s defence and foreign policy.
Are you satisfied with the progress being made in the Naga Reconciliation process? Morungexpress

74% yes, 20%no, 6% other
Some of those who voted yes had this to say:
• The reconciliation process has made a groundbreaking breakthrough. It has managed to get the factions to talk to each other and to agree to reconcile and forgive one another. This is the biggest achievement since the plebiscite took place in 1951. This does not mean that the process has its own weakness. One of the major weakness is public participation. It cannot be confined only to tribal hohos and the leaders, it must go to the people. Most of the people are still ignorant and know very little. The public knows that the factional fighting has decreased but they don’t know how it is stopped and the role that FNR has played. So FNR needs to reach to the people more and more. The process so far is more than satisfactory.
• While a lot of people may not really notice, it is apparent that abductions and confrontations of rival factions have gone down. That itself says a lot about the initiatives of groups working on the issue.
• Its not about being satisfied, but about seeing how the situation has dramatically changed. The factional differences have not disappeared but the violence and just negative attitude has disappeared. This itself gives me hope that the reconciliation process is on the right track.
• The changing environment ever since FNR was formed is there for everyone to see. The best thing about this current initiative is that, the FNR does not need to speak out, because the actions are speaking for themselves and any honest Naga - including Indian - will say that the violence has decreased and the progress made between the different factions is unprecedented. I am sure there must be lot of loopholes and people must be critical and even suspicious, but when the actions speak for themselves, no amount of bad mouthing will change the opinion of the people. More power to the FNR Reconciliation process.
• Two historical events have had a impact on Nagas: The declaration of Naga independence and the Naga plebiscite. Since then there have been many different events which Nagas are not proud of because it has only led to killings and bitterness. But now, the Naga Reconciliation process is the third event which can change Naga future for the better. This reconciliation process is a landmark and if all Nagas can come together, there will be a new beginning.
• This is the only way to overcome and our Naga Nation.
• While the process may seem slow, it is definitely making progress. And it is encouraging to see that the rival factions can at least sit in the same room and discuss the reconciliation process. We have a long way to go but we have come a long way and every individual has a role to play. We can begin by supporting and encouraging the efforts of organisations working on the reconciliation process.
• This is the true path's of turning from darkness to light.
• The results speak for itself. No amount of theory can convince unless it is backed up by action, and in this reconciliation process we can see the results clearly.
• I have reason to believe that the Naga reconciliation process is going in the right direction. I dont know whether it is perfect, but it does not matter so much because the achievements are quite evident for all to see. Past initiatives have been more on the paper than in reality. But this one has surpassed all expectations, even those who were criticising the FNR, has not much to say. This does not mean that FNR is completely right, it only shows that FNR is getting the job done and at this point people are wanting to see that the job is done.
• To see the factions who were once killing and hunting each other down, sit down and shake hands is a job well done. Keeping in mind the history of division and bloodshed, the undeniable fact that the major groups have all participated and agreed to stop all military offences in toto is remarkable.
• Yes considering the current progress it is true that God is still listening to our prayer for reconciliation and solution because much progress had been made in a short time, somehow reconciliation is not and end in itself therefore Nagas must courageously move on till we liberate ourselves from the jaws of oppression and suppression and gain international recognition as a nation.
• When the Reconciliation process started, most people were skeptical. Many people also questioned and criticised why the reconciliation meetings were taking place outside Nagaland in a foreign country. I bet you that so much progress would not have been made if the meetings were held only in Nagaland. I have been closely following the news reports. The meetings have been held both in Nagaland and in Thailand and out of all these meetings, much more progress has been made when the meetings were outside in Nagaland. So it was a good decision that the meetings are being held both in Nagaland as well as Thailand.
• Yes, there is no other way for Nagas to reconcile. The fact that the factions are talking to each other and agreeing to suspend all offensives against each other is a major step.
• In the last 20 years there has not been one reconciliation effort which has made more progress than this current initiative. Well done. One can see that there is a lot of selflessness and commitment given by the FNR and they have creatively used different ways to see that the factions are all moving towards reconciliation.
• Any true Naga will say that the present Naga Reconciliation process has made tremendous progress and that the scale of violence has become almost nil. This is what all Nagas want, for the factional clashes to end and for them to come together. Of course there will be some who will try to provoke and criticise the present Naga reconciliation process by making non-issue into an issue.
• At this point, one cannot expect more than what is already being done. The situation has improved drastically in just a few months. There was war like situation in Dimapur, but now, it has become relatively peaceful.
• After a long time, we are fortunate that the groups have all found the present Naga Reconciliation process acceptable. If such a thing was done it the past, than maybe the reconciliation would have been achieved by now. So this is a positive step.
• The process may still be some distance away from achieving reconciliation, but I cant complain about it. This is a process and it has done some unbelievable wonders in the last few months. Factional clashes has more or less stopped, the media war has decreased and the atmosphere is now better. I fully support this Naga reconciliation process.

Some of those who voted no had this to say:
• Some of the factions don’t seem to be participating in the same enthusiasm as the three factions. I don’t know the reason why, but I hope the FNR will also get them on board.
• What progress are we talking of? Nothing has changed since the reconciliation process started. In fact, just the next day of another peace talks, there’s always shooting episode in Nagaland.
• When there are talks outside Nagaland, what progress can possibly be taking place in Nagaland. Talks should be held in Nagaland.
• Where do u think the money comes from for these so called leaders to attend the so called peace talks held in foreign land. We must be realistic. Why spend so much money in holding talks outside?
• Lets get serious...the trouble is here in Nagaland. We cannot solve our problems from far away places. Hosting reconciliation talks means using Nagas money. Why go all the way to Thailand for this?
• Am sure all Nagas will be happy to see the next reconciliation talks being held in Nagaland. Let all Nagas attend it and not just a handful, self vested individuals.
• In real situations, we are making a real fool of ourselves with belief of reconciliations, whereas its only between some individuals.
• As an old adage. Fools rush where angels fear to tread. Nagas are going nowhere at this scenario. Their leaders have abandoned them to live on their own. The leaders of these factions are cozily settled in foreign lands. Nagas should know that the futile war of factions are over. Their leaders have committed mistakes and very well know the cause is over for them.
• Only some fools are thinking that Nagas can reconcile.
• There has been no change in the stand for selfishness and greed. These two go hand in hand and Nagas are still the same.
• Talks or no talks, Nagas will remain selfish and bossy. Everybody wants to be the boss. This is the main reason so many factions came out. Nobody wants to live under somebody.
• As soon as talks are held, there is killing the next day. So much for reconciliation.
• Its rather a backward progress.
• It would be better if no such talks take place just to misguide the public of their lecherous ambitions.
• NSCN/GPRN, FGN, GPRN/NSCN, FGN/NSCN, NSCN/FGN??????? How many of these are there?
• I’am not at all satisfied with the reconciliation process because of the fact that the members failed to stick to one common policy and objective. The tend to come up with fresh conflict of opinion. The policy and program is not made transparent to the public and the opinion of the people and political party is very much ignored. Most importantly, they've fail to keep the expectation of what they 've promise in the process of reconciliation.
• It doesn't seem to be making any head way.

Some of those who voted others had this to say:
• The reconciliation is making fine progress in terms of moving in the right direction and also making sure that the factions are committed to reconciliation and most importantly getting them to end the violence between them. The decisions made by the groups need to be better implemented. I dont know how but public involvement is a must. If the decisions are implemented well than I feel the process will move quicker.
• I have no complaints against the progress made. They have done a good job in strengthening it. I only wish there was more transparency into the proceedings of the closed door meetings and it will be very helpful if there are more public meetings where the public can discuss directly with the factional leaders.
• My perspective on this very issue reaching the headlines of late under the banner of JWG for reconciliation so far stepping in the right direction besides credit goes to FNR for its tireless peacebuilding effort as a mediator and facilitator among the rival factions. But I reserve my better judgement for the last despite their laudable efforts its still a way to got to attain the clear cut aim and objective they are committed to accomplish. GoI understand all the nuts and bolts about Naga issue and knows how to capitalize on our weakness and deficiency to their advantage. Unless we set our house in order through soul searching, forgiveness, live and let life, then its should be like putting the cart before a horse. Only unity, trust and confidence, mutual respect, you name it can lead to a logical conclusion paving the way for a mutually honorable and acceptable and permanent solution which our grandchildren will be proud of what we do today. How many deaths will it take until we know what too many people have died.
A useful guide to negotiators By Manju Gupta Organizer
Negotiating Peace in Deeply Divided Societies: A Set of Simulations, Radha Kumar (Ed.), Sage Publications, Pp 396, Rs 695.00
In social science, simulation was used as a technique in the 1960s to predict or frame the behaviour of groups and markets. Today in the policy field, an increasing number of strategic and defence planners use computer-based simulation for prediction and discovery. Humanitarian agencies, like the UNHCR, use mapping techniques of refugee movement that draw on simulation to prepare for protection.

This book approaches peacemaking by applying simulation exercises during conflict and conflict-resolution processes, providing an understanding of the risks involved, opportunities available and the price to be paid for peacemaking. The six simulation exercises provided in this book are mostly based on actual or potential negotiations in the ongoing peace processes, but they dispense with some of the rules of role-play. The overarching theme of simulation is to learn from peace negotiations in societies that have been violently divided along ethnic or religious lines by competing claims of self-determination. However, only two of the simulations replicate actual negotiations as they took place in Northern Ireland and Jammu & Kashmir. Two others envisage an imaginary stand in ongoing negotiations (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nagaland) and two are abstract simulations that address critical contemporary debates on ending violence and humanitarian intervention.

This combination permits participants to focus on the different stages of peacemaking and peace-building in deeply divided societies, that make or break issues that are involved, and the changing roles that key actors play. The six simulations in this book cover the following - the early stage of ending the violence to pave the way for a political settlement; the middle stage of trust-building through addressing the root causes; the next to last stage of negotiation and compromise to reach a formal agreement; and the post-agreement stage of reconstruction and reconciliation.

The first of the simulations is based on actual negotiations: the last round of talks to settle the 75-year long Northern Ireland conflict, which yielded the Belfast agreement of 1998. The second situation is an imaginary negotiation involving Bosnia-Herzegovina which took place five years after the internationally brokered Dayton peace agreement of 1995. This agreement put an end to the bloody ethnic war in Bosnia-Herzegovina but it also divided Bosnia-Herzegovina into two entities: a Muslim-Croatian Federation and a Bosnian Serb Republic - Republika Srpska.

The third simulation focuses on a major confidence-building and the measure - wining a ceasefire as the first step towards political resolution of the root causes of conflict. The fourth simulation is set in India and deals with a particularly difficult self-determination conflict: that of the Naga tribes who are spread across four different states in north-eastern India. Through a homeland, Nagaland was successfully negotiated in 1962 with breakaway Naga leaders going into exile in protest at the exclusion of diaspora territories from the homeland and fighting a decade-long civil war to incorporate Naga-inhabited areas of neighbouring states into the homeland.

To sum up, this book teaches how to negotiate peace in deeply divided societies so as to, one, prevent escalation of the conflict; two, initiate CBMs to pave the way for political resolution; three, address the root causes of the conflict and four, arrive at a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict; fifth, adopt peace-building exercises post-conflict; and sixth, prevent the conflict from escalating.

This book will be useful for administrators, negotiators and peace-keeping forces as also students of international understanding.

(Sage Publications India Ltd, B1/1-1, Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110 04
Losing habitat, elephants invade human areas morungexpress
Dimapur | October 3 : The year couldn’t end worse for numerous farmers in Nagaland. Wild elephants have played havoc in their paddy fields and destroyed other crops as well – even as they come to terms with crop failure due to delayed monsoon. Reports of the animals destroying paddy fields and stocks have poured in from several pockets of the state. The elephant menace is not a new thing, though, as villages in the districts Wokha, Mon, Zunheboto, Peren and Mokokchung have been encountering this problem for several years now.
This year, it is reported that under Zunheboto and Wokha district, several villages were ‘attacked’ by wild elephants. On April this year, a herd of elephants entered Mukhami village towards Lumami, where they destroyed most of the paddy fields. Villagers reported that about 50 elephants assembled near the village ground after a forest fire broke out. The villagers fired blank gun shots and banged on tins to ward off the elephants. Tusked elephants were also reportedly seen.
Sometime again in September, elephants destroyed paddy fields in Shena village under Satakha sub-division. Here the animals damaged two granaries and destroyed paddy fields. The villagers estimate more than 1,000 kilograms of grains were destroyed. They believe the elephants may have come from Lungitang near the Doyang River under Wokha district. Since the elephants come only during the night, the villagers are unable to tell their sizes. However, guessing from their footprints, villagers say the elephants are probably adults.
Pangti under Wokha district has in the past reported cases of crop destruction by elephants as did Naginimora under Mon district. In fact, Pangti has a ‘trapped population’ of elephants and their numbers are growing, it is reported. Litami village under Akuluto sub-division also reported elephant menace last year. The government on the other hand has been providing short-term monetary relief to affected villagers. It is learned that last year the government received 880 applicants for relief. Sadly, the department of wild life received central assistance of only 2 lakh rupees to cover seven affected districts; clearly not sufficient. However, the government is looking forward to some long-term measures, sources in the wildlife department informed.
In the past, the centre put forth a rather incapable suggestion of ‘translocation’ of elephants – something clearly not possible. Instead, the state government has been suggesting villages to set up community reserves where the animals can live permanently. “The only solution is to live together,” an officer in the department said. There have been several reports of elephants getting killed by villagers but the department feels that a better solution is to provide a habitat for them.
Moreover, the department pointed out that one of the main reasons for the increase in number of elephants is due to decrease in their natural habitat. With forest cover depleting everyday, elephants have become a threatened species and constantly being pushed out of their environment. “We cannot chase or kill them. We can only provide a corridor within our state,” the department officer said.

Nikhil Kumar Is The New Governor Of Nagaland India server
Nikhil Kumar, the former Police Commissioner of Delhi, has been appointed as the New Governor of Nagaland on Sunday.

Nikhil Kumar will be taking over as the Nagland governor from the Governor of Manipur, Gurbachan Jagat, who has been assumed the additional charge as the Governor of Nagaland. This information was available from the press release which was issued from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Tripura has also got a new with Dr Kamla being named by the President. She will be taking the charge as the Governor of Tripura from Dinesh Nandan Sahaya.
Naga musician reviving dying folk music Madhusree Chatterjee by IANS
Jodhpur, Oct 4 (IANS) Meet guru Rewben Mashangva, the Imphal-based musician, who has brought workday folk music from the villages bordering Nagaland and Manipur to the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) under way at the sprawling Mehrangarh Fort here.
Mashangva is reviving the “dying” traditional Naga tribal folk music — especially the variety sung by his tribe of Thangkul Nagas — among the GenNext in Manipur and Nagaland which swears by contemporary western rock and pop music. He sings with his eight-year-old son Saka.
“The Naga folk songs from the villages are on the verge of extinction because of changing lifestyles, poor rhythm, lack of beat melodies, monotony, absence of written texts and insurgency,” Mashangva told IANS at Jaswant Tada, one of the open-air venues of the Oct 1-5 festival.
Mashangva has adapted the age-old Naga folk songs handed down the generations by word of mouth to Bob Dylan-type blues and ballad rhythms.
“I had to put guitar and string riffs and rhythms to the songs to make them sound contemporary,” said the musician, as he strummed his one-string instrument, “tingteilla (fiddle)” made of dry gourd shell, wood and animal skin, while his son played a improvised cow-bell percussion instrument.
He followed it with a “yangkakhui”, a four-hole bamboo flute. All the three indigenous instruments - the fiddle, flute and the percussion - are the musician’s own creations.
Mashangva later switched to guitar and the mouth-organ as he sang English translations of Naga folk blues at a dawn concert Saturday.
“The Nagas have songs for every occasion — births, deaths, weddings, festivals and everyday chores. The origin of Naga folk, however, lies in the fields. When the villagers plant rice on the fields, they sing together in groups. When they winnow the grain, they sing in rhythm with the mortars and pestles. But with agriculture on the decline, rapid urbanisation and the inroads of western music, the folk songs are rarely sung now. Only the village elders know them,” the musician said.
Mashangva, who takes off on Bob Dylan, is often hailed as “king of Naga Folk Blues”. Winner of the Manipur State Akademi Award 2005, he has been conferred the title of “guru” by the union culture ministry.
He has toured the country and Southeast Asia with his music and will perform in Japan in December. Mashangva has two albums, “Tantivy” and “Creation”.
Dressed in the traditional Naga black-and red short skirt, bead ornaments and a matching jacket, Mashangva sticks to tradition even in his style statement. He wears his hair, shaved on either side, in a long ponytail from the centre.
“That is how the Thangkul elders in the village style their hair,” he said.
According to Mashangva: “The lyrics of the Naga folk songs are simple, used by the villagers every day. The songs are more like chants, expressing emotion and the nature of the work.”
The “guru” started young. “In the 60s, when we Thangkuls converted to Christianity, my elders took me to the Church on Sundays. I listened to the choir and learnt to sing. As I grew older I realised that I was missing out on my traditional music. I visited the remote villages, met the elders, learnt the songs from them, adopted their clothes and hairstyles,” the 48-year-old musician said.
“Despite the innate joy of Naga workday folk music, my mind has been indelibly scarred by the decades-old (60 years’ old) insurgency and bloodshed in Nagaland and its border along Manipur. Though I feel love inside me, I cannot compose songs of love. All that comes out of my head spontaneously are lyrics of war, violence, appeals for peace, religion and environment — all that are burning issues in the two states. Insurgency seems to have put limitations on my creativity,” he lamented.
Mashangva’s music is also the subject of a semi-documentary film, “The Lonely Village”, about a Naga village that disappeared from the planet. It is being shot by national award winning Manipuri filmmaker Oinam Doren.
(Madhusree Chatterjee can be contacted at madhu.c@ians.in)
What?...dog meat!......for dinner? morungexpress
Naga women are seen here selling dog meat in a daily market at Dimapur. Dog meat is considered a delicacy among the Naga people and to an extend in Mizoram. On an average, around 50 dogs are butchered every day for their meat in Nagaland. (Photo/Cais
Hold on! Readers please …. now if this question is raised from one person to another ,there will be different answers and opinions regarding it. Some would surely say yes and would like to have it, relishing the whole meal while some might put up some comments on it and others with neutral. Anyways, it is a universal controversy. Certain breeds of dog are raised on farms and slaughtered for their meat. Dog meat may be consumed as an alternative source of meat or for specific medicinal benefits attributed to various parts of a dog by certain group of people. In some parts of the world where dogs are kept as pets, people generally consider the use of dogs for food to be a social taboo. .Well so to say there are facts relating to consumption of dog meat. For instance, as far as the north easterners are concerned it’s the most priced meat. More than 10,000 dog are consumed per year in the state of Nagaland. It’s a delicacy among the tribal people in northeast of India. About 50 dogs are slaughtered every day in Nagaland. There are many beliefs regarding consumption of this meat, some local belief like it’s given to those women who have given birth or to Naga wrestlers who consume it for strength, some says it’s eaten for rapid healing of wound after operation and so on. Malika Sharma, a dietician at the GNRC hospital in Guwahati, Assam, said this local belief is not totally unfounded. “Dog meat has a warm character. It can supplement the marrow and help blood circulation,” she said. Birinchi Kumar Medhi, who heads Guwahati University’s Anthropology department, finds a cultural reason for the culinary preference. “Most tribes in Mizoram and Nagaland are of the Mongoloid stock. They share ancestry with people in China, Korea and Vietnam for whom dog meat is almost a staple,” he said. “People of Mongoloid stock are known to have less iron in their blood. Dog meat has more iron content than other meat. This could be one reason people of Mongoloid stock prefer it,” said Mineshwar Hazarika, associate professor at the College of Veterinary Science, Assam.
If we compare the energy value per 100 gram of other meat say beef , pork, chicken, it is 571kj,519kj,and 457kj respectively. While that of dog is whooping 1146kj. On the other hand, the world consumption seen in China and Korea as well as many southeast asian countries is much higher since they have more liking towards dog meat than any any other meat. In fact, it is a national cuisine for them.
Cultural attitudes, legalities, and history regarding eating dog meat varies from country to country. Very little statistical information is available on attitudes to the consumption of dog meat. Dog meat consumption was regarded as taboo in America but recently it was legalized in 46 states, whereas in England, it is still regarded as a taboo.
The consumption of dog meat can be traced back to antiquity. Dog bones were excavated in Neolithic settlement in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. A wall painting in the Goguryeo tombs complex in South Hwangghae Province, a UNESCO World Heritage site which dates from 4th century AD, depicts a slaughtered dog in a storehouse. The Balhae people also enjoyed dog meat, and the Koreans' appetite for canine cuisine seems to have come from those days.
Here I would like to add some controversies over dog meat in the world: During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the South Korean government asked its citizens not to consume dog meat to avoid bad publicity during the games, along with a request to butcher shops not to hang dog carcasses in the windows. It also closed all restaurants serving gaejang-guk to better improve the country's image to Western visitors.
The same controversy surfaced again in 2001 just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The organizers of the games, under pressure from animal rights group such as PETA demanded that the Korean government re-address the issue. Brigitte Bardot, a prominent head of a French animal rights organization which is named after her, launched a crusade during the 2002 FIFA World Cup to have dog meat outlawed in Korea. She prompted people to boycott the games if the government did not outlaw the sale of dog meat in restaurants in Seoul. This concept seemed out of place to those people in Southern China and parts of Southeast Asia where dog meat is seen as an affordable meat source, especially in China where records of dog consumption date back to 500 B.C. when recipes of dog dishes were listed in the Li Ji for ritual consumption. Some people believe that dog meat should be expressly legalized so that only authorized preparers can deal with the meat in more humane and sanitary ways, while others think that the practice should be banned by law. The Korean practice of eating dog meat has always been considered a peculiar tradition by foreigners. The strongest argument against the dog meat industry centers on the treatment of the dogs that are often killed by “beating, strangling, [and] boiling” instead of more humane methods such as electrocution. Unnecessary cruelty against animals is universally considered wrong, and is in many cases illegal, and that is what makes this argument effective. Some controversy has emerged about the treatment of dogs in China not because of the consumption itself, but because of other factors like cruelty involved with the killing including allegations that animals are sometimes skinned while still alive.

LIST OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE DOG MEAT IS CONSUMED:
• In Korea, dog meat is made into many traditional dishes and the most common is boshintang, a stew.
• In Taiwan,dog meat (Minnan) is known by the euphemism "fragrant meat"
• Dog meat has been eaten in every major German crisis at least since the time of Frederick the Great, and is commonly referred to as "blockade mutton.]In the early 20th century, consumption of dog meat in Germany was common. Dog meat has been prohibited in Germany since 1986.
• In Indonesia, the consumption of dog meat are usually associated with the Minahasa, a Christian ethnic group in northern Sulawesi, and Bataks of Northern Sumatra who consider dog meat to be a festive dish and usually reserve it for special occasions like weddings and Christmas.
• Dog meat was consumed widely in Japan until 675 A.D, when Emperor Temmu decreed a prohibition on its consumption during the 4th-9th months of the yearChina is the only exporter of dog meat to Japan and exported 31 tons in 2006.
• While the meat is not eaten, in some rural areas of Poland dog fat is by tradition believed to have medicinal properties - being good for the lungs for instance. It can be made into smalec – lard.
• Dogs were historically eaten in Tahiti and other islands of Polynesia including Hawaiiat the time of first European contact. James Cook, when first visiting Tahiti in 1769, recorded in his journal that "few were there of us but what allowe'd that a South Sea Dog was next to an English Lamb, one thing in their favour is that they live entirely upon Vegetables".In Hawaii, the eating of dog meat was reserved to females until the system of kapu was overthrown in favor of 'Ai Noa (free eating) in 1819. Efforts to restore the kapu ended and free eating became policy after a feast of dog meat that King Kamehameha II partook of with his chiefesses.
• According to the November 21, 1996, edition of the Rheintaler Bote, a Swiss newspaper covering the Rhine Valley area, the rural Swiss cantons of Appenzell and St. Gallen are known to have had a tradition of eating dogs, curing dog meat into jerky and sausages, as well as using the lard for medicinal purposes.
• Dogs are eaten in some states of Ghana. They are believed to have medicinal powers.

• Although consumption of dog meat is not well-known in France, dog meat was widely consumed in France throughout history. The earliest evidence of dog consumption in France was found at Gaulish archaeological sites where butchered dog bones were found. French news sources from the late 19th century carried stories reporting long lines of people buying dog meat, which was described as being "beautiful and light." Dog meat was also reported as being sold by French butchers in Paris, 1910.
• The eating of dog meat has a history in China which dates back thousands of years. Dog meat has long been thought by some to have medicinal properties, and is especially popular in winter months as it is believed to generate heat and promote bodily warmth. Contrary to some popular beliefs, the Chinese usually only eat dogs raised specifically for meat, not those raised as pets. The dogs are slaughtered between 6 and 12 months of age.
• Dogs have historically been an emergency food source for various peoples in Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland. Sled dogs are usually maintained for pulling sleds, but occasionally are eaten when no other food is available. Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen was known to have eaten sled dogs to survive during his expedition to the South Pole. By eating some of the sled dogs, he required less dog food, thus lightening his load.
Other than these, in the state of Mizoram, people refer dog meat as the MEAT OF THE DRUNKARD.
It is easy to say there are a million moral and ethical arguments against eating dogs; but that's a gross exaggeration. There are no more arguments against eating a dog than there are for eating a cow, a pig, a goat, or a chicken.
We are not talking about killing and eating a family pet. You don't slaughter and eat your pets because they exist for emotional benefit. Pets learn to trust, empathize, and interact with their human owners. But animals farmed for meat don't fall in that category. A dog raised in a pen, or free range, on grains for most of it's life, kept disease free, and then properly butchered and cooked, is just as tasty as any other animal. Apart from all these one should keep in mind regarding zoonotic diseases that it spreads say Leptospirosis species which is normally found in the urine of infected dog,cause severe liver and kidney diseases. Usually stray dogs are highly infested with various parasitic diseases….so one must be aware of it. One of the basic role to play either by pet owners or by those who raise for consumption, one must always go for deworming.By castrating, the animal it makes them docile and for those who are really put off by the odour of the dog meat, these will make the meat tender and less pungent smell.
It's real easy as a well-fed westerner to point at someone from China, or a third world nation, and tell them it's wrong to eat a dog, or a cat, a guinea pig, or a rat. However, these animals are important sources of protein for these group of people. Protein is absolutely necessary for proper development and functioning as humans at our optimum levels. Take away those sources of protein and you are deliberately condemning those people to functioning at a subhuman level.
So apart from all the controversial issues over dog meat consumption, the fact remains that whether be it any other meat or say dog meat in particular, the illegal use of it, is considered as a crime anywhere. So if the use of dog meat is legal within a territory, no such ethical question arises over which some of our readers may be feeling offended by the culinary consumption of dogs. Is there a reason why you are offended, but not when someone eats a chicken or a cow? Is it because of the culture you come from? Since some cultures forbid eating pigs, others cows. Pigs are intelligent animals at the top of the food chain, and can make good pets. And chickens are cute. So, what's your beef with eating dog?
Readers……….. just remember that when a plate of dog meat is placed before you, if you are not restricted by any bonds like cultural, religious belief, legal or for that matter your personal taste over the meat etc, I don’t see any such reason why you should miss an opportunity of having just another rich source of protein. But as a matter of fact, one should always make an effort that they shouldn’t involve in any illegal offensive or inhuman acts since with such continuation, the dog meat industry would anger animal activists and would be an act of insensitivity towards those who hold that dogs, despite what place they were raised in, are truly man’s best friends.

SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT D. R. NABLA,
ON THE OCCASION OF 23RD FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF NDFB
OCTOBER 3, 2009

My beloved freedom fighters and fellow freedom loving countrymen! On this very auspicious day, the 23rd Founding Anniversary of National Democratic Front of Boroland I extend my warm wishes and hearty revolutionary greetings to all my beloved revolutionary friends and the freedom loving people. I also pay my deep homage to those who have sacrificed their precious blood and lives and henceforth those who are embracing martyrdom for the liberation of Boroland and Boro people. Also I extend my best wishes and revolutionary greetings to all the freedom loving people of the Region and all the revolutionary organizations in particular.
23 years before, on this very day, NDFB was formed to liberate the lawful land of the Boro people from centuries of foreign exploitation, suppression and occupation. On the solemn night of 2nd October 1986, 77 Boro youths congregated and discussed all the movements of the Boro people and its failure and the necessity of an armed struggle to liberate Boroland and in the early morning of 3rd October, NDFB was formed with all vigor and commitment. On this day, the dream, zeal and sacrifice of those 77 Boro youths gave birth to NDFB. NDFB was born at a time when time had stood still for the subjugated Boro people as a nation. Therefore, the Foundation Day of NDFB is observed and celebrated by recalling the night and the morning of 3rd October, 1986. The history of Boro people that was stagnant for centuries has started moving after the formation of NDFB and there is a ray of hope among the Boro people. So it is not only a historic day for the Boro people but also it is a day of jubilation.
No self respecting nation or community will continue to get exploited and dominated by the outsiders for ever without fighting or registering protest. No self respecting nation or community will continue to remain subjugated under alien powers, be it politically, economically and culturally. The self respecting nation or community fights back to be free from political, economical and cultural exploitation and domination. Therefore, on this auspicious day, as a self respecting nation, we have formed the NDFB to fight back against all forms of exploitation, domination and occupation. But we know that it is not easy to regain our rights and freedom. Justice and freedom are not like cakes that we can order and get them. That is why we are fighting and prepare to fight to the end. If we have the will and aspiration to live in this world as a nation by upholding our heads high, we have to fight back for our legitimate rights and freedom however it may be difficult.. It is still fresh in our memory, how last year on this day, the Boro people were attacked by immigrants in Odalguri and Rowta area where many were brutally killed and thousands had to flee and take shelter in relief camps while NDFB was celebrating its 22nd anniversary. If we fail to fight back for our historical rights and free ourselves from foreign domination and occupation, we shall have to face more hardship and the very existence as people is threatened. Therefore, I appeal one and all to prepare for difficult and bigger war for freedom.
My beloved revolutionary friends and fellow freedom loving countrymen! For the first time in 23 years, we have failed to celebrate the founding anniversary of NDFB together with all our revolutionary friends. Since we could not deviate and betray the founding and guiding principles and ideology of our party before political parleys with India, the real revolutionaries of the NDFB had to make a decision to fight back. But it was unfortunate that others had defied the dreams of our martyrs and discarded the founding principles and ideology clearly enshrined in the constitution of NDFB. But we have stood up and fought back by upholding the principle of our party and the dream of our martyrs.
In order to resolve Indo-Boro political problems peacefully and democratically, NDFB had declared unilateral ceasefire on the 4th October, 2004 and to further the peace initiative, NDFB also submitted the Proposed Agenda to the Prime Minister of India on the 1st May 2008 to begin political dialogue. But surprisingly on the 9th May 2008, after the meeting of the Ceasefire Ground Rules Monitoring Committee, held at Guwahati, Mr Naveen Vurma, Joint secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs made mockery of the Proposed Agenda by telling the representatives of NDFB that it had “foreign language” in it and India would never talk to NDFB unless it was revised and amended. Mockery, intimidation and lack of sincerity and honesty on the part of Indian government to initiate political talks compelled us to take up arms again for our historical rights. However, we are not against talks. We are still ready for talks. If India prepares for peace talks with us based on the dream of our martyrs and founding principles of our party, we are prepared for talks.
My dear comrades and fellow countrymen! All the arms and ammunition and other properties of our party and nation remained in possession of those who have betrayed the sacrifices and dreams of the martyrs and the guiding principles and ideology of NDFB. So, once again, we are starting our national liberation movement empty handed as we did 23 years ago.. They have not only betrayed the national cause but also in tandem with Indian security forces have been brutally killing the real revolutionaries of NDFB. They have been harassing and intimidating innocent villagers for sheltering us. After fighting united for the last 22 years as the NDFB, how they dare to torture and kill their own brothers? It is true that they have failed to continue to fight respecting the sacrifices and ideas of the martyrs and the principle of the party, but one fails to understand why they stand as an obstacle in our struggle. We fail to understand why they are harassing and torturing the freedom loving people. Can’t they fight us ideologically? The principle and ideology of the NDFB cannot be won by torturing and killing. No forces could defeat the NDFB for the last 23 years and I firmly believe that no force can defeat NDFB.
NDFB is now not only a body organization, but in fact, after fighting against the mighty India for the last 23 years it has become an idea and ideology itself. It is rather the spirit of the Boro nation than a mere physical organization. So, no one can defeat NDFB by killing its cadres and members. No one can defeat national liberation movement of NDFB by harassing and torturing the freedom loving people. Those who are killing us must know that victory is not in killings but in fearlessness of death for the right cause. Despite torture and killings the NDFB will stand tall and firm among the Boro people. On our death many will be born and the NDFB will continue to live on. If one thinks that he can eliminate NDFB by killing its members and cadres, he is living in fool’s paradise. On the fearlessness of death and sacrifices of our martyrs NDFB will always stand tall and firm.
Before leaving for talks with Indian government in Delhi on 22 September, Gobinda Basumatary had claimed himself to be the true NDFB and termed us to be wrong. But it is not for Gobinda Basumatary to decide who the true NDFB is. Only the Boro people, time and history will decide and judge who the true NDFB is. History will also tell who was responsible for the serial bomb blasts across Assam on 30th October, 2008, whether it was Mr Naveen Vurma or the Indian government or was it Gobinda Basumatary who has betrayed NDFB and the Boro people at the hands of Indian government.. So, instead of indulging in mudslinging, let us work and serve the Boro nation.
While East Pakistan struggled for freedom against West Pakistan in 1971, I was a boy of 12. I had only heard of ‘Mukti Bahini and Bangladesh’ from my parents and my brothers. I came to know about millions people escaping from the war zone and taking shelter in our Region. I had seen and I still remember how our people had collected cloths and food, especially rice for the people taking refuge in our land. I still remember when eyes became red, dry and itchy; it was called as “Bangladeshi disease”. Even my parents adopted a destitute and hapless young Bangladeshi boy in 1972. His name was Quiddos Mia, but he was renamed Philimon after he became a Christian. Not only had the innocent civilians taken shelter but the Mukti Bahini, the force behind the liberation of Bangladesh also got training and formed the government of free Bangladesh in our land. It was not the people from Delhi who gave shelter and shared the pain and hardship Bangladeshis went through at that time of crisis. It was our people and our land at their neighbor that harbored them and supported them and shared their difficulties and sorrows more than the people from Delhi did from more than 1000 miles away. If our people have helped Bangladeshis on all counts for freedom from Pakistan without questioning their legitimacy or whatsoever, it becomes an obligation for the people and the government of Bangladesh to help us in our freedom struggle against India. So, I would like to request the people and the government of Bangladesh to extend helping hands in our struggle for freedom. Particularly, I would like to request the security forces of Bangladesh not to harass or arrest our cadres and members when they sometimes cross to Bangladesh for their safety and security.
It is a fact that so called Indian nation never existed in the history before 1947. It was the East India Company under the British crown who brought the subcontinent under a single umbrella for their administrative conveniences. When British left the region in 1947 more than 700 legitimate and small independent states existed and they had every right to be free after British dominion was withdrawn. It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, who by force and might brought all of these independent states under the single Indian Federation. Boroland and the present North Eastern region of India was not ever conquered by India or people of the Region joined India by referendum. The Naga people had even declared their independence from the British on 14th August 1947, a day ahead of India’s declaration of independence. People of this region have a strong genetic, social, and cultural affinity with the people of East Asia and South East Asia. The indigenous people of this region are originally of Mongoloid and physically, culturally and linguistically they are different from the people of mainland India. Therefore, in order to claim and project this region to be a part of India, it has been pushing millions of immigrants from its mainland threatening the very existence of indigenous peoples on their own land. Therefore, I on behalf of the Boro people and the Region, appeal to the Chinese government to consider and take immediate action on the recommendations of Zhan Lue of the China International Institute of Strategic Studies (CIISS) who has suggested that India as a whole should be divided into 20 – 30 nation states on ethnic lines for rapid development and modernization of the region. On this 23rd Anniversary of NDFB, also I would like to appeal the International Community to help and recognize the lawful, democratic and historical movements of the peoples of the north east Region, Punjab and Kashmir.
My beloved freedom fighters and fellow freedom loving countrymen! King Martin Luther had a dream that one day liberty and equality would be established between the sons of black slaves and sons of white slaves’ owners. He also dreamt that one day a black American would be the President of United States of America. The dream of King Martin Luther, of liberty and equality among the black and white people and a dream of a black man becoming the President of America came true albeit a long waiting. Like the dream of King Martin Luther, our dream of free Boroland will also come true one day. Therefore, dream, we must have, a dream to liberate our land. Thank you.
Victory to the Boro people
Long Live National Liberation Movement
Long Live NDFB


D. R. Nabla
President, NDFB