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10/08/2009: "CLARIFICATION ON THE COLD BLOODED MURDER OF 5 COMRADES IN BANGLADESH NSCN"

CLARIFICATION ON THE COLD BLOODED MURDER OF 5 COMRADES IN BANGLADESH NSCN

This statement has been necessitated to clarify on the shocking incident in Bangladesh Border that had cost the lives of 5 precious comrades of ours. According to a verified report reached here today, a section under the command of Captain Kapangmi Keishing was temporarily stationed at Syllhet, a Khasi Village near Bangladesh border. On that
fateful day, the 3rd October 2009, at around 1: 30 pm four of the cadres from the party, out of sheer madness, gunned down the five seniors, leaving another three critically injured and fled along with six arms. The unfortunate victims killed on the spot are:
1. Capt. Kapangmi ,WTR
2. Sgt. Maj. Ashikho, SPMTH
3. Sgt. Maj. Babylon, Khurmi
4. Sgt. Abner, WTR
5. Corpl. Vihokhe, Sumi.
The injured cadres are:
1. 2nd Lieut. Ashon Chiru, ZLR
2. 2nd Lieut. Boaz Raman, WTR
3. Corpl. Mayarshang, WTR
The deceitful murderers are:
1. Lance Corporal Lanting Kumar, Komrem Region
2. Lance Corporal Shonboy, Komrem Region
3. Lance Corporal Nzanchumo Lotha
4. Private Amang, ZLR
As against the news item that appeared in some local papers, the issue was neither shortage of food nor was there any encounter. It was purely a cold blooded slaying of the unsuspecting comrades by the traitors. Moreover, the deserters were not arrested but they
surrendered along with the arms to the security force. It obviously was a premeditated plot of the unfaithful fellows in collusion with the adversary for their own selfish end. What prompted the supposedly disoriented cadres to take such an extreme step of eliminating their own brothers in cold blood and leave their base could not be ascertained. Whatsoever their justification may be, they cannot escape the wrath of the nation for the most heinous crime they had committed. Under any circumstances, even at the cost of one’s life, one has to stand firm to safeguard the integrity and security of the nation. This is the very essence of a true patriot. Contrarily, the unscrupulous fellows had not only violated the oath of allegiance sworn on the day of passing out, they had committed a gruesome act on their own volition upon their own brothers and against the nation which deserves condemnation in the strongest term.
Naga Army pays homage to the comrades who had suffered till death at the altar of Naga Nation. We express deep regret for our inability to bring home their bodies under the unfavorable condition. We share the pain and sorrow being endured by the families of the deceased. May Almighty God give strength and comfort to all concerned.

Col. Levi Zimik PRO/IPR
GHQ, Naga Army
Nagaland plays master on Manipur's territory Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 05, 2009: Contrary to several clarifications made by the State Chief Minister O Ibobi, including on the floor of the Assembly,that there has been no encroachment of land by neighboring Nagaland, the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) has set up a post at Jessami in Ukhrul district, and has allegedly committed several atrocities against the villagers of Jessami.

This has been learnt during an inquiry tour conducted by members of the Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM), Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), Tangkhul Youth Council and a team of media persons two days back.

The borders of Manipur and Nagaland are divided by the Chalou/Tezu river on which is built the Akash bridge along the National Highway 150.The Manipur government had set up a police check post on the Jessami side of the bridge in 1970.However, the police post was said to be destroyed by the Phuzuri tribe of Melori subdivision of Nagaland�s Phek district bordering Jessami in Manipur.

The village chairperson of Jessami, Kamiwejoi informed the team that three rest houses of Nagaland had been constructed on the Jessami side during the last three months.

The village head also showed the team members the agricultural land encroached by Nagaland�s Melori villagers.

He also showed two rest houses amidst the thick forest area filled with teak trees.

The team also encountered the village chief of Melori village and another old man from the village at one of the rest houses.

It has been learnt from Jessami villagers that the NAP post on top of Tevumo hill in Jessami was set up about six months back.

The NAP personnel were also said to be staying together with BSF and CRPF personnel who are detailed for duties in Nagaland.

The villagers revealed that the NAP personnel had helped Nagaland�s villagers in times of dispute between villagers of Nagalnd and villagers of Manipur.

Even the SP of Phek district of Nagaland had also interfered in such matters and took side with the Nagaland villagers.

The Jessami villagers lamented that no help ever came from the Manipur police in such crisis.

Jessami is located 118 kilometres north of Ukhrul district headquarters.

The land which Nagaland has encroached on is located 12 kilometres north of Jessami village.

There are around 15 Manipur police personnel said to be posted at the Jessami police station.

However, not more than five personnel were present at the post when the joint team including this reporter visited the post.

The two WLL sets of the Jessami police were kept at the nearby BSF camp.

The police personnel could not do anything when their Nagaland counterparts incursed into Manipur's territory.The villagers lamented that the state police personnel posted at Jessami were incapable of protecting the villagers or saying anything against the atrocities committed against the Jessami villagers by the NAP personnel.

The villagers earnestly appealed to the authority concerned to strengthen the police force at Jessami and upgrade the SDC to SDO.

Evidently, there had been many instances of hostility between Manipur and Nagaland villagers during the last 27 years.

The villagers demanded the authority to cause the withdrawal of the NAP post which has been set up about five or six months back.

The villagers disappointingly asked whether there were no state security personnel to protect the border of Manipur.

They urged the government to immediately post adequate security personnel to secure and guard the state's border.

They expressed grief that no help has been coming from the government in the event of any dispute between Nagaland and Manipur.

They also pointed out that even the DC concerned of Nagaland had come to the aid of his state's villagers during such crisis.

Expressing how long the state borders could be guarded or kept watch by the villagers alone, they also conveyed their anguish and desperation that they are toothless in front of the NAP personnel.
Peace and development beckons Nagas SI JAMIR Morung Express
•-Nagaland with its impressive cohesive entity within its tribal diversity is supported by an agro based economy. All farmers dream of a bumper harvest which will see them off with two square meals a day and give them some hard cash to meet their basic needs. Some succeed while for the rest the dream remains a distant reality.
A remarkable feature of the economy is that there are no absentee landlords and there is no class of landless peasants. The village society is so organised that basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter finds guarantee to all members. The population as a whole remain gainfully employed in productive activities and there is no surplus labour. During the Kheti season, it becomes difficult to get hired labour and if at all they are available, very high wages have to be paid. There is, however, a system of providing community labour by forming voluntary groups of men and women of compatible age group. Every member enjoys the benefits of community’s labour by turn.
In rural and interiors of Nagaland, the obstacles to economic development generally arise out of the prevailing physical, social and economic conditions. The physical condition relate to the hilly terrain, dense forests and difficult communications. The social obstacles are the people’s initial apathy to any kind of innovation, lack of education and primitive methods of production. The economic difficulties are the dearth of capital, absence of organized trade centers, and similar other factors. To these we may also add the political condition arising out of the subversive activities of the undergrounds. A planned effort in nevertheless being made to circumvent these bottlenecks and develop all such areas. The shadow of the blazing guns acts as a caution to all minds interested in walking into such underdeveloped areas with modern techniques of development.
In the field of education Nagaland is progressing yet the pace needs to be doubled. Even though there are educated people ,preference is for white-collar employment. They is reluctance in modern generation to adopt agriculture as an occupation. Hence, government has to undertake lot of brain storming sessions and implement schemes to place agro based farming on modern lines. Alternate avenues of self employment needs to be worked out also on the sidelines for both sexes. A plethora of opportunities for the talented Nagas awaits in the national main land and country looks fwd to people from Nagaland moving out to avail the opportunities. Awareness needs to be generated for the same by all social , church and NGO organizations apart from Government agencies.
There were hardly any motorable roads in the Naga hills (except the highway from Dimapur to Moreh in Manipur) till Independence. Now, the total road length is about 9,315 km with most of the existing roads in deplorable condition. Dimapur is the only place where rail and air services are available though paper plans suggest lot of further avenues. In road-building, the efforts of the state government have been adequately supplemented by the border roads task force yet lot remains undone. There has been a substantial expansion of medical and public health facilities. To overcome the shortage of doctors, the State Government has been granting liberal stipends to students studying medicine. Functional water supply schemes are visible today for which all concerned agencies deserves apprecition.
Forests being an important source of revenue, measures have been initiated to develop them. The percentage of forest area to the total land area is about 33%. The forest department has established wild life sanctuaries, zoological park, botanical garden, forest training schools and a seasoning and treatment plant. Yet the awareness level needs to be increased to save the green cover of the state. Electricity has now started reaching the interiors from where darkness has been displaced. Extensive and intensive mineral survey and investigation show an encouraging picture of the mineral potential of the state which promises a secure future and growth under a peaceful atmosphere.
Overall, the state of Nagaland seems to be coming out of the dark shadows of long drawn insurgency and now ready to contribute towards national growth. The pace of development will certainly enhance if we can shed out petty selfish motives and stand together united for once. So let us make a resolution to join hands and display the true Naga spirit to the world at large and prove the land of the Nagas as the best in times to come.

SI JAMIR( FINAL YEAR), Dept of Economics
JNU campus, New Delhi

Intrusion at Jessami : State Govt rolls up sleeves The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 06 2009: Following the reports of how Nagaland Government has intruded into the State's territory at Jessami and had constructed an outpost of the Nagaland Armed Police, the State Government has taken up the matter with their Nagaland counterpart.

An official statement issued by the State Government today said that the police outpost and other structures were constructed by the BSF and with the withdrawal of the BSF, the structures were taken over by the Nagaland Armed Police.

Asserting that the Government of Manipur stands fully committed to protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur, the statement said that the matter has been taken up with the Government of Nagaland.

The matter will be followed up actively to ensure the early and amicable resolution of the issue, assured the State Government.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul had also visited the spot in March and June this year.

Earlier in the evening, Chief Minister O Ibobi convened a meeting to discuss the report about the incursion of Nagaland into Manipur's territory.

The Council of Ministers, Government officials including the Chief Secretary and others attended the meeting.

Later briefing newsmen after the meeting, SPF spokesman and IFCD Minister N Biren said that the State Government has taken a serious note of the reports published in a number of newspapers today.

There is no earlier report that the Nagaland Government had encroached upon the territory of Manipur at Jessami, claimed the spokesman.

To get a first hand account of the situation, an official team, comprising the DC of Ukhrul, the SDO and SDC concerned will be despatched to Jessami, said Biren.

The Government will take up due action according to the fact finding report submitted by the official team, he added. Though there is no official report that Nagaland Government has intruded into the territory of Manipur, the State Government has taken the matter seriously, said Biren and added that necessary action would be taken up along with the Government of Nagaland.

If the situation warrants, the matter will also be highlighted to the Centre, he added.

On the other hand, Commissioner in charge of Home, Government of Manipur, V Vumlumang, on being contacted said that act of intrusion into the territory of Manipur cannot be accepted.
Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with the issue, the Commissioner (Home) informed that the DGP has been asked to submit a detailed report in this regard.

Based on the report, necessary measures would be taken up, he said.

The Commissioner also pointed out that BSF used to be posted at the camp, where the post of the Nagaland Armed Post has been reportedly set up, until the withdrawal of the force. The BSF was withdrawn from Manipur to be engaged against the Naxalites.

Other than setting up the police outpost and a couple of rest houses, the people of Jessami had alleged that the Nagaland Armed Police use to assault them and refuse to let them take back the agricultural produce from across the border.
Importance of national identity in the flow of human history Kaka D. Iralu Morung Express
To begin with, what is history? Many people, including scholars think history is something about the past. They are right in a sense because history has to do with past events. But personally, I see history as an ongoing continuity- a continuity in which what was done in the past effects our present: and what we do in the present will always effects our future. I therefore would insist that history is not a static past but a vibrant and pulsating living organism that is interconnected to the past, the present and the future. In the final analysis, every one of us in our own time, carries both the past, the present and the future on our shoulders in the flow of human history. Now for a nation to be a vibrant nation, its citizens must know their own historical roots.
In this context, I would like to compare present Naga history to that of a Christmas tree which is not a real tree. Now a real tree is a living organism which is rooted to the soil where it gets its nutrients for its growth and wellbeing. On the contrary a Christmas tree is not a real tree but the branch of a tree with no roots. It may be beautifully decorated with electrified twinkling stars, smiling Santa clauses and many beautiful Christmas cards and so on. But however beautiful it may look, a Christmas tree is far from a real tree. This is because a Christmas tree has no roots. And because it has no roots, it cannot withstand the rain, sunshine or wind. It will simply wither away to the ravages of time and its elements.
Naga history today looks like a dying Christmas tree. It is a beautiful Christmas tree decorated with all the modern trappings, but it is a dying tree because it has no roots. (Here I will not be too judgemental with my own generation or that of the younger generations because in many cases, our parents failed to tell us our own history. On the other hand, after India's invasion of our country in 1954, we were not allowed to write or read our own history. We were made to learn Indian history which is not our history. The difference is as far as: In as much as Indian history is not European history so also Indian history is not Naga history. For example, Naga ancestors never crossed the Khyber Pass to settle down in Nagaland).
Coming back to the topic of how to establish our history like a living tree, we can only do that by knowing our historical roots and building our national identity on those foundations.
That brings us to the question of our roots- the question of who we are. Now that question can find an answer only in reference to our past. And so we must begin by asking the question: “Who were our ancestors?” “To what race did they belong?” How long had they been in our present lands before we- the present generation- came into the picture?” In order to understand these questions, we will have to undertake a journey into our past. (After all Nagas did not fall down to earth from outer space on 14th August 1947!) In these journey, we will have to go into theology, biology and anthropology because the foundation of history is based on these disciplines of knowledge.
I will therefore begin this investigative journey from theology which in my opinion is the foundation of all other disciplines of knowledge. Here I am guided by a resounding voice that has echoed and re-echoed down through the corridors of human history. The words of that voice (Jesus) are: “I am the way the truth and the life” In another instance, that same voice said” “I am the Alpha and the Omega- the beginning and the end."
In Acts 17:26, the Bible says: " And He (God) made from one (Adam) every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation”. Now that is where Naga history and all other histories of every nation on earth began. However, after the universal flood that destroyed the whole human race because of sin, human history again continued through the three sons of Noah- Shem , Ham and Japheth.(Gen.10: 1& 32). Nagas and all other Mongolians(Mongoloids) like the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans etc are descendants of Noah's eldest son-Shem. From Mesopotamia (Present Iraq), our Mongolian ancestors migrated through the Middle East across Central Asia, South East Asia and on to Mongolia and finally made Asia "...the boundary of our habitation". As for the Nagas, legend has it that Nagas, Kachins and Karens were brothers and that these three brothers and and their descendants went on to Tibet and China and finally settled down in Burma and Nagaland. While our younger brothers- the Kachins and the Karens settled down in the then un-occupied mountains of present Burma, we Nagas crossed the Chindwin river and made Nagaland our country and our land. To cut a long story short, these migrations from Mongolia to Tibet to china and on to the present settlements occured from BC 2617 to 759 BC.Our ancestor's entry points to our present lands were not through the Khyber Pass, as the Indian ancestors did, but through the Burmese corridor and the Himalayan regions.
As for Nagas, we learned how to read and write only around 1874, when the American missionaries taught us the art of reading and writing. However, a lot of our history in the form of written records are in the hands of the Meiteis who had learned the art of writing even as early as the sixth century. In their Royal chronicles, many mentions are made of the many wars that our forefathers fought with them. These chronicles cover events from the 6th century to the 10th centuries. As for our written history from the 13th to the end of the 19th century, it is in the Royal chronicles of the Ahom Kings with whom our forefathers fought intermitent wars for over seven hundred years.In these fights not one single Naga village was surrendered to the Ahom kings.
Besides these records from our neighbours, independent records like those of Claudius Ptolemy (AD 150), Hiuen Tsang (AD645) and others, clearly mentions that our forefathers were already in our present lands, when Jesus was preaching the gospel of salvation way back in Palestine around AD 40.
We Nagas are therefore not a people without historical roots. We are not a nation that Britain, India and Burma can wish off into thin air as a none entity. The footprints of our forefathers are clearly imprinted in the soil of Asia as our forefathers along with the rest of the Mongolian nations migrated across the Middle East and settled in the present Asian continent. Here, only some un-educated Indian and Burmese politicians can insist that we are Dravido-Aryan Indians and Ava Burmans and that our lands belong to Burma and India. In the present context of the so called "Economic Package"(Or rather a political ultimatum wrapped as an economic package), we Nagas are not going to be defined by an Indian economist as to "Who we are" or "Who we should be". We Nagas know who we are and who we are not. This means that when we say we are Nagas we also mean that we are not Dravido Aryans nor Negroids nor Caucasians. We Nagas know that these other races are also genuine and real decendants of Noah's two other sons- Ham and Japhet. We also have no arguments with them because they too have their own valid histories and lands. As for us Nagas, we are simply asserting that we are who we are and our lands belong to us. There is no identity crisis here as far as Nagas are concerned. Far from it, our stuggle is simply an affimation of our national and geographical identity based on concrete biological anthropological and historical facts.
Now, dare this generation choose to compromise on these scientific facts and condemn ourselves to nobodies in the pages of history? Dare we commit such an act of treason when our ancestors have defended our territories against the Manipur, Kachar and Tripuri kingdoms from the 6th to 13th centuries? Dare we betray our history when our forefathers had intermittently fought against the mighty Ahom kingdom from the 13th to the 19th centuries and the British imperial might from the 19th to the 20th centuries (1832-1947)? Dare we indeed trade the blood and tears of our present kith and kin as they fought and even laid down their lives in fighting against modern India and Burma from 1947 to the present? Dare we commit such acts of treachery when they had all laid down their lives so that we can have a country we can call our own? God forbid.
In conclussion, may the words of one of our poetess (Easterine Iralu) echo across the mountains and valleys of Nagaland as once again war clouds seems to be gathering across the length and breath our our blood begotten lands. Easterine wrote: " We shall be who we are, for to be otherwise would make liars of us all".
To be anything else then what God created us to be, would be to condemn ourselves to self alienation and live the rest of our lives in that self alienated existential tension. After all, it is a fact of life that if we lie, we have have to constantly live under the tension of that lie.
(Excerpts of a lecture presented at Alder college Kohima on 24.9. 2009)
Ibobi seeks Ukhrul report OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph



Ibobi Singh
Imphal, Oct. 6: The Okram Ibobi Singh government will seek a detailed report from the Ukhrul district administration over complaints by the villagers of Jessami about the opening of a Nagaland police outpost on Manipur land.
The villagers claimed that Nagaland has encroached upon Manipur land, opening an outpost of the Nagaland Armed Police and constructing a guesthouse on this side of the border.
The villagers, led by council chairman Kanmi Wezah, told a team from Information Centre for Hill Areas of Manipur (Icham), an NGO, on Saturday that the Nagaland government opened an outpost of the 5 Nagaland Armed Police on Tevunolu Hill of Ukhrul along the Manipur-Nagaland border. It also constructed a guesthouse nearly six months ago.
A team from the NGO, led by its president N. Rajendro, visited the border area after the Rafei Students Union and Tangkhul Youth Council of Ukhrul district invited the organisation to pay a visit and take a first-hand account of the encroachment.
The villagers alleged that though the matter was brought to the notice of the Ukhrul district administration several months ago, the state government turned a blind eye to the encroachment.
Icham is an Imphal-based organisation gathering information about various issues and problems of people living in the hills and bringing them to the notice of the state government.
Its members include the leaders of various tribal communities.
“Icham will pressure the state government to resolve the border dispute,” said Rajendro, after his return to Imphal yesterday.
Rajendro said if the border dispute was not resolved amicably and the government did not reclaim the encroached land, bloodshed between the villagers on both side of the border was imminent.
The villagers informed the team that people from the neighbouring Phek district of Nagaland had even started cultivation on Manipur’s land after the police outpost was opened.
“We are taking the reports very seriously. But we will verify the facts and find out the actual position before taking any step,” N. Biren Singh, spokesperson for the Okram Ibobi Singh government and irrigation and flood control minister said today.
The government will first seek a detailed report on the matter from government officials like the sub-divisional officer or collector, he added. “If the reports are true, the government will take appropriate steps and take up the matter with the Nagaland government,” he added.
Jessami is located nearly 230km from Imphal. It is nearly 14km from the border and has a population of nearly 3,000.
The Manipur-Nagaland border is divided by the Tizu river. Akash bridge spans the two banks. Half of the bridge belongs to Manipur while the other half belongs to Nagaland, the villagers said.