[Previous entry: "Naga couple identify drunk men, cops who harassed them in Delhi IANS"] [Next entry: "Physical integration of Nagas not possible:Pillai Hueiyen News Service Newmai News Network"]
10/15/2009: "Centre starts fresh consultation with Naga groups STAFF WRITER PTI"
Centre starts fresh consultation with Naga groups STAFF WRITER PTI
New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) To give a fresh impetus to the peace process in Nagaland, the Centre has started consultation with Naga insurgent groups and taking views from them and other stake holders on the proposed special package being prepared by it.
A high-level Central delegation, led by Home Secretary G K Pillai, is currently on a two-day visit to Nagaland and discussing various issues with all concerned for bringing a permanent solution to the six-decade-old insurgency problem.
Union Home Ministry officials said the Centre was trying to bring all underground and tribal groups of Nagaland under a single roof and hammer out a new political and economic solution acceptable to all.
The package, which is likely to be ready and placed before the Naga groups by November, includes financial largesses, greater devolution of powers, special steps for the protection of Naga culture and heritage besides others
Indian govt readies proposal on political conflicts in Nagaland Bikash Singh, ET Bureau
GUWAHATI: The government of India is readying a comprehensive proposal for solving the decades old political conflicts in Nagaland. Already, the militant outfit NSCN-IM has submitted a charter of demand.
In order to garner the opinion of the civil society groups, student bodies and church leaders, union home secretary G K Pillai held a meeting in the state. Mr Pillai is on a two-day visit to the state. Mr Pillai said that the Centre is contemplating a broadbased "political package" for Nagas.
Suggestions and views received during the interaction will be incorporated in the package to be submitted to Cabinet Committee on Security for approval and then offered to Naga groups for further negotiations.
According to him, the proposed package will be not like giving some funds. It must be a comprehensive and broadbased proposal. The UPA government has started making attempts for early completion of Centre and the NSCN (IM) peace parleys.
During the interaction, Mr Pillai received suggestions from some quarters that some kind of financial help can be rendered by the government to Myanmar, so that the Myanmar government can build social infrastructure for Naga people living there.
Mr Pillai also participated in a review meeting with the State Level Strategy Group (SLSG). He also had discussions with state chief minister Neiphiu Rio and reviewed the implementation of the ceasefire ground rules.
Massive exercise planned for ‘mirror’ and ‘gateway’ of Nagaland Our Correspondent Morung Express
Kohima | October 13 : Home Commissioner Mhathung Kithan, IAS, has said that in view of the ensuing tourist season and various state-level functions including the Hornbill Festival and the Christmas season, the state government feels the need to undertake massive exercise to repair roads and effect general cleanliness of the state capital, Kohima, and Dimapur – the gateway of Nagaland.
Home Commissioner directs on mass social work
In order to optimise the benefits of this effort ‘in the interest of public’, all the government departments, local bodies (KMC)/ Municipal wards and the general public have been requested to “sincerely participate” in the planned social work. A notification received here has directed all government departments to send their heavy and medium vehicles “for duty, duly filled up with POL and report for DC Kohima” before 1:00pm on October 15. All the KMC ward councillors shall be responsible for mobilising the social work in their respective wards, it was added.
The KMC will mobilise migrant daily wage earners to be attached to the department trucks requisitioned for the removal of debris collected in the aftermath of the social work. Heads of department and administrative heads are to ensure that the government employees participate in the social work by taking a headcount in their respective departments first, and then assigning work to them.
The medical department will also do its part by physically inspecting all hotels, restaurants, eating joints, etc., and ensure hygienic conditions of the premises. Certification of hygiene of these premises from offices without physical inspection is to be totally discouraged, the notification cautioned. The power department is to also immediately repair, maintain and ensure that the high mast lightings installed at different locations of the capital city are in working order.
WORK ALLOCATION DEPARTMENT WISE
• National Highway-61 from IG Stadium to High School Police Junction and from Billy Graham Road via Don Bosco School to Tinpati Police Point-Women department- SCERT, Higher Education, Youth Resources & Sports departments
• Assembly complex to High School Junction – Science & Technology, IT, RD, NL Assembly and Secretariat staff
• High School Junction to Tinpati Police Point – Tourism, Art & Culture, Social Welfare, DUDA departments
• Tinpati to Kezieke – Power and School Education departments
• Keziekie to Razhu Point – Mechanical & Land Resources departments
• Razhu Point via Old NST to Old Assembly Point – Horticulture and Transport departments
• Razhu Point to Oking Hospital via Assam Rifles – Roads & Bridges department
• TCP Gate to Para Medical – Cooperation, Geology & Mining and Planning departments
• Oking Hospital to Mezhur Higher Secondary School – Fire, Irrigation & FC, IPR departments
• Mezhur Higher Secondary School to Red Cross Building – Civil Supplies, Soil and Urban Development departments
• Red Cross Building to South Police Station to Lerie – Police department (PHQ), Veterinary, Agriculture and Sericulture departments
• SP Police point to Minister’s Hill Higher Secondary School – Forest, Labour & Employments, PHE departments
• BSNL office junction to Old Minister’s Hill to New Minster Hills – Prisons, Home Guards, Housing, Law & Justice departments
• NSF Martyr’s Park via Industries office – Bethel Hospital to SP Point – Fisheries, CAWD and Industries departments
Pillai meets civil rights groups, church leaders in Nagaland
Zee News
Kohima: Opinion of civil society groups, church leaders and student bodies in Nagaland has been sought on the vexed Naga political conflict before finalising counter proposals against the NSCN-IM's charter of demands submitted to the Centre a few years ago.
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, who today concluded a two-day visit to the state, clarified that the counter proposals would be in a form of a comprehensive political package to the Nagas, but not only for the state.
It would be first placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval and then offered to Naga groups for further negotiations, he told reporters here.
Pillai, who also held discussions with senior police and army officials here on the law-and-order situation, said the Centre was happy that the level of killings and bloodshed in the state had reduced drastically.
But there were still instances of extortion and abductions for ransom which was a cause of concern and the state government should firmly deal with it, he said.
Related Stories
Centre says considering political package for Naga issue
Extortion scared away potential investors from the state, Pillai said. "Why will a businessman come to Dimapur when he has to pay Rs 400 for a bag of cement instead of Guwahati where he can purchase it for in Rs 250?"
He pointed out that because of rampant extortion, many businessmen from Manipur were now investing in Guwahati, particularly in real estate.
Bureau Report
Insurgent bid to sway voters NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph
Namsai (Lohit), Oct. 13: A Myanmar insurgent outfit is alleged to have tried to influence voters in two Arunachal districts where Naga rebels have long been accused of attempting to dictate ballot choices.
Cadres of the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) were said to have crossed over into Tirap and Changlang, along the Myanmar border, and asked people to vote for particular candidates.
During today’s high-security voting, however, sources said the cadres couldn’t influence or intimidate the voters in the two districts, home to 12 Assembly seats.
The KIA is said to have close ties with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) faction, which has a strong presence in the area. The sources said the NSCN (K) chief S.S. Khaplang had roots in the Hemi Naga group of Myanmar.
Changlang police chief K. Aya acknowledged that the Naga rebels influenced voters, but not the KIA. “We have Naga and Manipuri (rebel) groups who perhaps have tie-ups with the KIA. Fortunately, the elections have passed off peacefully,” he said.
Ahead of the last polls, though, around 100 KIA cadres were said to have descended on Changlang villages and influenced the voters.
The Myanmar rebels are known to have local connections, the sources said. One KIA leader is said to be an Assamese married to a Kachin woman who is related to the influential Singphos in Changlang.
Kachins control huge swathes of opium-growing land and, with the ruling Myanmar military junta having little control on large parts of the Kachin and Shan states, the KIA has had a free run. Some of the opium is smuggled into Arunachal and Nagaland. Insurgent groups from all of Northeast are known to seek shelter in the Kachin rebel camps.
Today’s polling, though, was largely smooth, officials said. “There were no reports of disturbances from sensitive polling stations,” said an official in Changlang.
But it wasn’t peaceful until yesterday. Supporters of Newlai Tingkhatra, the Congress candidate from Tirap’s Kanubari seat, were “summoned” by activists of the NSCN’s Isak-Muivah (IM) faction.
“They had misbehaved with our boys so we called them over and they apologised. They have already left and it is wrong to call it abduction,” a senior NSCN (IM) leader said over phone from Dimapur. The NSCN (IM) claims Tirap and Changlang to be part of its concept of Nagalim, which includes contiguous Naga-inhabited areas in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal and even parts of Myanmar.
Kumar arrives; calls for stable peace morungexpress
Governor-designate Nikhil Kumar (3rd right) and his wife seen here with state ministers, MLAs and government officials on his arrival at Dimapur Airport, Wednesday.
Dimapur | October 14 : Governor-designate of Nagaland Nikhil Kumar today assured that he will spare no efforts to ensure stable peace in Nagaland and to see that the aspirations of the people are fulfilled. Addressing a rousing reception here on his arrival Wednesday afternoon at Dimapur Airport, the governor-designate said “stable peace in Nagaland, development of Nagaland and fulfillment of aspirations of the people of Nagaland, irrespective of community, tribe or religion they belong to,” would be his priority.
Noting the presence of representatives from various communities, Kumar also said his aim would be to strengthen an important aspect of Nagaland — “unity in diversity.” The designate said he was deeply touched by the warm reception accorded to both he and his wife and that he was looking forward to a “very rewarding stay in Nagaland.”
Commenting on the natural beauty of the state, Kumar said that as he flew over the state, the beauty of Nagaland impressed him. “We would like to make it more beautiful,” he said, which drew a round of applause from the gathering.
Upon his arrival, Kumar was greeted by state ministers and legislators including Home Minister Imkong L Imchen, Power Minister Doshehe Sema, Planning Minister TR Zeliang, Advisor of Cooperation Azheto Zhimomi, government officials and representatives of various tribal hohos and civil society.
Earlier, Naga Council Dimapur president Savi Liegise gave a brief welcome address on behalf of the civil society and public. Savi in his address said Nagaland with different communities co-existing peacefully was a perfect example of “unity in diversity.” He also wished the governor and his wife a comfortable and fruitful stay in Nagaland.
Later after reaching Kohima the state government accorded a warm welcome to the governor-designate in the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan here this evening. Nikhil Kumar, a retired Delhi Police Commissioner, will be sworn in as the new Governor of Nagaland, replacing Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat, who took additional charge of Nagaland only this year after Sankaranarayanan remitted office.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new governor will take place at Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. Later in the evening, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his wife, Kaisa Rio, will be hosting a dinner at 7 p.m. in the State Banquet Hall to welcome the new governor.
China slams India 'border infringement'
Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:49:53 GMT
Font size :
Buddhist monks wash eating utensils at a monastery in Tawang, in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh near the border with China.
China has strongly condemned a recent visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to disputed Arunachal Pradesh on the Nagaland border near China — a region of contention since 1962.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu accused Singh of ignoring Beijing's concerns by visiting the disputed northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
"China has expressed its strong dissatisfaction of the prime minister's visit to the disputed area, which is in disregard of China's grave concerns", the statement said.
"We urge the Indian side to take China's solemn concerns seriously in the hope of maintaining calm over the disputed area with a view to ensuring the sound development of China-India relations."
The condemnation came after Singh and Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Arunachal Pradesh ten days ago to campaign for their elections.
The Chinese army and New Delhi forces fought a brief, but bloody war over their Himalayan border in 1962.
Over much of the last 40 years, China has unofficially claimed Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory. Beijing also lays claim to a slice of Indian-run Kashmir.
Kashmir has been the subject of a bitter territorial dispute between India and Pakistan since they secured independence from Britain in 1947.
JR/HGL/SC/AKM
Creighton conference highlighting struggles for sovereignty
Written by Cindy Workman Thursday, 15 October 2009 13:49
Creighton University is hosting a two-day international conference titled Nations Within Nations: Living Dialogues on Governance and Cultures, Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 3.
The event is free to the public and will be held in room 3028 of the Mike and Josie Harper Center located at 620 N. 20th St., Omaha, Neb.
Creighton University's Native American Studies Program will host this conference which places Native American struggles for sovereignty in the wider context of similar global efforts. Speakers include Adae Deer from the Menominee tribe of Wisconsin and will include indigenous people from the Kurdish area of Iraq, Nagaland in India, the Karin region of Myanmar, a variety of areas in the United States, and the Basque region of Spain.
For more information contact Fr. Ray Bucko at 280-3587 or email buc...@creighton.edu.
A full conference schedule and list of participants can be found at http://puffin.creighton.edu/bucko/projects/nations.html
