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11/14/2009: "UNC submits memo to PM, objects Pillai's statement The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network"



UNC submits memo to PM, objects Pillai's statement The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal: The United Nagaland Council (UNC) in its memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday while urging the latter for the expedition of the 'Indo-Naga peace talk' has also strongly objected to the recent statement of Union Home Secretary GK Pillai in Nagaland where the latter had stated that physical integration of Naga inhabited areas would not be possible under the present circumstances in the North East.

In the missive to the Prime Minister, the UNC said that the Naga civil societies communicate the desire of the Naga people of Manipur on the impending Indo-Naga "political peace talk to make our unwavering political position for correct assessment towards finding negotiated settlement" .

The United Naga Council then expressed its support and upholding the "three point principles" adopted by the Government of India and the Naga people representatives some years back.

The three-point principles are that the talks 'will be held at the highest level in unconditional term and in the venue of the talks should be in third country.

Meanwhile, the UNC memorandum to the Prime Minister said that the recent Union Home Secretary's statement on Naga integration is a divisive mechanism and a sinister attempt of the Government of India to disturb the ongoing peace talks in dealing the sensitive Indo-Naga political problem.

"Expressing disagreement on the unethical and unilateral utterance, the Naga people in Manipur under any circumstances cannot agree to his proposal which contradicts the above historical agreed principles," mentioned the Naga body missive to the Prime Minister.

The UNC then claimed that the integration of 'contiguous Naga areas' is inherent and intrinsic feature to the political, socio-cultural and economical determination of the Naga people.

"It is a solidarity bond of common-hood and oneness," added the UNC missive, "The Naga people have already given the mandate to the Nagas' representatives to pursue the dialogue for negotiated settlement by upholding the political and historical rights of the Nagas during the 'consultative meeting' held in 2002.This mandate still stands valid.

Therefore, Your Excellency is requested to take necessary steps for maintaining respect to the agreed principles of the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talk and expedite the process for an early negotiated settlement," pleaded the UNC memorandum.
‘Nagas have lost the essence of peace’ DIPR
Mokokchung, November 13 (DIPR): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has been actively involved in the reconciliation and peace process in Nagaland and in this regard, the NBCC Peace Caravan Committee comprising of 20 members visited Mokokchung for a programme at Imlong Place on November 13.
President of Ao Senden, Lendinokdang, while exhorting the gathering, said that Nagas have lost the essence of peace during the pursuit for territorial supremacy. He also said that various organisations are working towards the peace process and it is the responsibility of every Naga to make sacrifices to this cause. He also held that permanent peace in Nagaland would prevail only through an amicable solution to the Naga political problem.
NBCC Peace Caravan members, S Mono and Rev. Dr. Visor H Zeliang, also delivered short speeches and shared on their experiences and the responses from various sections of the society during their tour to various places in Nagaland. They also sounded clear and loud the objective of the Peace Caravan, which is to carry the message of peace and reconciliation through spiritual awakening and by mending the broken relationship, so that the slogan ‘Nagaland for Christ’ becomes a reality for the Nagas.
Earlier, ABAM president Mar Pongen chaired the programme while invocation was pronounced by Rev. Luin and a special number ‘He Touched Me’ was presented by CTC students. The programme was attended by Ao Senden and Watsü Mungdang representatives, church leaders and members from all the churches in Mokokchung town.

'Dalai Lama's visit vindicates India's stand on Arunachal' Nagaland page

Itanagar, November 13: The Dalai Lama's successful visit to Arunachal Pradesh and his statement that the state was a part and parcel of India and not a disputed territory has vindicated India's stand on the issue, Congress Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy said today.
"The statement of the Dalai Lama that Arunachal including Tawang is part and parcel of India vindicates our position," Sanjoy, who represents Arunachal (West) which includes Tawang, told a press conference here.
Asked about Centre's decision to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Tawang, home to a 300-year-old Buddhist monastery and the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, ignoring strong opposition from China, Sanjoy said "There is a perceptible change in the Centre's attitude".
"Prime minister Manmohan Singh flew into Arunachal within a week of his visit to China last year and announced a huge Rs 24,000 crore package and visited the state again this year and allowed the Dalai Lama to visit Tawang despite objections from China."
Sanjoy said he did not agree with the recent views expressed by the External Affairs ministry that finding a solution to the border dispute between China and India was a complex one.
"I had told foreign secretary Nirupama Rao during the meeting of the Standing Committee not to be confused by statements from China," Sanjoy said.
"I don't know about the border in other states, but in Arunachal it is well defined," he said demanding that the state government be be taken into confidence in negotiations for resolving border disputes.
Stating that the Centre was slow in building infrastructure along the Sino-India border in Arunachal Pradesh, he said "while the Chinese have constructed highways on their side of border, we don't even have a mule track."
Sanjoy, who is leaving for Rome to attend the 2-day 'World Parliament Convention' from November 18 on the status of Tibet to be inaugurated by the Dalai Lama, regretted that people in the country were unaware about his state.
"We are of Mongoloid stock. Whenever we go to big cities we are taken for Japanese, Nepalese or Chinese. While Arunachalee students can tell the locations of all Indian cities and towns on a map, their counterparts in the mainland seldom know where Arunachal is.
"If this is allowed to continue it is not healthy," he said suggesting that 5 to 10 per cent space in the CBSC syllabus should be devoted to the culture, political status and natural beauty of north eastern states. (PTI)

Don’t want you here, Nagaland tells Buta Singh Akhilesh Suman | The Pioneer
New Delhi Nagaland has given a jolt to Buta Singh by refusing to welcome the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) team. The State Government has said the visit would be a futile exercise as there are no SCs in the tribal territory.

“I write this letter to let you know that Nagaland is a tribal State where all the indigenous inhabitants of the State belong to Scheduled Tribes,” State Chief Secretary Lalthara has written to the Commission.

The State Chief Secretary’s letter to Joint Secretary T Theethan of the Commission quoted the figures of the latest census (2001) to press his point.

“There is not a single Scheduled Caste population within Nagaland State,” Lalthara said in his letter. The Commission had written in July to the State Chief Secretary to make arrangements for the stay and provide logistical support for the Z security covered to Buta Singh and 12 other members of the official delegation.

“The State, therefore, has no programme or scheme relating to Scheduled Castes, nor any social security or other protective measures relating to the SC community,” the letter said.

“In view of the above situation, you may like to advise the Commission to review their proposed visit to Nagaland State, as no worthwhile or meaningful discussion or interaction could possibly be made with Nagaland Government officials and its public leaders on the issue of Scheduled Castes,” the top official of the Nagaland Government wrote in his letter.

After its first latter of July 22 to the State Government, when the Commission dispatched another letter on October 29, the Chief Secretary wrote back to it on November 4 and faxed the same on November 12 after The Pioneer published the news of ostensive merry-making exercise in the garb of Commission’s visit to the North-Eastern States.

Interestingly, Nagaland is not the only State where the Commission sent proposal of the visit to take care of the SC issue. On July 22, same communiqué was sent to Andaman and Nicobar for a State review of the SCs condition by the full Commission in Port Blair, but this too was not entertained by the State Government. Surprisingly, during his entire term which comes to end soon, Buta’s team did not care to visit States like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and AP, where there is sizeable SC population.

Cultural troupe from Myanmar to perform at Imphal, Kohima, Guwahati Source: Hueiyen News Service / Manipur Information Centre
New Delhi, November 11 2009: A cultural troupe consisting of 20 members from Myanmar is arriving Kolkata from Yangon on November 27 to perform their cultural dances at Kohima, Imphal and Guwahati in the North East India under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Embassy of Union of Myanmar, New Delhi.

The cultural troupe will reach Kohima on the next day and stay for three days in Nagaland. During their visit in Nagaland, they will perform their items in the Inaugural function of Hornbill Festival at Kohima on December 1 . The Myanmarese troupe will reach Imphal on the next day and will give their performance in Imphal on December 3 .

On the next day, they will leave for Guwahati and perform their dance items in Guwahati on December 5.The cultural troupe will leave Kolkata for Yangon on December 7 .

To work out the logistics for successful visit and performances of the cultural troupe from Myanmar to North Eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur and Assam in the first week of December, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of DoNER Jayashree Mukherjee today convened a meeting at the Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, Maulana Azad Road here.

The meeting was attended by the representatives from Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar, New Delhi. .PBharat Singh, Commissioner (Culture) from Manipur attended the meeting.

The meeting decided to appoint one Interpreter of the Myanmar Cultural Troupe as stand-by by the respective State Governments.

State Governments will appoint one Liaison Officer for receiving them with formal welcome. Performance venue and the time will be selected in advance.

Their performance should be with the performances of local cultural troupes. Elaborate arrangement will be made for drawing huge crowd by way of advance publicity and media coverage. Either the Chief Minister or the Culture Minister of the States concerned will inaugurate the performance.
The State Government in consultation with the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council will arrange transport, accommodation and security of the visiting troupe.
Govt offices in Mao areas completely neglected Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 12 2009: Government offices, healthcare and schools at Mao of Senapati district bordering with Nagaland are in woeful state and full shortest.

It seems that state authority neglected a lot.

The deteriorated conditions of these government institutions at Mao located along the NH-39 and its surrounding villages were observed when a joint of volunteers of Mao Students Union and media persons visited.

The Primary Health Centre which also housed the office of the Rural Family Welfare Centre was found manning by only one regular doctor.

As revealed by the only doctor posting there, Dr Dihe, the primary health centre at Tadubi is the oldest healthcare centre of its kind.

At least two or three doctors are to station but only one is posting.

One of the two nurses posting in the centre had also transferred.

No other nurse posted there to replace her.

The PHC is serving the villagers of Tadubi, Mao Pundung, Emoinu, Makhan, Makhan etc.

but due to posting of only one doctor, villagers are facing problems in availing medical treatment.

Citing the problems of the villagers, authorities have been pressed to send required doctor but so far no positive response could get.

Even though an Ayush doctor under the National Rural Health Mission posted, due to non-supply of the required Ayush based medicine are yet to supply.

A total of 14 staffs including grade-IV are manning the healthcare centre.

Out of these four are on contract basis but most important staff, doctor and nurses were not posting here.

Besides the shortest of staff, the building of the centre and staffs quarters are also in woeful state due to long non-repairing the same.

Earth walls of the building have been broken down.

Roofs are also started leaking which also affected to ceilings.

Even though doctors and nurses are provided by government, they will not willing to stay at the quarters owing to the deteriorating conditions, Dr Dehi observed.

The veterinary dispensary here also haven remaining defunct state for the last around five/six year even though five staffs, a doctor, a field assistant along with three attendants are posting.

Veterinary doctor posting there, Dr Saimon said that due to no proper and required minimum infrastructures, the dispensary could not served the purposed till date.

Some part of the dispensary and staff quarters have been damaged by a major landslide occurred in the area in 2007, he added.

Some land of the dispensary has been encroached by villagers and built their houses.

If the structures are not repair well, it would not be possible to start functioning the veterinary hospital.

The primary health centre constructed at Makhan Centre in 2003 is yet to inaugurate and open for public service, president of the Makhan Union, A Kansipi told to the joint team.

Villagers are facing difficulties in carrying ailing people up to the PHC at Tadubi.

On the other hand, government schools and colleges in area are running without regular headmaster or principal.

Due to no regular administrators, shortest in these institutions are not timely look after.

Vacant posts of five departments of the only government college in Senapati Hill College are not filling up since its establishment, revealed the principal in-charge Kh Laolii the media persons.

The college is only for arts stream subjects.

Lecturers of education, economics, history and political science are lying unfilled since the establishment of the college.
Agatha Sangma visits Nagaland Eastern Panorama
Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma paid her two days maiden visit to Nagaland recently.
On her arrival at Dimapur Airport, while interacting with members of the media fraternity on her arrival, she expressed her happiness and pride to be from the Northeastern states and representing them in the present Parliament.
When asked about various central funds and their implementation in the state with emphasis on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) schemes, Agatha said that the Centre has given certain guidelines to ensure strict implementation of the NREGA schemes in all the states. Putting forth the system of ombudsmen, where individuals will be selected to monitor the scheme, she said that NREGA is implemented at the state level and if they are doing a proper job at the state level, there is lot of scope to uplift the economic status of the rural people. Regarding the development in the North East, she said that the North East is basically rural in nature, but has a lot of potential. Stating that the Centre is the funding agency for development in the Northeastern states, Agatha said that much of the state development is being carried out under the Department of Rural Development and the minister in charge of the department, and she further said that she would like to see development and that the funds are being implemented properly. For the upliftment of the youth of the North East states, Agatha said that there is a lot of affiliation between her and the youth of the region and she feels that she could do her best to ensure that the youth of the region move forward by the incorporation of inclusive development for the youths of the region.
Agatha Sangma during her visit to the state inaugurated the Temvu Karu Agri- Link Road funded under NREGA scheme at Medziphema Village.
Addressing the gathering, she said that it was a rare opportunity for her to witness the completion of a project and to have a first hand experience of the project. She said that Union Ministers rarely turn up in such places. Agatha appreciated the DAN government led by Neiphiu Rio and the fact that the state government is doing its best to bring such Central related schemes to the people and expressed hope that these will improve the condition of the people. Meanwhile, Medziphema Villagers submitted a memorandum to the minister urging for supply of drinking water under the NRDWP scheme in the area.
Other highlights of the programme included folk songs and dances by Garo, Kuki and Angami tribes. The Union minister was accompanied by the director of Rural Drinking Water, RK Singh; Lok Sabha MP, CM Chang; State Agriculture Minister, Chumben Murry; NCP general Secretary North East, Neiba Ndang, Azheto Zhimomi MLA, Government officials and a host of other dignitaries and public leaders of the area. She also addressed the 35th annual social of Patkai Christian College Dimapur.
She also called on the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the private residence of the Chief Minister in Dimapur.
Bridging one border, two peoples Longrangty Longchar Morung
Mokokchung | November 10 : It is a general view that the border areas of Assam-Nagaland is a conflict zone that witnesses border conflicts from time to time between the Assamese and the Naga villagers. Yet, to some extent, peace and trust between the two neighbors have been maintained during the last few years after the formation of Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland) in August 2005. This committee, which is purely a voluntary organization, has taken the role of an independent assessor – whenever border disputes arise – and through sharing free, undiluted and truthful information. The committee keeps the authorities updated on the ground realities and so contains situations from flaring up.
In an interaction here today, the coordinator of the BPCC (A-N), Temsu Wathi Ao, who is the architect behind the formation of the committee, said it was formed on August 19, 2005 at Saring village, Longchem under Mokokchung district. A meeting was held, attended by responsible likeminded members of the society from both the states of Assam and Nagaland. These people shared the same concern in maintaining peace in the border areas.
The journey started. The committee recognized peace as its primary concern and coordinated between the people living on either sides of the border to bring about peace and harmony. The office bearers of the BPCC (A-N) comprise of responsible Assamese and Naga leaders who work in close coordination whenever border incidents occur.
“As and when incidents occur, which have huge chances of flaring up, they are controlled at the very beginning by involving the executive members of the committee who contact their counterparts living on the other side of the border, and who in turn inform the district administration and the police about the facts of the incident,” Wathi said. The success of the BPCC (A-N) is that, people living on both sides of the border can contact each other and seek information regarding what actually happened. This leaves no room for rumor mongers who spread disinformation for vested interests.
“The main problem with regard to the border conflict is that whenever there are any incidents, there are some third forces who spread rumors among the people thereby making the problem complicated which otherwise could have been solved easily and amicably,” said Wathi. The BPCC (A-N) also work for preventing rumors and finding facts, he added.
He said that easy connectivity through the use of mobile phones greatly helps the committee in resolving issues. The committee members undertake spot verifications and pass on their information to their counterparts on the other side of the border through mobile phones.
“The use of mobile phones has greatly helped the committee since we can talk with anyone at anytime whenever situation arises,” Wathi said. His main duty is to make and receive phone calls from either the Assam or Naga BPCC (A-N) executive members or the district administration and police regarding any border conflict. He verifies fact and assesses ground situation. The information is then relayed to the concerned parties.
“Whenever a situation arises, the administration of the affected district would contact the executive members of the BPCC (A-N) and the information would be relayed to their counterparts living in the other state. Often the executive members of the BPCC (A-N) would undertake a spot verification and find out the root cause of the incident,” he said.
Most incidents are related to cattle lifting, carjacking, and extortion by anti-socials – mostly suspected NSCN cadres, it was informed. Small incidents, if left unattended, have the potential of flaring up into major issues. However, Wathi said that the committee is simply a neutral body and that it is not for any border solving. It is a group to bring about peace between the people of the two states through the spirit of love and brotherhood. Significantly, the motto of the BPCC (A-N) is “Love thy neighbor.”
The most remarkable aspect of the committee is that after its formation in 2005, it wrote letters to both the Assam and Nagaland government to stop raiding and evicting villages located in the Disturbed Area Belt. The governments were expected to inform the BPCC (A-N) about such raids, otherwise the government would be held responsible. After this directive, there are no more raids on the villages, Wathi informed.
Another unique feature of the BPCC (A-N) is that, unlike other committees formed in the past, it was formed by affected people living in the borders and it comprises of both Assamese and Naga people equally. Presently the committee is headed by an Assamese and a Naga as the president and the vice president respectively. Such a border peace committee cannot be fruitful unless the affected people are involved and that it would be useless if such a committee exists for a few months and dies out. Wathi said that the committee was formed for long-term and that it is there in both the good and the bad times.
The BPCC (A-N) has also its own share of problems. Wathi informed that the executive members whenever they have to go for spot verifications have to meet all other expenses – from their own pockets. He said that the governments should allot some funds to the BPCC (A-N) so the members can carry out their works more effectively. He said that ten MLAs from Mokokchung during one of the DPDB meetings in Mokokchung, promised to provide some fund to the BPCC (A-N). Besides, the committee still is not registered and the process of registration is facing problems this involves two states. But Wathi expressed hope that the group would be registered in the days to come.
Asserting that the BPCC (A-N) is going from strength to strength, Wathi disclosed that the committee is setting up sub-committees in other border areas. “We want to replicate this model right from Mon district to Nuiland (Dimapur),” he said.
Personally, Wathi said that to maintain peace in the border areas, the people of Assam and Nagaland should recognize each others’ contributions and the age-old cordial relations should be upheld through one-to-one relationship and through cultural exchanges. Besides, he said that the people of Assam and Nagaland should be content with and stick to whatever land they have and should maintain a status quo over it.
It may be mentioned here that the border areas in Mokokchung have seen a lot of tension in the recent past. And while the governments of both Assam and Nagaland make claims and counter-claims over villages and its areas, no concrete solution has been found so far. But with the involvement of the BPCC (A-N) and the subsequent sharing of information and interaction between the people of Assam and Nagaland, the people are optimistic of a lasting peace between the two neighbors. And a renewal of the age-old relationship shared by the Ahoms and the Nagas.

(Temsu Wathi Ao is the District Informatics Officer in NIC, Mokokchung. Hailing from Lirmen village located in the Assam Nagaland border, Wathi has firsthand account of the problems being faced by the people living in the border areas. Having done most of his schooling and college studies in Assam, Temsu Wathi Ao was also the ‘Coordinator for the Undivided Sibsagar District’ when he was in the All Assam Students’ Union during the year 1979-83. His stint in the AASU and also his schooling in the Assam institutions gave him the opportunity to make essential contacts with the Assamese people, which ultimately led to the formation of the BPCC)
Wear culture to preserve it: Neiphiu Rio (DIPR photo
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is seen here addressing the people at the Zunheboto Road Show inaugural programme on November 13.)

Zunheboto, (DIPR): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has pointed to the need to preserve culture, to preserve identity. He said this at the Zunheboto Road Show-Ahuna festival at the Zunheboto public ground on November 13. Rio, who was the chief guest, said ‘if we lose our identity, everything will be lost.’
On the theme of road shows, Rio said that the policy of the government in combining road shows with tribal festivals is to let people at the grass-root level know what the government is doing for their benefit. So government departments as well as self-help groups were asked to actively participate in the event. With regard to the Naga culture and festivals of Nagaland, the chief minister said that Nagaland will be known as ‘land of festivals’ and the Hornbill Festival as the ‘festival of festivals.’ He urged the people to give their best and also identify how best they want to be identified as. At least 29 government departments and 40 SHGs participated in the exhibitions. Earlier the chief minister inaugurated the 75-bedded Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital Zunheboto.

Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital inaugurated
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the upgraded 75-bedded Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital in Zunheboto on November 13. In a short programme, Rio dedicated the hospital to the people of the district. According to the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Viheshe, the hospital was earlier 50-bedded and known as District Hospital of Zunheboto. Its nomenclature was changed to Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital Zunheboto in 1992. It might also be mentioned that Hezukhu was one of the pioneers of Zunheboto district and the father of Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi.
ONGC reaps double bonanza in Assam Bikash Singh, ET Bureau
GUWAHATI: ONGC, the oil & gas PSU major, has found uranium in Borholla and struck oil in Kasomarigaon, both in Upper Assam.

A K Hazarika, director (onshore) told ET: "We have started examining our oil wells log data. During one such examination, we found uranium in the Borholla well. Already, we have inked an MoU with Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL) and are carrying out a joint study. We are going through the log data of several abandoned wells to trace Uranium."

Mr Hazarika added: "There are several areas in the North East, including Mizoram, which are believed to be uranium-rich. In Kasomarigaon we have found a new oil well. It is producing 70 cubic metres of oil per day."

He further said: "I am going to Nazira in Upper Assam on Thursday to have a meeting with my team and talk on the development of the new well. For refurbishing our facilities, we have come up with an investment plan. The project aims at re-engineering and revamping surface facilities, which are more than 30-40 years old. Under this we are investing around Rs 2,376 crore. Orders have been placed and ground work will start soon."

The ONGC board on March 5, 2009 approved sanctions for investment proposals for renewal of Lakwa and Lakhmani surface facilities in Assam. The project will sustain production and uninterrupted exploitation for the next 25 years and maintain high standards of safety and environment. Revamping and renewal of surface facilities in other such assets in Assam will also be taken up in a phased manner.

When asked about ONGC’s plan of re-entering the hydrocarbon sector in Nagaland, Mr Hazarika said: "Nothing has moved much on this front."

ONGC had earlier stopped E&P activities in Nagaland after militant outfits threatened to stop E&P activities in 1994. ONGC is once again in the process of starting operations in the state. It has opened a liaison office at Dimapur in Nagaland.

Land of Commissions morungexpress
Recently, our government has coined the slogan ‘land of festivals’, which is meant to project not only the image of Nagaland as a tourist destination but also to promote the comparative advantage of the State and its people, which is found in the rich socio-cultural capital and abundant natural resources. This is very good and with all the right publicity and brand selling, Nagaland is indeed the envy of not only the northeastern sister States but also the rest of India. But what lies beneath the surface and is it as beautiful on the inside? If we are to use a terminology from the world of beauty contests, we often give great value to a contestant who has not only great physical beauty but someone who is also a wonderful human being on the inside. Is Nagaland, our pride and joy, as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside? This will require an honest appraisal to really find out the health and spiritual well being of our State and its people.
Nagaland prides itself as the land of culture and tradition and its people are known for their warm hospitality. In fact another trait that Nagas were known all over the world for was their honesty and hard work. However, today it is quite embarrassing to attach this quality to ourselves. Today, dishonesty and the unending greed for money and power have destroyed the moral fiber of our society. There is widespread corruption and the primary objective of everyone is clearly on swindling public money and amassing more and more wealth. In all this melee and aggrandizement the biggest loser is Nagaland, its development and the vast majority of its people who continue to live as second class citizens. Resources are disproportionately distributed and this is clearly evident from the lopsided development right across Nagaland and also the class structure that has been created in the process. While the image of our State can always be corrected through the wonderful medium of the so called public relation exercise, what will happen to the inner self—the life being, the heart and soul of the nation?
There is nothing wrong to be proud of our rich cultural heritage. But we need to also accept some of the truths—where we have failed. While Nagaland is a land of festivals, it is also a land of omission and commission. As mentioned, corruption has become a cancerous growth eating into the vitals of our system. No doubt there are still honest people around, yet an overwhelming majority will go to any length to siphon off public money. It is quite ironic that while our Ministers emphasize on quality when it comes to building our roads, bridges and other assets, yet they encourage the culture of paying commissions by demanding the same. What quality of work can one expect when commissions have to be first paid? It is not only the present dispensation but successive State governments have indulged in this scam. There are unconfirmed reports that deductions and collections of irregular commission altogether amounts to more than 25% of the contractual works. Our State politicians and Ministers while they condemn the so called ‘extortions’ from underground groups must explain whether what they are themselves indulging in amounts to extortion or not. It will be interesting to get a response to this. Otherwise, critics should not be blamed if the corrupt state machinery is equated with the extortionists and criminals roaming the State.

Rebels overrun IRB camp in Assam, loot armoury Nagaland Page


Guwahati, November 13: About 200 tribal militants armed with guns and machetes overran a paramilitary post in Assam Friday, injuring 4 troopers and decamping with more than 20 automatic weapons, officials said.
A police spokesperson said heavily armed militants attacked a camp of the paramilitary India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Chekarcham, bordering Manipur, about 360 km south of Assam's main city of Guwahati.
"The IRB troopers were taken by surprise when about 200-odd people armed with guns and crude implements attacked the camp and started hitting the security personnel. Four troopers were injured, while about 20 others present at the camp were literally taken hostage by the group," a senior police official said.
Police suspect the group could be from the newly floated Hmar tribal rebel group active in the border area, although not much was known about the outfit.
"The group did not use firearms, but attacked the IRB troopers with crude weapons like sticks and machetes. Later, they looted the service weapons of the troopers numbering about 20 rifles," the official said.
The injured IRB troopers were shifted to the Silchar Medical College Hospital with multiple injuries.
"The group left the camp after decamping with the weapons," the official said.
A massive hunt is now on by police, army and paramilitary troopers to nab the group and get the weapons back. (Agencies)



Author highlights India’s failing ‘Look East’ policy by Mungpi Mizzima


New Delhi (Mizzima) - In order to achieve peace and stability in India’s North Eastern region, India must reverse its ‘Look East’ policy, and stand firm in its support towards democratic reforms in neighbouring military-ruled Burma, a prominent Indian journalist said in a newly released book.

Subhir Bhaumik a senior journalist and academic researcher, in his recently released book titled “Troubled Periphery: Crisis of India's Northeast” published by Sage, details how India’s policy towards Burma and Bangladesh have overlooked the practical implications in North eastern India.

Bhaumik, BBC’s East India correspondent, has been following India’s ‘Look East’ policy and the change in its approach towards the Burmese military generals, whom India in the late 1980s shunned.

But with the formulation of the ‘Look East’ policy, India in the early 1990s changed its policy towards the Burmese generals, who came to power in a military coup in 1988, and began courting and appeasing them.

But Bhaumik, in his book, describes that India is following a failed policy for over a decade and is playing a catch-up game with China in order to gain a foothold in Burma.

“Unless we have a truly federal and democratic Burma and a secular and democratic Bangladesh, the stability of the Northeast cannot be ensured. The Burmese generals have made a fool of India -- and why should we play a catch-up game with China in Burma,” Bhaumik said.




Rather Bhaumik said India should stand firm in its support for a democratic movement in Burma, which will in the long run serve the interest of India.

India has proclaimed that the change in its policy towards Burma is in its national interest – countering growing Chinese influence in Burma, seeking the Burmese generals’ support in flushing out North Eastern rebels, and fulfilling India’s growing energy demand by seeking to get a foothold in Burma’s natural gas.

But Bhaumik said, in contrast to India’s objectives, India is losing out on the Burmese natural gas to China, and the Burmese generals had never kept their promise of flushing out Indian rebels from their soil.

China’s National Petroleum Corporation on November 3 announced that it is beginning the construction of a dual gas and oil pipeline in Kyaukphyu town of Burma’s western coastal state of Arakan. The pipeline will connect Burma’s western coast with China’s South-western Yunnan Province.

The pipeline will be used for transporting natural gas from Burma’s offshore Shwe Gas fields, for which China won the sole purchasing right, while the oil pipeline would be used for transporting oil purchased by China from Middle East and African nations.

India claims that insurgencies in North-east India has caused severe set-backs in developmental projects, and have time and again urged the Burmese military to flush out Indian rebels from its soil.

But Bhaumik argues that none of these has happened and Burma’s military rulers are playing with India. He added that India cannot afford to have too many military regimes in its neighbourhood, and thus should support the democracy movement in Burma and join forces with the West on this issue.

“India’s only alternative is to back the movement for democracy -- what have we gained by backing the generals for 10 years -- neither has India's security concerns been addressed, drugs flow into India from Burma as ever before, so do Chinese arms,” Bhaumik argues.

India in the early 1990s formulated the “Look East” policy with the aim of integrating with the growing Southeast Asian economies. And with Burma being the immediate Southeast Asian neighbour, India made a drastic change in its policy towards Burma and shook hands with the military regime, whom they had condemned for brutally crushing student protesters in 1988.

But Bhaumik said, “If Burma remains a basket case, India’s Look East will bump into the Great Wall called Myanmar [as Burma is now called] and go no further. All the grandiose transport links through Burma will remain on paper.”

“India not only has to overcome the democracy deficit in its northeastern region. It has to play a decisive role in overcoming the democracy deficit in the immediate neighbourhood,” Bhaumik said in his book.

The author also strongly suggests that if India is worried about the rising Chinese influence in the neighbourhood, particularly in Burma, that is all the more reason that India should wholeheartedly support the cause of democracy in Burma.

“We should not play a catch-up game with China, we should play a major role in giving to our Burmese brothers, what every Indian enjoys in some measure -- fruits of democracy, however limited,” Bhaumik added.
Yangon to crack down on UG camps Indo-Myanmar Liaison meet IndoBurma News
November 11, 2009: Imphal, Attended by top Army officials of the two neighbouring countries, the 38th IndoMyanmar bi-annual liaison meeting was held at Leimakhong today.
Sources: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 10 2009: Attended by top Army officials of the two neighbouring countries, the 38th IndoMyanmar bi-annual liaison meeting was held at Leimakhong today.

A 15-member Myanmarese delegation led by Brig Gen Tin Maung Ohn attended the bi-annual liaison.

The Indian delegation was led by Chief of Staff 3 Corps, Major Gen SS Pawar.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Major General SS Pawar described the meeting as a landmark event in the friendly relation the two neighbouring countries have been maintaining and informed that various important issues have been discussed.



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