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11/25/2009: "‘No deviation from Naga Reconciliation’ morungexpress"
‘No deviation from Naga Reconciliation’ morungexpress
Dimapur, November 21 (MExN): The Isak/Muivah-led National Socialist Council of Nagalim has stated that there was “no deviation as far as” its cooperation with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation was concerned. It has reassured to continue extending fullest cooperation to the Forum for Naga Reconciliation ‘to see that the Nagas stands united and hasten the process of Indo-Naga solution.’ “This spirit shall always remain and the Naga people’s wishes shall be respected”, stated a rejoinder issued by “colonel” Levi Zimik “PRO, Naga army.”
The outfit stated that the rejoinder was necessitated ‘lest the Naga people are misguided and misled to come to wrong judgment and put the FNR’s hard earned reconciliation and unity at the risk of losing its foundation that has been built during the last period.’ “The factual picture has to be exposed and the story has to be told for public consumption”, it stated. The note said the “Naga army” values the peace process that has been initiated by the forum but pointed out that when “something goes wrong at the hands of certain persons and which stands to tarnish the image of the national workers some kind of action cannot be avoided.” According to the NSCN (IM) this referred to the version of the “GPRN/NSCN” which the note said had given a totally different story on the “arrest” of one ‘Phukuto Khing, razuo peyu, Kulalo Khing, khapur,’ and Sohilo Kemp by the NSCN (IM).
According to the rejoinder, the three persons had been ‘warned’ several times to stay away from the vicinity of the “Vephutso battalion” of “Naga army.”
The concerned ‘CO’ also even apprised the Rengma Hoho and the village council of their activities and to reason with them.
“However, despite such forbearance and call for understanding their activities goes on unabated. Their activity is tantamount to any anti-social groups or hoodlums and far from reflecting the behavior of any person who understand and respect social ethics,” the outfit stated.
The NSCN (IM) asserted that it was “placed under such compelling situation” and had to exercise the “option of arresting them.” After establishing their identity they were released without further delay in the presence of the Rengma Hoho and the village council, the note said.
On the issue of what was asserted as “tax” collection, the NSCN (IM) rejoinder stated that the manner of “disorganized collection as practiced by the ‘GPRN/NSCN’” was generating “undesirable reactions from different angles” and that the above incident could not have happened had the “GPRN/NSCN” followed ‘certain acceptable norms.’
Nine ULFA militants enter Assam to carry out blasts STAFF WRITER (PTI)
Guwahati, At least nine top ULFA militants have sneaked into Assam for conducting subversive activities targetting oil refineries and other vital installations on November 27 which the ultras observe as 'Black Day'.
A posting in the Assam police website said the nine ultras recently sneaked into the state from Myanmar, Bhutan and Nagaland to carry out blasts in protest against the first army operation against the outfit on that date in 1991.
Their main targets were oil refineries and other vital installations, it said.
The nine ULFA militants are Bosa Singh, Pinku Phukan, Upen Borgohain, Bimal Kalita, Sadin Rai, Rajanikanta Singh, Pulak Bharali, Hitesh Rai and Akon Moran.
Security has been tightened in and around the vital installations in view of the report.
Gen Khole for new era of amity and reconciliation morungexpress
A cadre of the Government People Republic of Nagaland/National Socialist Council of Nagaland (GPRN/NSCN) gives the salute on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of Naga Unification of the GPRN/NSCN at their designated camp Khehoi on Sunday, November 22. (Photo/Caisii Mao)
DIMAPUR, (MExN): Commander-in-chief of Naga Army, ‘GPRN/NSCN’, ‘Gen’ Khole Konyak has said that Nagas have to learn that it is internecine and fratricidal killings and struggle among various Naga tribes which are destroying “our very freedom” and demeaning the ethos and true spirit of “nationalism” and patriotism.”
The veteran ‘General’, who has served in the Naga Army for fifty four years, in his message on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary celebration of Naga Unification at Khehoi Camp, also asked whether Nagas should continue killing each other or unite. ‘Gen’ Khole in his message, which was read out by the joint secretary (Law & Justice) of ‘GPRN/NSCN’, James Khole, said that beginning with the Naga freedom struggle, Nagas have sold their “pride of honesty” by killing each other resulting in the “most unfortunate political misfortunes” for Nagas.
“Our wounds might have been healed but the scars remain and it continues to haunt us; for this we are here to erase the past mistakes and usher in a new era of amity and reconciliation…I would like to make it clear to the new generation that past history of our struggle was corrupted with doubts and wrong concepts of confusions among us,” Khole said.
Referring to the much talked about peace, he said, “To talk of peace is an unsolved problem because we never accept to talk within ourselves; rather we talk for peace outside. First step is peace and unity within our own people and second step is the political solutions.” Khole also said that though Nagas have spent crores of rupees in the name of peace, it remained elusive as Nagas have wrongly placed peace “towards” violence by killing and claiming superiority through the blood of their own brothers and sisters.
“The first essential is the maintenance of unity and not merely political unity. When we reject unity among us, the alternative would be war and mutual destruction and our dreams can never be fulfilled. So peace and unity should be there in our hearts to love and be loved and through emotional integration. It is the temper of peace and unity, not the temper of war among us,” he added.
The ‘GPRN/NSCN’ leader called upon the Nagas to look forward to a greater cause leaving all mistakes before and not to be influenced by wrong interpretations of what happened yesterday. “Let us not leave the divided Nagas unsolved to the new generation but live as one unified Naga. Take my message of peace and unity and tell our people that we will solve our problem not by blood, but through emotional unity,” the general appealed.
Stop Discrimination against the Naga: Nagaland MP ZARNI MANN Irrawaddy Magazine
NEW DEHLI — An Indian member of parliament from Nagaland has called for Burma to create an administrative zone for the Naga people of Burma.
MP Khekiho Zhimomi said the Naga in India receive support from the Indian government, unlike the Naga in Burma who are discriminated against and receive little support from the military regime.
The Burmese government shows no concern for the Naga in its borders, he said, noting that the Naga in India are not discriminated against and receive education and other benefits.
"The Burmese government should take care of these people,” he said. “They should create an administrative zone for their development, for their welfare. They shouldn't neglect them."
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland, India, made the same suggestion to U Kyi Thein, the Burmese ambassador to India, in Delhi in May, he said.
"The Naga people are oppressed by the military regime,” he said. “We have to struggle to promote change and development."
The chairman of the Naga National League for Democracy, U Saw Lin, said the Naga in Burma face discrimination, forced labor and forced relocation.
The Naga in Burma live in a region ranging from northwest of Sagaing Division to northern Chin State. The home of the Naga was divided by the India-Burma border as drawn by the British government in colonial times.
The Naga in India live in an administrative state called Nagaland.
Minerals should be utilised judiciously: Patton morungexpress
In this photograph released by the department of Geology & Mining, Y Patton, Parliamentary Secretary for geology & mining, is seen with officials of the department and locals of Anaki Yimsen at the village in Mokokchung district.
Dimapur, November 20 (MExN): Y Patton, Parliamentary Secretary for geology & mining, irrigation & flood control and border affairs, while expressing concern over environmental issues caused by coal mining, said that minerals are finite and non-renewable and should be utilised judiciously. Therefore, he added, these issues need to be taken up under the supervision of technical experts keeping in mind the importance of environmental aspects.
The policy of the state government is that the people enjoy the benefits from the minerals, said Patton, while seeking the cooperation of the people and landowners while implementing these policies, informed a press note issued by the Director of geology & mining.
Patton was accompanied by the Director, OSD and senior officers of the geology & mining department as he undertook a tour of Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts from November 18 to 19 to assess the “ground realities of coal mining activities in the areas as well as to oversee the implementation of the Nagaland Coal Policy and Nagaland Coal Mining Rules”. The team visited all mineral check gates, field rest houses and proposed sites for installation of weight bridges, coal stockyards etc.
The Parliamentary Secretary also interacted with the administrative heads and appraised them about the implementation of the Nagaland Coal Policy and Rules by the department for proper regulation and control of coal mining in the state. The administration of these areas hold equal responsibility for its effective monitoring, it was informed.
Patton also held interactions with public leaders, landowners and coal operators at various places and assured them that he had come to listen to their problems, if any, and any other information that they may have in connection with coal mining activities, the press note added. The note also stated that almost all the coal deposits lie along the foothills bordering Assam, and in one such case, in Anaki Yimsen, the public expressed the problems and difficulties being faced by the people living at the border areas and requested that the government show some concern for people living in the area.
In all the meetings, the note revealed, the landowners, villagers and coal operators requested the Parliamentary Secretary to lift the ban on coal-mining activities explaining that this was their only means of earning a living especially for the people living in the remote border areas. The locals further stated that banning of coal-mining activities would mean a denial of their survival. After patiently hearing the expression of the people, the Parliamentary Secretary assured that he would take up the matter with government at the earliest, the note stated.
7 killed, 55 injured in Assam blast IST, Bikash Singh, ET Bureau
GUWAHATI: In another gruesome bomb explosion triggered by suspected ULFA militants in the Lower Assam township of Nalbari, around 7 people were
killed and over 55 people were injured on Sunday.
Nalbari which is 70 km away from capital city Guwahati was once the bastion of the ULFA. However, over the years, it has turned out to be peaceful place. On Sunday, at around 9.55 am, close to the Nalbari police station, which is in the heart of the town, an explosion took place. The bomb was concealed in a bicycle.
Just 15 minutes later, another powerful explosion took place around 20 feet away from the spot of the first explosion. Five people died on spot. There was complete confusion and chaos in the township.
Sources in intelligence agencies added, "Already, inputs were there that nine member bombers from ULFA have sneaked to Nalbari with the specific task of carrying out subversive activities prior to the Protest Day on November 27. These cadres have sneaked in from Myanmar, Bhutan and Nagaland. The details of these cadres were provided in Assam police website."
Sources further said, "The nine cadres are Bosa Singh, Pinku Phukon, Upen Borgohain, Bimal Kalita, Swadhin Ray, Rajani Kanta Singha, Pulak Bharali, Hitesh Ray and Akon Moran."
The outfit observes November 27 as Protest Day following launching of operation against the outfit on 1991 and declaration of the outfit as banned.
Superintendent of police of the district, Jitmol Doley, told ET, "The first bomb was kept in a bicycle. Our investigation is on and only after investigations, can we say with certainty what was used to trigger the explosions."
Sources in the police are not ruling the possibility of the twin explosions being triggered as retaliatory attacks as two of the outfit's leaders -- self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury and finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika were picked up by security forces. Both the leaders are presently under police custody in Assam.
Already, ULFA militants have demonstrated their retaliatory postures when they blew up wagons of a tanker train carrying high-speed diesel (HSD) and petrol early this week. Goods from the Numaligarh Refinery Limited were heading to Panki in Uttar Pradesh.
PRESS RELEASE NDFB
A general meeting of NDFB was held on the 29th and 30th October, 2009 with a view to from National Council of NDFB and to appoint the Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Chief of Army Staff of Boroland Army and Commanding and Deputy Commanding Officers of the Four Commands and to discuss various issues and problems of the party. The meeting was chaired by D. R. Nabla, the President of NDFB and N Dinthi Gwra, the Spokesman of NDFB was unanimously elected as the recording secretary for the meeting. The meeting after detailed and lengthy deliberation unanimously resolved to form the National Council consisting of seven members and adopted the following resolutions.
§ The meeting has unanimously formed the National Council, the highest executive and decision making body of the NDFB, consisting of seven members. The elected seven members of the National Council are:
Ronsaigra Nabla Daimari - President
Dinthi Gwra Narzary - General Secretary
Ohnjalu Basumatary - Information and Publicity Secretary
Barbai Basumatary - Asst. Information and Publicity Secretary
Rifikhang Goyary - Finance Secretary
Rwjab Deka - Organizing Secretary
Danswrang Narzary - Member
§ The meeting has unanimously appointed Captain Songbijit Ingti Kathar and Lieutenant Jwngkhang Boro as the Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Chief of Army Staff of Boroland Army respectively.
§ After a detailed discussion, the meeting has resolved to centralize all operations of the Boroland Army and ask to refrain from activities that may adversely affect the party as a whole and that are against the revolutionary ethics. The meeting has also resolved that any major or serious activity or action must be done only through consultation with the highest authority of the party.
§ The meeting has resolved and vowed to work and fight together with vigor and determination to liberate Boroland and the Western South East Asia, the so called “North-East India”.
D. R. Nabla
President, NDFB
Liberhan report severely indicts Vajpayee, Advani Nagaland page
New Delhi, November 24: The top BJP leadership including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi have been severely indicted and called "pseudo-moderates" by a Commission that probed the demolition of Babri Masjid 17 years ago.
The Justice M S Liberhan Commission of Inquiry also attacked former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh saying, the destruction of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992 was carried out in a "duplicitous and under-handed manner" which was not worthy of a democratically-elected government.
The four-volume report running into over 1000 pages and government's Action Taken Report (ATR) on it were tabled in Parliament by Home Minister P Chidambaram, a day after a leak of the report in a national daily.
The Commission, which was set up 10 days after the incident and got 48 extensions, recommended a law providing for exemplary punishment for misuse of religion for acquiring political power and disqualification of political parties and candidates who have religious agenda.
In its ATR, government promised that a bill to check communal violence was being contemplated which will include provisions on some these recommendations while the Election Commission would also be moved to look into them.
The ATR spoke of no punitive action against anyone and merely took note of the cases filed against BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders in various special courts in Lucknow and Rae Bareli.
Unsparring in its attack on top BJP leadership, the Commission listed Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani and Mr. Joshi in a list of 68 leaders of the Parivar and officials as responsible "for leading the country to the brink of communal discord" in their individual culpability.
It said there was no manner of doubt admissible in the culpability and responsibility of the Chief Minister (Kalyan Singh), his ministers and Sangh Parivar leaders like Ashok Singhal, K S Sudarshan and Vinay Katiyaar, who formed a "complete cartel" supported by the icons of the movement like Advani, Joshi and Vajpayee.
Kalyan Singh and his trusted lieutenants spared no lie before the highest authorities of the land to befool them and to tie their hands with the niceties of constitutional democracies.
The Commission analysed the standards of culpability and divided various persons and organisations into three groups.
The first group represented those who bore the primary and greatest responsibility for the demolition as they had the means to prevent the assault.
The second group consisted of those who portrayed the benign face of Ayodhya campaign and gave false reassurances to the courts, the people and the nation as a whole.
"Those who have been put in the second category in these conclusions are referred to as 'pseudo-moderates' in contrast to the radicals forming part of the first group," the report said.
All these three groups, the Commission said had "managed to reduce one of the greatest nations and one of the oldest civilisations to the state of stark intolerance and barbarianism-- all for petty political gains".
As the inner core of the Parivar, the top leadership of the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and BJP bear the primary responsibility.
"On the one hand, leaders like A B Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi and L K Advani, who are the undeniable public face and leaders of the BJP and thus of the Parivar, constantly protested their innocence and denounced the events of December 1992.
"On the other hand, it stands established beyond doubt that the events of the day were neither spontaneous, nor unplanned nor unforeseen overflowing of the people's emotions, nor the result of a foreign conspiracy as some overly imaginative people have tried to suggest," it said.
The Commission said these leaders cannot be given the "benefit of doubt" and exonerated of culpability.
"There can be no grated betrayal or crime in a democracy and this Commission have no hesitation in condemning these pseudo-moderates for their sins of omissions."
Virtually giving a clean chit to the Central government that was then headed by late P V Narasimha Rao, the Commission found that the Centre was crippled by the failure of the intelligence agencies to provide an analysis of the situation.
"It stayed its hand deferring to the honourable Supreme Court which had taken up the matter was dealing with it by giving appropriate directions.
"The Supreme Court was in turn misled by the pretentious undertakings given by the Uttar Pradesh government and leadership of the movement and the all-is-well reports by its rapporteur Tej Shankar. Without proverbial leg to stand on, there was little either could have done to forestall the determination of the perverted guardians of democracy, who were in control in Uttar Pradesh," it said.
The Commission also came down heavily on the use of the security apparatus by the Kalyan Singh government and how it was systematically ordered to desist from use of force or resort to firing in any circumstances against the karsevaks or their leaders.
"When push came to shove, the senior police officers were at hand to ensure their men toed the line and that the demolition of the disputed structure was allowed to go ahead with military precision as orchestrated by the leaders present at the spot and carried out by their henchmen whom they refused to identify even before me," Justice Liberhan said in his report.
By far the worst sin of omission of the state government was leaking into public domain the information that the police personnel had been hobbled and would not react or retaliate under any circumstances.
Emboldened by the self-confessed handicap of the law enforcement agencies of the state, the karsevaks enjoyed a free hand aware that they were at zero risk from them.
"Even the forces demanded by the state government and sent by the Central government for security purposes were intentionally taken away from the scene and deployed at far away places under the garb of meeting the threat of terrorism," it said.
The Commission also questioned the role of the Supreme Court observer in not alerting the Court to the clearly unfolding duplicity and said it was something that raised concerns about the impartiality and objectivity of the officer who was handpicked by the state High Court.
"Even at the moment that the domes were being pulled down, he was not at the spot, having been delayed by his family members whom he had brought along to witness the spectacle," the report said.
The Commission also had some words of criticism for some "selective communal Muslim leaders" obsessed with personal or individual influence for enhancing their political influence and self gain for being merely bystanders during the entire period and put forth dismal performance.
The Babri Masjid Action Committee never set up or presented any claim to the disputed structure in any negotiations and there stand was a merely simplistic denial of the claims of the Sangh Parivar.
"The Muslim leadership provided the rabid Hindu ideologues sufficient cause to instil fear into the common citizens of India," the report said adding the elite political Muslim leadership was neither responsible nor caring for the welfare of the community."
On the Commission's recommendations for establishing a Criminal Justice Commission for monitoring the performance of all law enforcement agencies, government said Law Commission will be requested to study the proposal. (PTI)
Bandh flurry in Bodo belt OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
A deserted Kokrajhar town during the 12-hour BTC bandh on Tuesday. A Telegraph picture
Kokrajhar, Nov. 24: The 12-hour BTC bandh called by the pro-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland paralysed normal life in the Bodo belt today. The bandh, the fifth in a month, was called in protest against the killing of Doren Daimary, a member of the outfit, allegedly by ex-BLT members, in the Jolaishree Alokjhar area under Kachugaon police station in Kokrajhar on Monday night.
The bandh evoked full response in the four BTC districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri with all offices, educational institutions, financial institutions like banks, and business establishments including shops and markets, remaining closed.
Roads, including National Highway 31C too, wore a deserted look during the bandh period. Train services were, however, not affected. The Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam, on the other hand, has called a 12-hour Kokrajhar district bandh in protest against rampant corruption at the Srirampur inter-state checkgate tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s bandh in the district will be the sixth in a month. The flurry of bandhs in the region has raised concerns among the people of the belt regarding the economic and education environment in the area. They accused the administration of doing nothing to stop the bandh culture in the Bodo belt.
“It is the common people, especially the poor like us who suffer. We feed on our hard-earned money by working daily. During a bandh, we can’t go for work and as such, cannot earn,” said a small-time vendor here.
Echoing him, another daily-wage earner said, “Who cares for the poor people like us. Who cares whether we get to eat or not. It’s people like us who have to bear the burden of the bandhs, so nobody cares.”
R. Brahma, a schoolteacher and social activist said, “Bandhs have become the easiest means to highlight the demands of the protesters. It’s time for us to realise the impact of a bandh on our lives. See the education scenario and the impact it has on our children. It’s time to raise our voice against bandh culture.”
Dispur rejects third party role - If Naga outfits can negotiate with Centre, then why not Ulfa, asks Assam govt OUR CORRESPONDENT Telegraph
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi interacts with a man injured in the Nalbari blast at GMCH in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Guwahati, Nov. 24: Dispur has rejected the idea of resumption of the peace process with Ulfa through a third party like the People’s Consultative Group and appeared firm on its earlier stand that talks be held directly between the Centre and the outfit.
Though the government is yet to make its stand formally clear, officials holding key positions in the state government today said Dispur had made its view known to the Centre.
Dispur’s reaction comes in the wake of Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa calling up senior PCG member Mukul Mahanta yesterday to get ready for an increased role soon, thereby dropping hints that the outfit wanted to resume talks through the group.
That Dispur was not at all enthused about the development was clear when an official told The Telegraph: “We have no comments to offer at this stage. There is nothing specific in reports we have come across. Even the role of the PCG is not clear. Let Ulfa come out with something concrete for us to react; we are against talks through intermediaries.”
The official also made it clear that though the Centre would take a final call on resumption of peace talks, the same cannot be held with a third party. “A third party can be there for a round or two but direct talks is the only way out. We have seen what happened the last time round. We need to be careful, cannot jump the gun unless there is anything concrete,” he added.
He pointed out that if talks with the NSCN (I-M) could be held directly from the very beginning, there was no reason why the same methodology could not be applied to the Ulfa.
“The less number of people involved in such exercises, the better,” he said, adding that if it was really sincere, Ulfa could send some of its leaders for the talks instead of the PCG.
The wait-and-watch approach of the government has to do with the manner the Ulfa-constituted PCG pulled out of the process after three rounds in September 2006, accusing the Centre of undermining its role and setting new conditions for the process to move forward. The PCG was formed in 2005.
Mukul Mahanta, whom the Ulfa top brass called up, said the PCG has been asked to play a more proactive and different role this time. “However, I am yet to know what this will be. It will become very clear soon,” he said.
Like the government, a senior PCG member, Lachit Bordoloi, was also cautious about commenting on yesterday’s developments.
“There is nothing to say except that the signals are positive from Ulfa and the government. Let us wait for a couple of days,” he said without elaborating.
A PCPIA team today submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is on a trip to the US, at the PMO for revival of the peace process. Tomorrow afternoon the PCPIA will hold a dharna at Jantar Mantar for the same cause, Bordoloi added.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said despite Ulfa indulging in violence, the door for talks with the outfit was still open. After meeting the victims of Nalbari blasts at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) this evening, the chief minister made it clear that Ulfa would have to abjure violence for talks.
“Though there has been an opinion among a section of public against any talks with the outfit as it is killing innocent people, we are still open to talks in the greater interest of the state, provided they give up violence,” Gogoi said.
He also appealed to the people not to extend any kind of support by way of giving shelter to the insurgents. Condemning the Nalbari blasts, Gogoi said the perpetrators of such a heinous crime would not be spared and the government was determined to deal firmly with anybody who indulged in such mindless violence.
The chief minister said the police would be adequately equipped to deal with threats posed by militants.
Move to track UNLF rebels - Search & destroy drive in somtal OUR CORRESPONDENT The Tekegraph
Police commandos during a search operation in Imphal East on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Imphal, Nov. 24: Security forces today launched a major operation at Old Somtal in Manipur’s Chandel district to track down the United National Liberation Front militants who killed five Assam Rifles personnel, including two officers, yesterday.
The operation, launched on the UNLF’s 45th raising day, is aimed at locating rebel camps in the area and destroying them.
“We have launched a major search-and-destroy operation in the area. So far, the search parties have not made any contact with the militants, nor has there been any encounter as they are fleeing from our troops,” a senior official of the Assam Rifles told this correspondent.
He said the operation had been launched jointly by the army and the 26 Sector Assam Rifles based at Pallel in Thoubal district.
He hoped the troops would yield results by tomorrow, thereby indicating that the forces had surrounded the area and were preparing for a major offensive.
The Manipur Peoples Army, the military wing of the UNLF, had ambushed a convoy of 43 Assam Rifles that was coming from its base at Old Somtal along the Indo-Myanmar border to collect water around 9am. Five soldiers, including a major and a captain, were killed in the attack. The outfit also took away five weapons.
The UNLF claimed to have ambushed the reinforcement troops as well, killing four more personnel. The Assam Rifles, however, denied the claim.
Sources said the UNLF had a strong presence in Somtal despite the army and the Assam Rifles having moved into the area in December 2007 to clear it of the rebels who had declared it a “liberated zone”.
Yesterday’s attack is being seen as an attempt by the group to demonstrate that it is a still a force to reckon with.
The UNLF is also trying to establish “mutual help” with the Maoists who are emerging as an anti-government force across the country.
In a statement issued by its central committee on its raising day today, the UNLF said the emergence of the Maoists, who recognised the sovereignty of Manipur, was a favourable factor for Manipur’s struggle for liberation and that of the region as a whole.
“Therefore, the difference in specific conditions and objectives notwithstanding, the UNLF believes that there is a common interest in the fight against the Indian state by the CPI (Maoist) and the liberation struggles of Manipur and the region. Guided by this perspective, the UNLF shall actively pursue a policy of mutual help and support with the Indian revolution through the CPI (Maoist),” the statement said.
The UNLF, which has been demanding a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations to resolve the conflict in Manipur, stated that it would continue to mount pressure on India until it accepted the proposal.
Chidambaram should quit: BJP Ians
NEW DELHI, Nov 24: Attacking the government for “leakage” of the Liberhan Commission report on the 1992 Babri mosque demolition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday sought Home Minister P Chidambaram’s resignation and demanded a joint parliamentary panel probe into it. It termed Liberhan’s report, which indicts top party leaders, as “ill-founded”.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said the findings were against the evidence produced before the commission and against the principles of natural justice. “The principles of natural justice say that anyone who is held guilty should be given hearing opportunity. These principles have been violated,” she said. “Conclusions of the commission are ill-founded and perverse,” she added.
Swaraj said the BJP will keep its viewpoint before the people during the discussion on the report in the Lok Sabha on December 1. She expressed shock at the inclusion of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s name in the list of those indicted by the report and said he was never summoned and given a chance to be heard. She added that the commission had, in fact, rejected an application to summon Vajpayee.
“Now an allegation has been levelled against him. That’s why we say the report is against the given evidence,” she said.
The BJP leader said the report leaked in the media on Monday was true to the contents of the Liberhan report presented in Parliament on Tuesday.
“We say that the Home Minister has himself leaked the report. We demand that he should resign, taking moral responsibility for the leakage and then discussion should be held on the report,” she said.
She also took a dig at Justice Liberhan for giving the report five years after hearings had ended. IANS
Indian influence on Myanmar Nuruddin AzamThe New Nation, Bangladesh
November 24, 2009: Myanmar is strategically situated to take the advantages of competition and cooperation between China and India over oil and gas resources. Both China and India are seeking to control the Indian Ocean for strategic military and economic reasons. (Articles)
The United States has been trying to militarise the region on the ground of fighting possible terrorist attacks and has already established an airbase on Banda Ache, Indonesia. Apprehending that the US is hell-bent on a unilateral militarisation of the entire region from the Middle East oil fields to the Strait of Malacca, Beijing has stepped up its engagement in Mayanmar.
The Strait of Malacca, linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is the shortest sea route between the Persian Gulf and China. Myanmar also presents a possible supply route for oil and other commodities for China.
An oil pipeline linking Mayanmar's deep-water port of Kyaukpyu with Kunming in China's Yunnan province was approved by Beijing in 2006. China is also Myanmar's most important defense ally, providing most of its military hardware and training.
In order to counter the increased Chinese influence on Myanmar, India has been trying to strengthen its ties with her eastern neighbour. She is spending millions of dollars to fund different projects in Myanmar which carry strategic significance for India.
She is especially worried about the "maritime encirclement of India", with the Chinese bases at Gwadar in Pakistan and at Coco Island in Myanmar. India has been building up its military strength for a long time to close the gap with China. Recently India has also started pursuing closer relations with the United States.
Taking into account the above realities in international relations, Bangladesh need to develop cautiously and efficiently its own policies and programs to safeguard her vital national interests when dealing with her neighbors.
