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11/27/2009: "Insurgency cannot be solved by gun alone: Army Nagaland Post"

Insurgency cannot be solved by gun alone: Army Nagaland Post

Shillong, November 26: Insurgency in the North East cannot be solved by the gun alone because it is more of a social and political problem, a top Army officer said on Thursday.
GOC of the Shillong-based 101 Area Maj Gen K S Sethi said " we are just a part of the system. The authorities in Government of India, state governments and other agencies also have to do their part."
"There is no singular way to solve the problem. It has to be a combination of gun and butter," Sethi told reporters when asked if gun was the solution to the thriving insurgencies in Northeast.
He said the situation now is more than a law and order problem. "It is not possible to die down the problem through the gun….as it is more of a social and political issue," he commented.
Advocating for lessening the militarization in the region, Sethi said "the Army is chartered to deal with external aggression and not internal strife. If police can control the problem, it is best for us."
"Of course, if the government wants us, we have to obey and come for their aid," the GOC said. (Agencies)

NNC reacts to Rio’s statement Nagaland Post
Apropos to the statement made by Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland on 18th November, 2009 while addressing the closing day of the NPF Youth wing leadership training which was published in the local dailies on 19th November, 2009. It is a sad and painful day for all true Nagas and more so for a Naga National worker, when a respectable Naga leader tries to distort facts of history for his own political gains.
We had high respect for Rio having a strong hope in his integrity as a true leader of the Nagas and that he had genuine concern, love and vision for the Naga people and capable of leading our people but we seem to have been proved wrong when we see his recent statements. To quote Rio, "Both the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 and the 16 point agreement of 1960 were political decision. … while the Naga Plebiscite had cost thousands of lives and brought much suffering; the 16 point agreement, on the other hand, brought about the statehood of Nagaland which had immensely benefited the people." The two events cannot be compared. It should be remembered that the Plebiscite was not a decision taken overnight but was wise decision taken based on the mandate of our people. Five months time was given to all Nagas to discuss about the Plebiscite voluntarily offered by the NNC to prove our unity and spontaneous willingness to continue to live on as a distinct nation. Whereas the 16 point agreement was decision taken by a handful of self style Naga leaders and the GOI against the wishes and without the consent of our people.
The thousands of lives laid down for the Naga National cause were not laid down in vain. We are thankful to them and their memories are cherished and they are still heroes. We owe what we are and what we have today to the sacrifices they have made. If these brave sons of the soil had not sacrificed their lives where would we be today, would the world know about us? It is because of them, we are able to walk with our head held high, Nagas still have our inherent rights and all the so called benefits we enjoy today. If we are to prosper as a nation, we should remember our martyrs with gratitude else we may be shamed and cursed as a thankless nation.
Vekronu Dozo
President
Chakhesang Regional Council, NNC

Congress welcomes Rio’s stand on 16 pt agreement morungexpress
Dimapur, November 25 (MExN): Referring to the recent statement made by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that the “Naga plebiscite had cost thousands of life and brought much suffering” while “the 16 point agreement on the other hand brought about the statehood of Nagaland which had immensely benefited the people,” the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has welcomed Rio’s statement.
According to a press note issued by C. Apok Jamir, Parliamentary Secretary to CLP, a meeting held on the 25th November 2009 in the residence of CLP Leader at Kohima discussed and deliberated on the statement of Rio. Stating that all these years the NPF party has been very critical about the 16 Point Agreement vis-à-vis the Naga political issue and had been creating confusion in the minds of the Naga people by making misleading statements like “the talk is going in the right direction” or the “Naga Political issue is at crossroad.” and many more. The CLP press note even pointed out that the present Home Minister had on several occasions vehemently criticized the 16 Point Agreement in public meetings.
“It is now very clear that all these high sounding political statements are just gimmicks”, the press note observed while describing it as “heartening to note that both Neiphiu Rio, CM of Nagaland and Dr. Shurhozelie, president of NPF and minister have admitted and realized the importance of 16 Point Agreement and how it has greatly benefited the Naga people”. The CLP has wholeheartedly welcomed and appreciated the statement of the NPF party on the implication and importance of the 16 Point Agreement through which the Nagas have not only survived as a people but immensely benefited, it stated.

NNC counter to Rio on plebiscite

Dimapur, November 25 (MExN): Reacting to a statement made by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on November 1, 2009 while addressing the closing day of the NPF Youth Wing leadership training, the Chakhesang Regional Council, NNC has issued a note condemning the remark made by him. Vekronuo Dozo, president, Chakhesang Regional Council of NNC stated that it was a “sad and painful day for all true Nagas and more so for a Naga national worker, when a respectable Naga leader tries to distort facts of history for his own political gain.”
According to the NNC, this is what Rio stated during his address on November 1, 2009: “Both the Naga Plebiscite of 1951 and the 16 Point agreement of 1960 were political decisions…while the Naga plebiscite had cost thousands of lives and brought much suffering the 16-point agreement, on the other hand, brought about the statehood of Nagaland which had immensely benefited the people.” The press note pointed out that the two events could not be compared adding that the “plebiscite was not a decision taken overnight but was the decision taken based on the mandate of our people”. According to the NNC note, five months time was given to all the Nagas to discuss about the plebiscite voluntarily offered by the NNC to prove unity and spontaneous willingness to continue to live on as a distinct nation. It alleged that the 16-point agreement was a decision taken by a “handful of self-style Naga national leaders and the GOI against the wishes and without the consent of our people.”
Further, the NNC added that the thousands of lives laid down for the Naga National cause were not laid down in vain. “We are thankful to them and their memories are cherished and they are still heroes. We owe what we are and what we have today to the sacrifices they have made. If these brave sons of the soil had not sacrificed their lives where would we be today, would the world know about us? It is because of the, we are able to walk with our head held high, Nagas still have our inherent rights and all the so called benefits we enjoy today. If we are to prosper as a nation, we should remembers our martyrs with gratitude else we may be shamed and cursed as a thankless nation,” it further added.
The NNC stated that it “had high respect for Rio, having a strong hope in his integrity as a true leader of the Nagas and that he had genuine concern, love and vision for the Naga people and capable of leading our people” but that this has “been proved wrong when we see his recent statements.”

JPC ON NAGA ISSUE Nagaland legislators resolve to shun political differences to facilitate early solution | EMN
KOHIMA, NOV 26: In a historic step towards resolving the decades-old Naga political issue, all members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) have unanimously decided to shun political difference and constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), consisting of members irrespective of political parties, for finding an honourable solution acceptable to all.
Highly placed sources revealed that the resolution was adopted unanimously during the second sitting of all Legislators of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly ‘On Naga Political Issue’ held today in the Conference Hall of Assembly Secretariat on the eve of the winter session under the chairmanship of Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie.
The brain storming session, which lasted for over three hours, reportedly discussed threadbare matters relating to the decades-old Naga political issue and the ongoing efforts of reconciliation amongst the Naga underground groups as well as the ongoing political dialogue between the Government of India and NSCN-IM.
The sources disclosed that the House adopted four resolutions following the discussions, wherein they have appreciated the role of the civil societies, NGOs, Church and Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) for their efforts towards reconciliation of Naga underground groups while also acknowledging the Naga underground groups for signing the Covenant of Reconciliation.
The legislators, while thanking the Government of India especially the Prime Minister and Home Minister for their concern in resolving the Indo-Naga issue, are stated to have appealed to both the parties involved in the peace talks to arrive at a settlement acceptable to all sections of Nagas at the earliest.
The House also unanimously resolved to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) consisting of members irrespective of political parties to be the voice of the Nagas to the Government of India and underground groups towards finding an amicable solution to the Naga issue.
Besides NLA Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Opposition Leader Chingwang Konyak addressed the House during the meeting, the sources revealed.
Mention may be made here that the first meeting of all Legislators of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly ‘On Naga Political Issue’ was held on September 8, 2009.
‘Nagaland has rich bio-diversity reserve’ Our Correspondent Morungexpress

S Jalaja, IAS, Secretary, department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, inaugurates the Ayurveda Research Centre at Lumami on Thursday, November 26. (Morung Photo)
Mokokchung | November 26 : The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) of the department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, government of India, and Nagaland University today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Herbal Ayurveda Research Centre at Lumami, Nagaland University.
After inking the MoU, the Ayurveda Research Centre was inaugurated by S Jalaja, IAS, Secretary, department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi, at the Nagaland University Headquarters, Lumami. The Secretary during her inaugural speech said that Ayurveda deals with the propagation of the traditional system of Indian medicines based mainly on herbs. She explained how Ayurveda has been “a part of healing process in the country since a long time back”, and added that Ayurveda has got a “beautiful scientific system.”
Pointing out that Nagaland has a rich bio-diversity reserve, Jalaja said that its potential should be tapped so that the people will benefit through the centre. She further assured that the state’s rich “herbal system” and traditional art of healing through herbs and other practices would be integrated with and incorporated to the centre. Prof. G S Lavekar DG, CCRAS, B Anand, IAS, Joint Secretary at AYUSH, and Prof. K Kannan, Vice Chancellor of NU, also spoke at the program that was chaired by Prof. P Lal, Dean of Social Sciences.
Nagaland house adopts resolution on Naga political conflict PTI
Kohima: The Nagaland assembly today adopted a political resolution appealing to the Centre and Naga underground groups to speed up the political process for early resolution to the Naga political issue.
The four-point resolution, moved by chief minister Neiphiu Rio in the assembly, decided to form a joint parliamentary committee on the Naga political issue.
The resolution, passed unanimously by the members during a one-day sitting of the house, appreciated the efforts by civil societies, churches, NGOs and the Forum for Naga Re-conciliation (FNR) for re-conciliation, understanding and oneness of all sections of Naga society.
The resolution appreciated the commitment towards peace and understanding by Naga underground groups by signing the 'Covenant of Re-conciliation' on September 23 at Chiangmai, Thailand.
It also appreciated the sincerity towards finding a permanent solution to the decades-old Naga political conflict by the government of India, particularly the prime minister and the home minister.
GI registration to protect unique Naga brand name morungexpress
Kohima, November 26 (MExN): Three indigenous products unique to Nagaland have been identified. Following a consultation between experts and participants at a workshop held today, the products – the bamboo shoot from Mon district, Indigo dye and the Naga shawl – will be scrutinised by the UNCTAD, IMC, ICC and CITA. Following this, “further steps would be taken” to register at least two products from Nagaland”.
The workshop on ‘Efficacy and Importance of GI registration: Focus Nagaland’, held here at the conference hall of the Directorate of Industries & Commerce, Kohima, was organised by the department of Industries & Commerce, government of Nagaland, in association with ICC, UNCTAD, IMC and CITA.
Speaking at the workshop as chief guest, Dr. K C Nihoshe, Parliamentary Secretary for industries & commerce, highlighted the importance of GI registration for protecting the unique traditional products of the of the state. “Most of the artisans and producers producing products suitable for GI registration in Nagaland are in rural areas, having limited education, and belong to the poorer strata of the society. Left to themselves they will never be able to take advantage of GI Registration Act 1999; as a result they will lose out commercially, leveraging on the uniqueness of their products,” said Dr. Nihoshe.
Also speaking at the workshop were Abhijit Das, Deputy Project Director for UNCTAD, Prof. V K Unni of IIM Kolkata, J C Srivastava of IMC, and Pradip Patil, CEO at CITA, informed a press release from the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has also underscored the need to obtain Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Naga indigenous products in order to protect its uniqueness. Speaking to mediapersons a day prior to the workshop, Regional Director of North East Chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce, Mahesh Deori, said that people have now started making cheap replicas of traditional Naga products which is causing the indigenous people to lose out on their rightful benefits.
Of the workshop, Deori said it would aim to identify various products that have definite geographical uniqueness and to enable stakeholders understand the concept of GI registration. He admitted that the awareness campaign of the GI registration has reached the North East region, especially Nagaland, quite late and said that a lot needs to be done in this regard.
The Regional Director said that ICC had decided to conduct the awareness workshop after Parliamentary Secretary Dr. K C Nihoshe mooted the idea at a meet in Shillong recently. He pointed out that GI registration will protect the unique identity of Naga products and secure benefits for the producers by preventing illegitimate entities from free-riding on the reputation of the unique Naga brand name. To this, he underlined the need to spread awareness on GI registration in the state.
Regional Advisor of Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC), J C Srivastava said that in order to get a GI registration, the products should have the uniqueness of the region, and historically the product should be in existence for more than fifty years and should also have documentary proof of evidence.
OSD to government of Nagaland, department of Industries, M K Mero said NGOs dealing with handloom and handicrafts products should take initiatives to ensure indigenous products get GI registration as the state government can only play the role of a facilitator in such matters. He said Nagaland has a huge potential of unique agri and flora products citing that there were around 73 varieties of rice, including the sticky rice variety, unique only to Nagaland.
While pointing out that a lot of traditional handloom designs were being replicated outside the state and marketed on mass base, Mero also stressed urgent need to protect the original indigenous handloom designs and weaving methods of the state.
(With inputs from Newmai News Network)

Forces foil Ulfa attack plan - Arrested woman cadre spills Sivasagar blast plot, rebel reveals cycle bombs ready to be detonated A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph


Ulfa cadre Mina Gogoi, who was arrested in Sivasagar along the Assam-Nagaland border on Thursday. A Telegraph picture
Guwahati, Nov. 26: Security forces foiled an Ulfa bid to carry out blasts in Upper Assam on the eve of the outfit’s protest day tomorrow by apprehending a senior woman cadre of the outfit in Sivasagar today.
Troops of the 871 Medium Regiment of the army apprehended Mina Gogoi, 45, a sergeant in the outfit, who had sneaked into the state via Nagaland from Myanmar. She later confessed that the outfit had planned to carry out blasts in the Charaideo subdivision of Sivasagar district. A 5kg improvised explosive device (IED), a pistol, some photographs and a register containing details of funds collected by the outfit in Charaideo subdivision were recovered from her. Mina, wife of the outfit’s Sonari area commander, Romen Dhadomia, had joined Ulfa in 1994. She was arrested earlier in 2005 but fled to Myanmar after jumping bail.
Mina said that she, along with four other cadres, including her husband, had left their Myanmar camp three days ago and entered Assam this morning.
They had sneaked into the state via Nagaland. An officer of the 871 Medium Regiment, based at Maibella under Charaideo subdivision, said it had received information about a group of Ulfa cadres trying to sneak into Assam from Nagaland to carry out sabotage activities in the run-up to their protest day tomorrow. The outfit was banned on November 27, 1990.
“Security arrangements along the border were beefed up following this input. This morning our men accosted a woman entering Assam at Lahdoigarh in the Namtola area under Sonari police station in Sivasagar. On frisking, we found an IED, a pistol, audio cassettes and documents,” he said.
The officer said the other militants, including Dhadomia, fled on seeing the woman cadre being frisked. Police sources said Dhadomia is responsible for distributing extortion notices to various businessmen and tea planters in Sonari subdivision.
A police official said Mina had confessed during interrogation that the group had come to carry out blasts in Charaideo subdivision.
“These cadres are fully trained and ready to strike,” the police official cautioned.
In a second blow to the outfit, police today arrested a Myanmar-trained Ulfa militant Rupam Boro alias Rupak Bora from the Mission Chariali area of Tezpur in Sonitpur district.
The police said three other rebels, who were with Boro, managed to escape.
15-year-old student dies in Bodo fratricidal attack OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Kokrajhar, Nov. 26: Unidentified assailants shot dead a 15-year-old schoolboy preparing for an examination at a friend’s house in Kokrajhar last night, apparently to avenge the killing of a surrendered Bodo militant on Sunday.
Police said Nirmal Basumatary, a student of Kachugaon High School, was at his friend’s home studying when three armed youths shot him from point blank range around 7 last night.
Three bullets pierced his head and chest, killing him instantly. He is the 10th victim of fratricidal clashes in Kokrajhar since November 8.
Nirmal is the brother-in-law of Monoj Narzary, a former Bodo Liberation Tiger member, who was allegedly involved in the killing of 30-year-old Doren Daimary, a cadre of the ceasefire-bound National Democratic Front of Boroland, at Jolaishree Alokjhar last Sunday.
Narzary was arrested and is now in police custody. Still numb from the trauma, Nirmal’s friend, Sanjib Rai, gave a chilling account of the pre-planned murder to the police and media today.
“We were studying together at my house when three persons barged in and opened fire on him. I fainted out of fear as I thought they would also kill me. I can still see blood,” he said. His family members were busy in other parts of the house.
Nirmal’s father, Noleswar Basumatary, is shocked beyond words.
“He left home saying that he is going to his friend’s house to study and then we got news about this incident. What is happening?” asked Basumatary. This is also the first instance of a minor becoming the target of fratricidal clashes between various warring groups in the Bodo belt. The killing has triggered paranoia among residents.
“There is no law and order. People are no longer safe. One is not sure if he will be the next target,” said H. Brahma, a father of two college-going sons.
Though various Bodo organisations have been trying to stop the fratrici- dal killings, the efforts have had little impact.
A source in the police said the situation could turn worse with elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council scheduled for next year.
“What we are witness- ing today is a war to grab political space in the four districts under the BTC. This can only turn more intense and even spill over into the districts not yet affected in the days to come,” the source said.
The BTC has asked Dispur to provide more security forces to pre-empt more trouble in the conflict-ravaged Bodo belt.
India, Myanmar to expand security tie Indo-Asian News Services
November 24, 2009: India has urged Myanmar to push the democratic process even as the two nations agreed to expand security cooperation to combat insurgent groups and arms smuggling.
“Both countries stressed the need for greater vigilance at the border and agreed to enhance security cooperation to combat insurgent groups and arms smuggling,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement here Monday, after the two-day Foreign Office consultations between the two countries that ended Sunday.
The talks covered a broad spectrum of bilateral issues, including security and border issues, trade and economic cooperation and cooperation in cross-border developmental projects, IT, energy, power and education and training.
They also reinforced the decisions taken at a joint trade committee held in October that included converting India-Myanmar border trade into normal trade, opening of a border trade point at Avakhung in Nagaland, and expanding the existing border trade items from 22 to 40.
Under increasing international pressure to use its influence to persuade the junta rulers in Myanmar to pursue democratic reforms, the Indian side also pushed for expediting the process of national reconciliation in Myanmar, official sources said.
India is encouraging Myanmar to pursue political reforms according to the roadmap unveiled by the Myanmarese leadership years ago.
Meanwhile, according to a report in The Telegraph, the Ulfa and the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland are holding joint training sessions in three Arunachal Pradesh districts, fearing possible army crackdowns in Assam and Nagaland.
A group of 30 newly recruited Ulfa cadres are undergoing a two months’ advanced training in villages bordering Changlang and Myanmar under the supervision of “sergeant commander” Anjan Borthakur of B company of Ulfa’s 28 battalion, the outfit’s publicity secretary Michael Deka and the commander of NSCN (K) Siv Konyak.
“After two months of training, the cadres will head for Myanmar to join other group members. It is an alarming trend. This is the first time that Ulfa and NSCN (K) are jointly conducting such advanced training courses in the state,” a source in police said.
The officer said NSCN (K) “lieutenant” Konyak was the master trainer, aided by nine other trainers.
The villages in Mahadevpur circle of Lohit district, Ponchau circle of Tirap district and Bordumsa circle of Changlang district are the outfits’ new havens.
In July, this year, NSCN (K) circulated a letter to the chieftains of 15 villages under Longding circle of Tirap district asking them to provide computer-savvy youths to join their ranks.
Though the outfit had computer engineers and other professionals in its ranks, this was first such recruitment drive asking for “youth with specific requirements”.
In January this year, the NSCN (K) abducted 39 school students from Tirap district within months of sending notices to 13 villages in the district asking for 200 boys to join the outfit. Later, the outfit said the youths were not abducted but had joined the outfit voluntarily.
The stretch from Chessa to Chengmara on the Arunachal-Assam border is used by militants from Assam as an “escape route”.
The rising rebel movement in the state prompted the government to give away a large tract of land in the Papum Pare area to the army to set up a training facility last month.