12/09/2009: "Naga groups seek common approach morungexpress"

Naga groups seek common approach morungexpress

In this image released to the media, members of the Joint Working Group comprising of the NSCN/GPRN, NNC/FGN and GPRN/NSCN, are seen here at the Sumi Church, Dimapur on Tuesday. The Joint Working Group was formed as an outcome of the Naga reconciliation process initiated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation.
Dimapur | December 8 : Despite the recent flurry of media reports and intense speculation doing the rounds on the Government of India’s reported proposals to be placed before the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) for further talks, reliable sources are however pointing out that the Naga groups (the two NSCNs and FGN) are serious about working on a common approach before any formal talks can begin with the Government of India.
To this effect, the Joint Working Group (JWG) of the three groups today met at Dimapur and issued a statement ‘A Public Affirmation’ upholding the September 28, 2009 joint declaration which had clearly rejected any form of “conditional package offered to the Nagas by the Government of India”.
One reliable source working closely with the Naga political groups said that the JWG had “consistently” voiced its opposition to any “conditional package”. “One can therefore logically surmise that the Naga political groups are serious about working together to solve the Naga problem”, the source said. When queried, the source also expressed the view that the latest joint declaration was “indicative” of the willingness on the part of the NSCN (IM) to work together with the other groups with regard to the ongoing political talks with Delhi.
According to some political observers, at a time when there is so much speculation and confusion going around, the public affirmation issued by the JWG will clear any shadow of doubt and at the same time send a clear message to Delhi about the position of the Nagas as far as the future of Indo-Naga political talks is concerned.
It was also mentioned that the latest statement from the JWG was in all probability a direct rebuttal to the comments made by the Union Home Secretary GK Pillai as reported by a section of the national media. The Union Home secretary had mentioned that the government had invited the NSCN (IM) leadership for a discussion on the proposals, which was ready. The report also quoted Pillai as saying that the invitation to the NSCN (IM) had already been sent.
However well placed sources within the NSCN (IM) denied receiving any invitation from the government of India side and at the same time also refuted reports of talks between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM taking place.
“To remove all public assumptions and to clarify any doubts arising from the recent statements made by the Government of India, we the signatories of the Joint Working Group hereby recommit ourselves to uphold, respect and honor the principles of the joint declaration”, stated the JWG after today’s meeting. Meanwhile sources also pointed out that “significant developments are taking place” as far as the peace and reconciliation process is concerned.
A Public Affirmation

To remove all public assumptions and to clarify any doubts arising from the recent statements made by the Government of India, we the signatories of the Joint Working Group hereby recommit ourselves to uphold, respect and honor the principles of “A Joint Declaration” signed on September 28, 2009, in which “We jointly reject any form of conditional package offered to the Nagas by the Government of India”
The Joint Working Group further recognizes the urgency to facilitate the meeting of a summit at the highest level, at the earliest, in affirmation of the “Covenant of Reconciliation.” We therefore reassure to render every cooperation in order to bring about the summit, at the earliest.
The Joint Working Group agrees to reaffirm and strengthen our total commitment to “work together in the spirit of love, non-violence, peace and respect to resolve outstanding issues amongst us.”
The Joint Working Group reinforces our pledge to abide and implement cessation of all forms of offensive activities in toto.

Mr. Vikiye Awomi
NSCN/GPRN
for Convenor
Joint Working Group
Mr. Zhopra Vero
NNC/FGN
Convenor
Joint Working Group
Mr. C Singson
GPRN/NSCN
Convenor
Joint Working Group
Date: December 8, 2009
Morung Express News
Naga hope finds a voice in Japan Al Ngullie Morungexpress

Dr. Abraham Lotha delivering a discourse on the matter “Naga nationalism and its relation with International Indigenous Rights Movement,” during the December 5-6 symposium in the Shirokane Campus of the Japanese university, the Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo/Wataru Haejima)

For the past more than 50 years, the greater Indo-Naga political question has been birthing among others, a steady progression of wide-ranging attention from interests other than those political. The academic merits and scholastic application of the indigenous Nagas’ socio-political life have been explored in one and many ways, on one platform or the other, through a situation or the next.
‘Affinity with state-less peoples’
But an explicitly new perspective was given to the struggle of history of the Naga race – from India’s North East – when the subject matter of their socio-political existence was taken up as a comparative academic discourse in a leading Japanese university in Tokyo, the chief trade city of Japan, this December.
A sequence of creative and academic events was held in the Shirokane Campus of the Japanese university, the Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo. An earlier-held photo exhibition on the tribal Nagas culminated with a symposium on December 5 and the 6th. The Naga Photo Exhibition was organized as an introductory sequence to the symposium. A university scholar from Meiji Gakuin University informed that dissertations about Nagaland were exchanged and discussed comparatively with the situations of other “nations without states” such as Okinawa (or the Okinawans) in Japan and the Kurds in central Asia.
The symposium discoursed on the Naga people and their long-standing political “process” with India as with other ‘state-less’ peoples such as the much-oppressed Kurds. Themed “Different Voices for Autonomy and Self-Determination: Situation of Nations without States,” the symposium saw discourses from eminent academia. Speaking on the theme subject on the Naga people was Dr. Abraham Lotha of St. Joseph College. A session “Naga Nationalism and its relation with International Indigenous Rights Movement” was addressed by Dr. Abraham Lotha. Member of International Peace Research Institute PRIME, Takao Takahara, was the moderator of the session on the said discourse.
On December 6, Dr Abraham Lotha delivered a paper. His presentation was one of the first efforts to address Naga issues in Japan, and the audience there was very much impressed by his speech, said a research scholar from Japan. It was informed that there were a number of questions and comments on his presentation. These included response from Okinawan participants in the symposium.
The Okinawans have been suffering from the existence of US army bases – one testy subject that has fomented anti-Japan sentiments in Okinawa and have fueled the call for the Ryukyu independence movement from the mainland. The Okinawan participants felt encouraged by the struggle of the Naga people and their active participation in the United Nations and other international networks, a scholar who attended the event informed.
In February this year, a week-long study tour to Nagaland was undertaken by a number of Japanese students from the university led by a director of PRIME (International Peace Research Institute), Prof Takeo. “We have learned a lot about the history of the Naga people and your movement for independence during our tour. So after coming back to Japan, we’ve decided to hold a symposium on some relevant issue,” said a Japanese research scholar and teacher from Japan, who wished not to be named.
She said the theme “Different Voices for Autonomy and Self-Determination: Situation of Nations without States” (of the symposium) came out to think about the issue of Nagaland in comparison with Okinawa and Kurds, two other cases from Asia. “At the same time, we’ve decided to hold a photo exhibition so that we can inform more about rich Naga culture and society, and not only focus on political aspect,” she said.
The scholar said no future work has been planned for now, but so far the said events have attracted great amount of attention and some Naga residents in Japan are “willing to do something together.” “So this is just the beginning, but I also hope that there will be greater attention on Nagaland and Naga issues in Japan,” the scholar said.
Among the discourses were on Ryukyu’s self-governance and autonomy as presented by Yasukatsu Matsushima, Professor of Ryuukoku University; ‘The Situation of Kurds’ by

Naga integration is not a farce but it is inborn Nagaland Post
Swu and Th. Muivah is expected to visit, New Delhi, Soon and the (NPCC) welcoming the statement of G.K. Pellai Union Home Secretary Government of India (GOI). It appears that, there is a slip of proper information and proper study on the subject matter. The Government of India and the NCCN (IM) Agreement is genuine and sincere agreement, without fear or suspicion between them. It a genuine agreement and gentlemen's agreement which enter into, in the year 1997.
Once agreement is done any proposal or suggestions should be placed in the meeting either from the Government Of India side or NSCN (IM) side. No contenting party should seek the opinion of public or anybody as it will amount to Blackmail and invoking public sentiments against the party. On the part of NSCN (IM) it is learnt that more than 30 (Thirty) points of demand have been submitted to the Government Of India through
Negotiation Table. This is a correct way of the Peace Talk agreement with The Government Of India. The home Secretary is going all around talking to the people and trying to convinced to except his personal /individual suggestions is against the norms of agreement between the 2 (two) Entities, legally entered in their clause of agreement. This act of action, whether right or wrong, is cheap way of political solution. If any intending party to withdraw from the agreement, if that also should be done, on the table during the meeting.
In his letter of 13th May 1956, to Chief Minister of Assam P.R. Methi , Late Pandit Jawarahlal Nehru said, number one grievances is the Nagas are not happy with Assam Government and the second is Nagas have grievances for dividing them into so many states. Therefore , we need to make them understand and instead of sending more forces, (security).
Before the Nagas joined the congress, in the year 1972, in the presence of SHEELBHADRA Y AJEE, General Secretary of (AICC) incharge of Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. On 31st August 1972, passed a resolution supporting Naga integration. So the Naga National workers demanding for Naga Integration for the Nagas in the North East is not false demand/propaganda, but it has been existing, even before the British took over the Administration in the North East. Naga History is a well and established fact. Established facts, do not need to be argued and scrutinized time and again Dwelling on the past without making any effort to learn from mistakes is most Self-destructive.
I am not blaming any body but, I am pointing out the procedural and procedure of the Committee and Maintenance of secrecy for better understanding and deliverance of justice and appeal both the party to sit together and sort it out the differences and solve the problem peacefully and amicably.
T.A Ngullie
Advisor, UNDSP-Party & former Minister, Nagaland

India buoyed by Bangladesh's 'gift'
By Sudha Ramachandran Asia Times

BANGALORE - Bangladesh has handed over to India two top leaders of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). The move not only marks an important turning point in India-Bangladesh relations, it opens the opportunity for the Indian government to initiate talks with ULFA leaders, possibly paving the way for a negotiated settlement to the three-decades-long insurgency in India's northeast.

Among those who have been handed over to India are the ULFA chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, and the "deputy commander-in-chief", Raju Baruah, and their families. Accused in several cases, including murder, extortion and waging war against India, Rajkhowa has an Interpol "Red Corner" notice against him. He has been out of India since 1992 and is said to have lived in

Myanmar, Thailand and Bhutan, besides Bangladesh.

The ULFA has been fighting for an independent Assam since its founding in 1979. It has carried out scores of violent attacks over the past three decades and is an outlawed organization in India.

Bangladesh, which has hitherto denied the existence of anti-India militants taking sanctuary in or operating from its soil, has finally cracked the whip on them. The issue of action against anti-India terrorist outfits based in Bangladesh was caught in that country's domestic politics.

The more right-wing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was loathe to act against India's northeastern militant groups operating from Bangladesh soil, given its anti-India bias, and against Islamist terror outfits, given its own fundamentalist leanings. The secular and more pro-India Awami League (AL), meanwhile, while expressing willingness to act against these organizations, failed to do so, fearing criticism from the BNP and others that its leaders were "Indian stooges".

In the process, neither party while in power heeded India's pleas to act against anti-India militants based in Bangladesh. Delhi provided successive Bangladeshi governments with maps and other details of terrorist training camps in Bangladesh, but to little avail.

That has now changed. Bangladesh is acting on Indian security concerns and there are strong signs that counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries is robust.

Two days after the AL's landslide victory in general elections in December last year, party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared that "no one will be allowed to use this land to carry out terrorism in India". She began acting soon after a major crackdown was launched on the ULFA. Last month, its foreign secretary, Sashadhar Choudhury, and finance secretary, Chitraban Hazarika, were pushed into Indian territory by Bangladeshi authorities.

Last week, Bangladesh also handed over two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants wanted in India for their role in serial blasts in Bangalore last year.

Prime Minister Hasina will visit India in January, when she will be honored with the Indira Gandhi Award for Peace, Disarmament and Development. She will be hoping that India, often looked on by its neighbors as a big bully, will be more of a gentle giant. Besides the terrorism issue, differences on transit rights, sharing of river waters, a trade imbalance and demarcation of a maritime boundary have dogged India-Bangladesh ties for decades. Bangladesh's action on the ULFA leaders could see India treating Dhaka with more generosity.

Rajkhowa's arrest is the latest in a series of blows suffered by ULFA. But for Paresh Baruah, its "commander-in-chief" who is believed to be somewhere in Myanmar, all other members of the organization's executive council are now in Indian custody. The "general secretary", Anup Chetia, is in jail in Dhaka and is expected to be handed over to India soon.

In June last year, the ULFA's 28th Battalion, which is the outfit's most potent strike force, split down the middle, with two of its three companies announcing a unilateral ceasefire with Indian authorities.

Indian authorities believe that with Rajkhowa's arrest, a window of opportunity has opened up to engage in talks with ULFA. "The ULFA has been seriously weakened; its bargaining capacity is low," say officials. In earlier talks with the ULFA, officials had to engage with the outfit's second and third rung leaders. That has changed with Rajkhowa in their custody. Rajkhowa has for long been regarded as the ULFA's moderate face and is believed to be pro-talks.

Rajkhowa and Paresh Baruah, who is still at large, have said that talks with the Indian government will be possible only if the issue of Assam's sovereignty is on the agenda.

In the past, the ULFA put forward three conditions for talks - sovereignty, negotiations in a foreign country and mediation by the United Nations. Over the years it has dropped the latter two conditions. But it continues to insist on sovereignty figuring in any talks.

Indian officials have said that while the government is ready to hold talks with the ULFA, "talks on Assam's sovereignty are ruled out". Will the Indian government's inflexibility on the issue stand in the way of negotiations starting?

There are instances when India has engaged in talks with insurgent groups and not insisted on them abjuring independence explicitly ahead of talks.

This has been the case with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), a Naga insurgent group. A ceasefire between security forces and the outfit has held for about 13 years, and talks are in progress. And while the group has not renounced independence in any statement, its position has "diluted naturally over time on the issue in negotiations", Indian officials who have engaged in talks with the Nagas say.

"If the government can talk to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) despite its insistence on sovereignty, there's no reason [why] the ULFA issue cannot be handled similarly," says senior advocate, Arup Barbora, a member of the People's Consultative Group that the ULFA set up in 2005 to mediate in talks with the Indian government. "Discussing sovereignty does not mean granting it," he points out.

While both the government and the ULFA are talking tough at the moment, it does seem that Delhi is looking for "some way" to get the ULFA to the negotiating table. It cannot say that sovereignty is negotiable, as that undermines its own sovereignty and the authority of the Indian constitution. Still, neither side mentioning the sovereignty issue, whether insisting on its inclusion or exclusion from the talks agenda, could be a way out.

To get the Nagas to the negotiating table, for instance, the term "unconditional talks" was used. This allowed both sides to discuss all issues raised by the rebels as well as objections the government had to these issues.

While the Indian government is in a position of strength at the moment, given the ULFA's much weakened current state, its bungling could see it fritter away the advantage. The day Rajkhowa was to be brought to court, speculation was rife that the government would accord him political prisoner status, instead of treating him like a terrorist or criminal, since it was keen to engage in talks with him. But it was a handcuffed Rajkhowa that appeared in court.

"There cannot be any peace talks with the government under handcuffs, as prisoners cannot negotiate," Rajkhowa said as he was taken to court.

"If the government was at all serious in utilizing Rajkhowa's services for peace talks, then what was the need for bringing him to the court handcuffed," a human-rights activist, Lachit Borodoloi, has observed.

Initially, the government claimed that Rajkhowa surrendered. On his way to the court, the ULFA chairman said he had "not surrendered and would never surrender before the government and sovereignty cannot be compromised". Officials then backtracked, and said he had been arrested.

This shoddy treatment of Rajkhowa and the claims and denials by the government on the circumstances of his falling into India's hands have earned the ULFA leader sympathy among sections of the Assamese people and painted the government in a negative light.

Experts also point out that the government is wrong if it thinks it can successfully negotiate a peace settlement without including Baruah. The arrest of Rajkhowa no doubt is a blow to the ULFA, but Paresh Baruah is believed to be the one who calls the shots in the organization. And he is still at large.

A hardliner, firmly opposed to talks, Baruah retains the support of a large number of ULFA fighters. Will ULFA moderates defy his diktat and engage in talks with the government? Following Rajkhowa's arrest, Baruah has issued statements that there is no rift in the ULFA. Even if the moderates were to defy him and engage in talks, he has the capacity to disrupt the peace process through acts of violence.

As a noted Assamese litterateur and former facilitator for peace talks, Indira Goswami, warns, "Peace talks without Baruah will be futile and counter-productive."
Sudha Ramachandran is an independent journalist/researcher based in Bangalore.
India, China embolden Burma junta Mizzima
December 8, 2009: JAKARTA, Indonesia—The strong backing of emerging economic giants China and India of the dictatorship is effectively fending off the demands for democratization of Burma by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Prof. Hank Lim, director for research of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said the junta’s stonewalling is a key stumbling block to the economic integration of the bloc by 2015. He concluded there should be a shift in the way the Asean and the international community deals with Burma (renamed by military rulers as Myanmar) that goes around the Indian and Chinese support, if they are to be effective in influencing its democratization.
Otherwise, “There is nothing Asean can do to open up Myanmar . . . it will never buckle down on Asean demands. It is better to engage than isolate it,” said Dr. Lim in his lecture here on the Asean economic integration to journalists. He said Burma is richer in natural resources, far better than Asean neighbor Indonesia, since it has only a 68-million population compared with Indonesia’s 240 million people.
Lim, who teaches economics at Singapore National University, said Burma is also the only country in Southeast Asia that has borders with India and China, a strategic location to offer its rich gas resources with a pipeline that even now is being built at the expense of its poor people, who are relocated willy-nilly on the whim of the junta.
“Asean should understand that China is now intensifying the establishment of pipelines from Myanmar will always support Myanmar and same thing with India, which is now going West using its [geographical] link to Myanmar,” he said.
He added the US has already realized Burma’s strength as a regional powerhouse linking India and China and began engaging the military junta diplomatically. US President Obama recently sent a diplomatic delegation to Burma to meet with the junta.
“Democratization and stakeholder participation is very basic for the Asean Economic Community scheme. We need to open up because we can’t do that with a close government because no foreign direct investment will come with that type of regime,” said Lim. He said the commitment of Burma to sign the Asean Economic Blueprint, which integrates the economies of the 10 member-countries, is a major positive step. “But how Myanmar can implement its commitment to the Asean economic integration is another thing, but we must push for diplomatic engagement rather than isolate it.
‘Transform the various facets of peace initiation’ morungexpress

(Left to Right) Mrs. Kheshili Chishi, Arenla Longchar, Dr. Joyce Z Angami and Dr. Adela Mero in Australia during the 5th Creators of Peace International Conference, Sydney 2009.

Dimapur, December 8 (MExN): The 5th Creators of Peace International Conference, Sydney 2009, was held from September 30 to October 4 last, 2009 under the theme ‘Creating a Culture of Peace – What Will It Take?’ The Nagaland government had sponsored four women, including Kheshili Chishi, Arenla Longchar, Dr. Adela Mero and Dr. Joyce Z Angami, to participate in the international event. The Conference was attended by 240 women from 30 countries.
Naga women to create Circle of Peace in Nagaland
A press release received here stated that the delegates were challenged to change attitudes and transform the various facets of peace initiation as the conference progressed. They were also urged to listen to their inner voices as they reflected on stories shared by women from the 30 countries. The stories were of the ‘Lost Generation’ that showed courage, fortitude, trauma and perseverance. Further, the women, through meditation, evaluation and commitment, learned to forgive. This then led to the ‘telling of a new story’, by becoming the Creators of Peace Circles.
At the end of the Conference, questions were also asked on what would take to create a culture of peace. The response was “a willing heart, listening to understand, the courage to forgive and perhaps, most of all, the vision to see things, not as they are now, but how they could be.”
The participants from Nagaland acknowledged the support rendered through the Capacity Building initiative of the government, for their “learning exposure to the international arena of women working for Peace” and looked forward to support “as we create Circle of Peace’ in Nagaland.”
Talks only after insurgents lay down arms: Chidambaram ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) Talks with the insurgent groups in the northeast as well as with Maoists could be held only if they laid down arms, the government said categorically Wednesday.
The issue figured through two separate questions in the Rajya Sabha, and Home Minister P. Chidambaram replied in similar vein to both of them.
Speaking about insurgent groups in the northeast, Chidambaram said: “Our stand is clear. Lay down arms, give up demands for sovereignty and talks can be held… My appeal is common to all insurgent groups (in the northeast). Give up demands for sovereignty and lay down your arms. This will open the way for talks.”
Reminding the house that he had last week hoped that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) would make a political statement offering talks with the government, the home minister said: “No, such offer has not come. If they make an offer, we will talk.”
Kumar Deepak Das of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) attempted to, but failed to trip up Chidambaram by pointing out that the government was in talks with the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) even though it had not given up its demand for sovereignty.
The minister’s response was measured: “There is a ceasefire in place (in Nagaland). By and large, it has brought down the levels of violence. We are in touch with both factions (of the NSCN). At this moment, I am not in a position to disclose anything more.
“I am confident that both groups will move on the line of talks,” he added. He was equally circumspect when asked whether ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa had been arrested or had surrendered.
“The BSF (Border Security Force) apprehended three people on the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border. A team from the Assam Police took custody of the three persons after their identities were established since they are involved in cases in Assam,” Chidambaram replied, without taking names.
S.S. Ahluwalia (Bharatiya Janata Party) angrily asked how the government expected talks with Rajkhowa in handcuffs, referring to photographs of the ULFA chief being produced in a Guwahati court.
Pat came the reply: “If there is an offer for talks, these will be conducted with due dignity.”
Asked whether any leaders of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDBF) had been arrested and whether the government would hold talks with the group that is demanding a separate Bodoland, Chidambaram said: “There are talks with the pro-talk faction through an interlocutor.”
Replying to a supplementary on whether any leader of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was in custody in Bangladesh, the minister said: “Thanks to the coordinated effort of the central government and the Tripura government, militant activities have by and large been contained. I don’t think there is a threat from the NLFT or any other group.”
“Whether or not anyone is in custody, I do not know,” he added.
Replying to a question on whether the government would make special efforts to contact Maoist leaders, Chidambaram said: “I do appreciate the sentiments of the honourable member but there is no room for sending contradictory signals. If the Naxalites (Maoists) abjure violence, talks can be held on any matter of concern.
“Some well-meaning groups are there (acting as go-betweens). I am encouraging them. So far, we have not received any concrete offer (from the Maoists),” the minister added.
Pro-talks men with us, claims NDFB OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kokrajhar, Dec. 8: The anti-talks Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland today said several members of the pro-talks outfit had left the designated camps and returned to its fold.
The anti-talks faction of the NDFB also clarified that it was not against peace talks but would not surrender. The outfit also said over 70 cadres of the group have been sent on a new foreign mission.
In a statement mailed to the media, the outfit’s general secretary, N. Dinthi Gwra, said, “For the past year, there had been many occasions when cadres came out from the designated camps and joined us. Last September, as many as 16 cadres, mostly seniors from the designated camps joined us. But we never made it public nor tried to create cheap propaganda out of it.”
“There are many more cadres willing to come forward and join us from the clutches of the so called leaders who have deviated from the dreams of the martyrs and the ideology and principles of the NDFB,” Gwra said.
The statement came after Rwjab Deka, the organising secretary and one of the senior-most members of the outfit, joined the pro-talks group in Udalguri on Saturday. The statement claimed that Deka was relieved from his duties in the outfit on medical grounds.
“Those members or cadres who have deserted the party and have chosen to bow down before India should refrain from making such cheap propaganda in future in the greater interest of the Bodo nation. It is not the sheer number of the fighters but the spirit and determination that can save a nation,” the statement read.
The statement also said the outfit was ready to resolve the Bodo problems.
“We have always been maintaining that we are not against talks to resolve the standing Indo-Bodo political problems, it said.
“We cannot surrender our ideology and principles before we start talks with India,” the statement added.

Nagalim.NL News

12/09/2009: "Naga groups seek common approach morungexpress"