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12/28/2009: "Khaplang brings in Kachin fighters OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Khaplang brings in Kachin fighters OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Itanagar, Dec. 27: The NSCN (Khaplang) has brought in heavily armed members of Myanmar-based Kachin Independent Army (KIA) to take on its rival, the NSCN (Isak-Muivah), in a renewed turf war in two districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
“NSCN-K has turned to the Kachin Independent Army for logistical help to build up bases in the twin districts of Arunachal Pradesh — Tirap and Changlang — and heavily armed KIA fighters have already entered these two districts along the Indo-Myanmar border,” a senior police official told The Telegraph today.
The police official said the NSCN (K) had also started a recruitment drive in the twin districts to take on the rival faction.
“Altogether 16 youths from Pongchau and two others from Bonia village under Pongchau circle were recruited by the NSCN (K) in November,” he said.
Besides, nine youths from Nyinu village under Wakka circle of Tirap district were recruited by the NSCN (K) this month and these youths are currently undergoing training under the guidance of the Kachin Independent Army in Myanmar.
The two districts of Arunachal Pradesh also have bases of NSCN (I-M).
The turf war between the two NSCN factions in the two districts had witnessed bloodshed when both the factions had lost several of its cadres in last part of 2008 and early part of 2009.
The loss of manpower had forced the two factions to subsequently exercise restraint after signing of “covenant of reconciliation” on September 23, 2009, at Chiang Mai in Thailand.
“But the recent reports of NSCN (K) taking help from the KIA and also recruiting more youths in the two districts only indicate that the situation will turn volatile in the days to come,” the police official said.
Sources said the NSCN (I-M), which has a stronghold in Tirap, had also started recruitment drives in certain pockets of the district, but not in an “organised manner and tempo” with which its rival faction is carrying out its operation.
Last year, the NSCN (K) had issued letters to the chieftains of about 15 villages under Longding circle in Tirap district seeking “computer-savvy youths” to join the outfit.
Sources said the outfit has computer engineers and other professionals in its ranks. The NSCN (K) abducted 39 school students from Tirap within months of sending notices to 13 villages in the district asking for 200 boys to join the outfit in January last year.
The outfit later denied reports of abduction saying the youths had joined the outfit voluntarily.
Sources said recently the outfit has zeroed in on villages such as Nyinu, Dadam and Lazu of Wakka area and villages under Pongchau circle for recruitment in Tirap district. Most of these identified recruits are said to be in the age group of 20 to 24 years.
Both the NSCN outfits claimed that the two districts belong to Nagas and have included these in their map of “Nagalim” along with certain parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Even the Nagaland Assembly has adopted resolutions in the past endorsing the NSCN position on these areas.
Sources close to the Naga outfits said the process of reconciliation between the two NSCN factions was moving in the right direction and there could be a breakthrough soon.
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NSCN drive against HIV/AIDS
OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Dec. 27: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M), which is in ceasefire with the Centre since 1997, has joined the rest of the world in fighting HIV/AIDS.
Concerned with the disease spreading fast across the world, the outfit recently conducted a health camp at its council headquarters — Camp Hebron — some 35km away from Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland.
Around 400 NSCN cadres were screened for HIV/AIDS by the DKT India Project Aasha, which functions under the National AIDS Control Organisation. Four cadres were detected HIV positive.
According to the health ministry of the outfit, HIV/AIDS has been recognised as a major concern. Besides, Hepatitis C and malaria have also taken a toll on the cadres. The NSCN said steps were being taken to document the scenario of the pandemic and related health issues among the organisation.
In addition to screening, the outfit is also undertaking awareness campaigns to ensure that its members receive first hand knowledge on AIDS and prevention from NGOs.
“An awareness programme is being held for the civil and military wings of the outfit at Camp Hebron through drama, audio visual and verbal discourse,” Vikiye Sumi, “kilonser” (minister) in charge of ministry of information and publicity of the NSCN, said.
The DKT India project focuses particularly on condom social marketing propagation as a preventive measure against HIV/AIDS.
Toshi Aier, the state co-ordinator of the project, said out of an approximate 20 lakh population in Nagaland, only 269,381 had been recorded to have had their blood tested till October 2009 and out of them, 8,791 had tested positive.
While the prevalence rate is 1.2 per cent at present, Aier voiced apprehension that the real scenario might turn out to be worse if the entire population of the state were to be screened.
Sumi said the outfit was yet to receive the final report of the HIV/AIDS test from the DKT India project.
“We have not received the medical reports yet,” he added.
Sumi said medical camps were being held from time to time to keep the cadres fit.
Apart from this, the outfit’s health ministry also conducts health camps for the needy villagers from time to time.
The NSCN has several camps across length and breadth of Naga-inhabited areas in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.
As part of the campaign against HIV/AIDS, the NSCN is also running a rehabilitation and counselling centre at Heninkunglwa village under Peren district for people who are into drugs and other anti-social activities.
Cooperative Movement in Nagaland a mass movement Our Correspondent Morung
Kohima | December 28 : Much importance has been given emphasising cooperative movement in Nagaland as a mass movement for socio-economic upliftment of the rural people enabling them to have a feeling of self-reliance which is of basic importance in a democratic way of life. The Assam Cooperative Societies Act 1949 and the Assam Cooperative Societies Rules 1953 are currency enforced in Nagaland. However, efforts are being made to formulate the state’s own Act and Rules, according to an annual administrative report of the department of Cooperation.
The state government, through the cooperative department, continues to play a pivotal role in the promotion of the cooperative sector through genuine cooperative entrepreneurship evolving into a mechanism of resource mobilisation, regular income generation, gainful employment and wealth creation, the report states. It adds that to operate cooperatives in the true spirit, the following strategies have been enunciated: (a) The role of the government in ensuring that the benefits of liberalisation and globalisation in the emerging economic environment are percolated to the Cooperatives in the state through suitable fiscal policies to provide support and protection to the cooperatives movement through suitably designed investment programme. (b) To initiate structural reforms in order to improve the functioning of the cooperatives at various levels and to ensure greater efficiency and variability. These may include steps to devise suitable mechanism for rehabilitation of the sick Cooperatives (particularly at the Apex level), expedite and wind up defunct societies, etc. (c) To support the Cooperative movement to develop human resources, cooperative education and training, appropriate technologies and infrastructural facilities so as to promote professional management in cooperative down to the primary level for their greater functional and operational efficiency.
The report also states that the Central and state government accepted the Cooperative Movement as a means for economic development and is a via media of “ism” between capital and socialism. Cooperative Movement in the country becomes a state subject with the enactment of reformed Cooperative Societies Act, 1919. To this end, state formulates policies, evolved programmes, and earmark budget outlays to promote and strengthen cooperatives, adds the report.
“On recommendation of Rural Credit Survey Committee 1954, the promotion of cooperatives accepted as part of State Policy in the development of various economic activities. This policy led to state partnership in the share capital investment of cooperatives and in their management,” the report states.
Five wounded in Imphal blast
OUR CORRESPONDENT The telegraph
Imphal, Dec. 27: Five persons, including a woman and a security guard of a private hospital, sustained splinter injuries when a hand grenade exploded in front of the hospital along the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Road in Imphal this evening.
Police said a grenade suddenly exploded in front of Sky Hospital, a private hospital, at 6.30 this evening. The police suspect that the target of the grenade attack could be the private hospital.
No official of the hospital gave any reaction. “We do not know anything. We also cannot say whether the bomb was hurled at our hospital or by whom. We don’t have anything to say,” an official of the hospital said.
The road was teeming with vehicles and autorickshaws when the explosion took place.
The injured have been identified as Hijam Bibi Devi, 34, her husband Hijam Chacha, 40, Chacha’s younger brother Premjit, 30, and a relative of the three, Sagolsem Rameshore, 45. All are from Patsoi of Imphal West. The four were travelling in an autorickshaw.
“We were going home in an autorickshaw together after visiting our father who is undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences. We suddenly heard a loud sound as our autorickshaw was passing the area. We don’t remember anything after that,” Premjit said.
The private security guard, Sorokhaibam Tomba, was standing at the entrance of the hospital when the grenade exploded. While the security guard is being treated at the same private hospital, the other four injured persons were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.
Splinters hit them on the legs or other parts of their bodies. Doctors said all of them were out of danger.
No one, including the injured persons, saw anyone hurling the grenade. “We did not see anyone hurling the grenade as the road was busy at that time,” a shopkeeper said.
Immediately after the blast, the police rushed to the spot for investigation and also launched a search in the Lamphel area, the site of the blast.
However, no one has been arrested.
Several private hospitals are located along this road. The police said the private hospitals were receiving threats from armed groups for not meeting their monetary demands.
Leaders’ say final: Kaveri - Individuals don’t matter: Arabinda wife MRITUNJOY DAS IN UJANI KONWAR AND MRIDUL CHAKRAVARTY IN NALBARI The telegraph


Arabinda Rajkhowa’s wife Kaveri Kachari at Ujani Konwar on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Dec. 27: No individual, including Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, is bigger than the organisation and any decision on talks taken by the leadership, be it in “jail or jungle”, will be binding on the others, according to Arabinda Rajkhowa’s wife Kaveri Kachari.
The Ulfa chairman’s wife was accorded a warm welco-me on her arrival at Rajkho-wa’s village at Ujani Konwar. Kaveri had gone to her paren-tal home last evening before leaving for her in-laws’ place.
While interacting with a group of reporters, Kaveri said: “No individual whether it is Paresh Barua or anybody else had stood in the way of the peace process from Ulfa’s side. If any decision on the talks process is to be taken, it will be taken by the executive council of Ulfa; whether the members are in jail or jungle it does not matter.”
Rajkhowa’s elder brother Ajoy Rajkonwar and PCG member and family friend Diganta Rajkonwar visited Kaveri’s parents’ home on the outskirts of Guwahati and brought her, son Gadadhar and daughter Khamsen to the village in Sivasagar without any escort. “I would have been happier had I returned after achieving the goal for which I had gone away, which is the sovereignty of Assam; still it is a very warm homecoming for me, the people here are so much cordial, I am fascinated,” Kaveri added.
Yesterday, Rajkhowa and Ulfa deputy commander-in-chief Raju Barua were sent to jail at the end of their police custody. Their family membe-rs came to receive their wives and children. Raju Barua’s wi-fe Nirola Neog Barua and Runumi Chetia Choudhury, the wi-fe of Ulfa “foreign secretary” Sasha Choudhury, left straight for their in-laws’ places yesterday, their first visit to their husbands’ villages.
Today, as the two vehicles arrived near Rajkhowa’s residence several people came to greet Kaveri. The Ahom Royal Society welcomed her in the traditional Ahom way. The Society’s secretary-general, Uma Rajkonwar, said from today Kaveri Kachari had become Kaveri Rajkonwari in the true sense following rituals.
“Bachi thak, hi nahil je, ketia ahibo? (God bless you, why did not he come… when will he come?),” asked Rajk-howa’s mother, Damayanti.
At Helchoa in Nalbari district, Runumi rubbished allegations that Ulfa leaders were leading a life of luxury in Bangladesh. At her in-laws’ house at Bahjani, Raju Barua’s wife Nirola said she had come to know Barua when he visited their Talpathar residence
Northeast Echoes Manipur’s hour of shame PATRICIA MUKHIM The telegraph


Students stage a protest in Imphal East against the July 23 firing. Picture by Eastern Projections
Nothing can be worse than the indefinite closure of educational institutions. This has gone on in Manipur for nearly four months. The negative impact of such hasty decisions will be felt sooner than later. In Assam, the 1980s saw regression in educational attainments because of protracted agitation. In Meghalaya, too, the 1980s witnessed a spate of communal clashes that led to the closure of educational institutions and examinations being shelved or jettisoned and students being promoted on the strength of their performance in class or the half-yearly examinations. Meghalaya recorded a very high high school dropout rate during those tumultuous years.
Adolescence is a period of stress and strain. It is also a phase in life when teenagers do things on impulse which they regret at leisure. This is a period when hormones play havoc with the biology of the young. While adolescence is a time for great attempts at changing the world, it is also a stage when sexual escapades are common. Although no one has really carried out any research, as a high school teacher one can say with some certainty that those were the years in Meghalaya when teenage pregnancies spiralled.
Arbitrary
Schools and colleges keep the young busy and focused on something. When that focus is absent, the excess adrenaline pushes people to do things that they would often not do if they were in an environment which disciplines their senses. One can only imagine the damage done to that large section of youth who have not been allowed to pursue their education only because someone, somewhere arbitrarily decides to boycott all schools. Why should the young who are full of promise be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice of dropping their studies to call attention to failure in governance and the breakdown of law and order?
The argument doing the rounds in Manipur that right to education is meaningless without right to life is patently flawed. There are many ways of demanding justice from the system. Those who claim to fight for justice have no right to impose their views on the majority. The decision to close educational institutions is highly arbitrary.
The groups, which have imposed this decision, are as capricious and high-handed as the state which they are holding up for condemnation. It is not possible that all the students who are outside their classrooms today subscribe to the idea of boycotting classes. The majority is ambitious and wants to do well in their studies. They are scouting for opportunities to get into the best institutions of this country, away from their troubled state. In fact, there are more students who are serious about their studies than there are non-serious high school dropouts and sophomores just floating around the school and college campus without a vision in life.
Just angst
One is, therefore, in agreement with the Senior Citizens’ Society of Manipur which has called for an end to the ongoing boycott of educational institutions. The society had earlier tried to mediate between the government and the agitating organisations to break the impasse but to no avail. The move could not gather much momentum. Recently, retired professor L. Sadananda has again requested the parties in conflict to end the crisis in the larger interest of society.
The Ibobi Singh government has come down heavily on the protesters and many of them are in state custody. The retired teacher has appealed to the government to release all the detainees. His argument is that since the Imphal bench of Gauhati High Court has directed that the July 23 incidents should be handed over to the CBI, there is no point in prolonging the agitation. The Society feels, and rightly so, that it is reasonable to wait for the results of the CBI inquiry.
It is instructive that the president of the Society, N. Binoy, has openly criticised the protesters for targeting educational institutions and for using them to leverage their demands from the government. N. Binoy is correct in asking why only educational institutions are special targets when all other activities, including commercial transactions, are carrying on as usual.
Mere pawns
In an enlightened society, such as the one inhabited by a very cultured race like the Meiteis, one would have thought that education should be the last thing to be disrupted. Schools, colleges and universities do go on strike but that is for a specific reason related to education. This is perhaps the first instance when educational institutions have been under lock and key for reasons other than those related to education.
For parents, there is nothing more distressing than to see their children wasting away precious hours in the prime of their lives. While some who can afford have employed private tutors to coach their wards at home, not everyone has the wherewithal for home study. Besides, even private tuition has its hazards . Most dissenters hold the communist ideology of equity and egalitarian values dear. They would not want a section of students to pursue their studies under tutors while the rest have no access to similar facilities.
The government deadline for schools to reopen on December 21 has fallen on deaf ears. While it is reported that teachers are attending school, the students have not had the courage to venture into the campuses for fear of reprisals from the three student organisations that have called the boycott of educational institutions.
The government has passed another stricture: students whose attendance fall short of the mandatory mandays will not be allowed to sit for examinations. This would mean that their promotion would also be held up. Here is a crisis that the citizens of Manipur should be handling with more equanimity. Why should students be made pawns in a political game of ultimatums and counter-ultimatums?
Weak point
Manipur is already in the pits. The situation has reached this sorry state because only a few people under the aegis of the Apunba Lup have actually decided what is right and what is wrong for Manipur. The rational minded and the intelligentsia has remained silent spectators as if they had no stake in the system.
Many have taken the easy way out and simply left the state to take up employment and residence elsewhere. But this does not solve Manipur’s protracted problem. What ails this state is the absence of a social movement that can claim to be absolutely independent of any coercion. All the so-called citizens’ movements have the covert support of non-state actors who pull the strings very insidiously. This is Manipur’s Achilles Heel! If the state is making the wrong moves, the citizens’ groups are also not very upfront about their actions. Obviously, there are strong political manoeuvres behind the present crisis.
The tragedy is that students have to pay the price. And it is indeed a very heavy price they are paying. They have now lost the right to education which is a fundamental right. One cannot but help ask, what next, in this blighted state. (The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com)
Money Power and the Society Nagaland Page
There are certain things that need to be acknowledged for free and generous service. With more expression of appreciation to the government, leaders, bureaucrats and cash donors is heading towards the fast changing world. Sometimes government finds it difficult to run the government due to financial crisis in spite of that there are rich person who donates to the welfare upliftment which is encouraging the people. The Naga society is at the crossroad, it is important to look back before we plunge into the future. Hence the world has changed and its cruel to us so also our society is in a deplorable state. As the State is transforming into corruption, public representatives are elected without taking right decisions.
When communities and laws of justice are kept in darkness the general public become helpless that cannot look farther upon the responsible leaders and government machineries who are suppose to serve the people in the right direction. In this context, the despaired people started indulging in unhealthy practices having knowledge about the corrupt public office from top to bottom. In state, law and order is only a theory and practical action is far away from government functionaries, even the central team who comes to the state for investigation and audit propose cannot be trusted.
Life is so bitter to live because unwanted elements and unfair has occupied its arena in the society. Beside inflation of the nation, illegal heavy taxes all around the corners and black marketing which hike the prices. The responsible authority’s action is unable to check and control the market the prices which let go scot-free. Failure to tackle is only the reflection of incompetent government authority that attracts more corruption.
Every nook and corner of the state is flooded with evil design and impact with negative action. Money role has become more important to lead the society with out justifying what is right and wrong. It is a fact we all needs money for our livelihood and love the value of life. However, the earth has become little or no space for the justice to rule, even the realistic is ignored and money is more vibrant to rule the society. The attitudes of the people have been changed physically and mentally into new lifestyle. The environmental condition we lived in and on roads have also changed tremendously.
The spirit of principles and dignity of labor is on the lost because of dramatic change in our action. In today’s world easy money or black money is impressing because of standard living and not quality life. The very fact that we need to know is what type of money are use to feed the family. The basic amenities in day to day life lives and properties are not clean enough to protect us perhaps it change the mindset of human beings. Only few person use hard earned money who might look down by the society but they have real vision for the future generation. No one is willing to accept the wrongful act because no body wants to live poor life. The atmosphere condition of corruption has adversely affected the community life.
At this point of time and circumstances of uncomfortable, good quality of life will not find place. What can we do when people are living in new modern life of money power world and hope of just is only a dream. This is a wake of life and process of learning. The most important tool is to change self attitude into positive thinking. If we put our best effort also road of life is very difficult to overcome the wicked. Truth and faith is the only way to free us from bondage.
We talk, expressed and condemned the barbaric act of violence but that is only the role and impact of the society. Youth are more venerable as they are discriminated and humiliated which is increasingly subsequently. Every right thinking citizen should concentrate seriously before it is too late to understand the problem. I wish to refresh our mind with a viewpoint before men and women, who really love and care their children and build a beautiful home. If your spouse is neither a business tycoon nor big contractor or might be a government servant. Unfortunately you have no knowledge about investment on it but bring home one lakhs as his side income. What is immediate response? Do you feel happy to have money or react that is against the law of income? We all are unaware of that but ‘wages of sin’ might bring destruction in the family life into broken heart. GOD is always there to judge our good or bad works of whatever we do.
The real power key and the foremost responsibility of the government are to protect and safeguard the people of the state. Civil societies and NGO’s are playing vital role to guide the people but how much free service and special programs can we expect from them when power and economic resources are limited. Is central funding NGO and society doing enough jobs for the upliftment of downtrodden people and women section? The state government needs to do more on the rural people, they should not deprive of their rights and privileges. The report of below poverty line (BPL) submitted at the central office and fund allocated to the stakeholders should reach the poor people. If the government fails to understand the public grievances and remain unviable then the choice is public.
The churches cannot be blamed as most of the executive board members are from public life background. Development activities of the churches are also very important rather it should come through prayer, faith and good will donation. The church leaders need to understand the suffering problem of the society. The most important mission and obligation are to feed according to the trend storm wave that is destroying human life.
When lot of obstacles is on our way, we have to change the direction. The only option left for us is to lay our burden and the real hopes of life is ‘JESUS CHRIST’ the prince of peace who will protect us with his love and deliver justices from this entire world.
DANIEL WOTSA
Talks process with ULFA leaders begin Eastern Mirror
GUWAHATI, DEC 28 (PTI): The peace talks process with top ULFA leaders has started, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today
but ruled out that the state’s sovereignty would be on the agenda.
“The process for talks has started but no breakthrough achieved. However, the government is optimistic,” Gogoi told reporters here.
The issue of ‘sovereignty of Assam’, however, would never be on the agenda for talks, he said.
Meanwhile, ULFA Chairman, Arbainda Rajkhowa held a long meeting with the banned outfit’s ‘Deputy Commander-in Chief’, Raju Baruah, Vice-president, Pradip Gogoi, ‘Foreign Secretary’ Sashadhar Choudhury, ‘Finance Secretary’, Chitraban Hazarika and ‘Publicity Secretary’, Mithinga Daimary in Guwahati Central Jail.
Jail sources said the meeting, which began in the late evening of Friday, continued till the following morning. ULFA-constituted Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) member Lachit Bordoloi said “it is good that the ULFA top leaders are holding discussions among themselves. But an open environment away from jail will benefit them.”
Rajkhowa, who was held by BSF near Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura on December two, has been accorded special status as a political prisoner as per government instructions, jail sources said.
Special food and other facilities are being provided to the ULFA chairman, the sources added.

ULFA linkman held, arms seized
An armed ULFA linkman was arrested by the police in Lower Assam’s Kamrup (rural) district today. On a tip off, the linkman of the banned outfit was apprehended at Baihata area, the police said. Two 9 mm pistols with ten rounds of cartridges were seized from him, police said adding, further interrogation was on.
According to a national daily, Police has information about ULFA cadres from lower Assam districts setting up a base again inside Bhutanese territory near Barpathar village in Assam’s Chirang district.