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01/12/2010: "‘GPRN/NSCN’ condemns pre-dawn AR raid morungexpress"

‘GPRN/NSCN’ condemns pre-dawn AR raid morungexpress

Dimapur, January 11 (MExN): The ‘GPRN/NSCN’ has vehemently opposed and at the same time condemned what it claimed was a pre-dawn raid conducted on January 9 by the 16th Assam Rifles in Kohima. The incident which took place at 3am on that day was termed as a “unilateral action on the part of the Assam Rifles” and pointing out that it was unjustified.
“The Assam Rifles have, time and again, created situations to constantly remind the Nagas that they are aliens who represent occupational forces in Nagaland. Their gimmick, ‘friends of the hilly people’ says it all”, stated a press note issued by the MIP pointing out that “hilly people do not belong to them” and that “hilly people are different”. “The hand of friendship can either be accepted or declined by the hilly People and it’s the latter”, it stated.
Opposes unilateral action of Assam Rifles
According to the ‘GPRN/NSCN’ the so-called ‘friends of the hilly people’ are all out “to ignite the dormant fire not knowing that they stand to lose and regret dearly.” Giving details on the incident, the MIP press note informed that on the 9th of January, the 16th AR at Kohima conducted the pre-dawn raid on “unsuspecting” GPRN/NSCN cadres ‘heading to their respective units who, having visited their families during festive season, chose to rest for a night at Kohima.’ “The haphazard manner in which the AR tried to show their bravado is a serious error of judgment,” it stated while reminding that earlier during the January 6 CFSB meeting, both sides agreed that the CFSB members would first be informed should there be any report of CF ground rules violation by any party. As such the unilateral action on the part of the Assam Rifles was unjustified, the MIP asserted.
The ‘GPRN/NSCN’ expressed regret that at a time when a peaceful atmosphere in which all conflicting parties have committed themselves to avoiding confrontations, and where there is visibly very little or no offensive intentions, the 16th AR conducting the pre-dawn raid was a provocative exercise. “Such misbehavior has become too frequent to ignore,” the ‘GPRN/NSCN’ stated. The outfit has demanded that the authorities immediately release the cadres and their seized items.
It was also made clear that CF between the two entities cannot be snapped because of the irresponsible behavior of the Para-military forces. While admitting negligible stray moments, ‘GPRN/NSCN’ on its part stated that it had tried its best to maintain CF ground rules in letter and spirit and that the same must be exhibited by the rest. The ‘GPRN/NSCN’ called on the Assam Rifles to “invoke wisdom and discerning power rather than act like robots going all out to destroy the hard peace in Nagaland”. Accommodative spirit is best exhibited to the Naga people lest the slogan becomes ‘Enemies of the Hilly People’, the MIP note stated.

Thai cultural troupe lands in Dimapur en route to Phek morungexpress


The Thai cultural troupe pose for a photo after their arrival in Dimapur on Tuesday evening at Hotel Tragopan in Dimapur. Tharadol Thongruang is seen in the centre with Thanyarad Chanplang, fourth from right. (Morung Photo)
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 12 (MExN): A fifteen member Thai cultural troupe is in the state to perform in the Phek leg of the government of Nagaland-sponsored Road Show from January 14 to 15. The troupe landed in Dimapur today and will proceed to Kohima on January 13 en route to Phek.
Introducing the team at Hotel Tragopan, Dimapur, Tharadol Thongruang, trade counsellor at the office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi, said that the performers are from the Dance and Drama Programme, Faculty of Humanity and Social Science, at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, Bangkok.
The troupe, led by Thanyarad Chanplang, a professor of the university, will perform in Phek town on January 15 as part of the Road Show. Thongruang said that the troupe will stop over in Pfütsero during their return trip on January 16. He said that they are willing to perform there if there are requests. They will then leave for Kolkata on January 17 on their return trek home.
Thongruang, who disclosed that he is especially fond of Nagaland, expressed hope that such cultural exchange will foster good relations between Thais and Nagas, ultimately opening up better trade links. “Unless you know each other’s cultures, how can you do business (trade relations)?” he surmised.
Revealing that most Thais have never heard about Nagaland, he said such interactions will bring the two peoples closer. He honestly disclosed that he himself had no idea about the existence of the state until six years ago when he was deputed in New Delhi. The two peoples’ cultural and physical affinity was what drew him towards Nagaland, he said. He had been in the state as recently as last December during the Hornbill festival, that time along with another cultural troupe from his country.
He expressed optimism about the willingness of the Ambassador of Thailand to India, Krit Kraichitti, to pay a visit to the state. He could not provide a date for the proposed visit but has said he will try his best, it was revealed.
Thongruang was quite surprised and excited as well when he was lightheartedly asked about the faintest possibility of bringing Thai martial arts superstar, Tony Ja of ‘Ong Bak’ fame, to the state. He said that such a possibility seems far off but a great idea. He was not aware about the popularity of the ‘Ong Bak’ actor in the state.
Troupe leader Chanplang said that her team will perform a blend of the four conspicuous dance styles (folk dances) prevalent in the northern, southern, north-eastern and mid/central regions of Thailand. She was very excited about the prospects of presenting their culture here in the form of dance and learning about the people and the culture of the state.
State government fails nature conservation Al Ngullie Morung
Another wave of fire has irreversibly ravaged a huge region of one of Nagaland’s most famous landscapes, Dzukou Valley. The fire has been contained but the recent disaster has surfaced with questions on the state of nature and wildlife conservation policy in Nagaland. Nature and wildlife conservation in Nagaland is a topic not many Nagas have time to broach. Or, at least not with the same level of fervent seriousness that goes into eating or adding to the dinner menu as the Nagas are known for.
Even more interestingly, talking about Nagaland’s poor nature conservation statistics, there are none. There could be obtained no known official, updated, confirmed data undertaken by the government; no recent surveys – either local or by the government – even statistical data banks, research data or dissertations on wildlife, bird and marine species or plant life existing in Nagaland. Most wildlife statistics and survey information on Nagaland’s flora and fauna can be found only with independent sources or independent surveyors including internet sources and foreign conservationist groups. The problem with the survey information and statistics from “outside” independent sources are that the surveyors and study groups are not local sources and hence, unreliable and generic.
Only 6 Tragopans in 2000!
For instance, Dzukou Valley is home to some of the world’s most exotic – and equally rare – fowl species. One of them is the threatened Blythe’s Tragopan – Nagaland’s own state bird. It is even more ironic that the Dzukou Valley fire, by destroying a massive area of the Blythe’s Tragopan’s only original and natural habitat, had somehow managed to drag in focus on the state of conservation efforts in Nagaland. When contacted soon after the Dzukou fire started, a prominent citizen from Khonoma village had expressed worry about the fate of the Tragopan. Some could have fled, he said, but not mentioning what the fire may have done to most of the birds, not only the Tragopan.

Much less for the state government to say about the numerous exotic species of plant life and the indisputable prospect of still-undiscovered plant species in the valley.

Fact or fiction?

For instance, the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary Trust had expressed anxiety at the fire because Dzukou Valley is also home to ‘more than 1000 Blythe’s Tragopan.’ The population number of the Tragopan in Dzukou is subjective and difficult to confirm to say the least. But it will be astonishing for citizens to know that the state government’s Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment and Wildlife has no recent statistics on the state’s own bird! In fact, according to the department’s website the population of Nagaland bird stood at 6 in “Kohima Zoological captivity”! And that too as far back as year 2000! To be precise, the highest population record of the bird is listed at 24 – in 1989, or at least that is what the department’s website says. Even more confusing, the department’s website says that census conducted during 1989 in Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, “being natural habitat of Tragopan counted 309 Male and 181 Female, altogether 571 Nos.” Another interesting mention was that in 1990 there were 2 fowls – but “Ranikhet disease attacked the whole killing all the birds.”
The figures given were from 1973 till 2000. No mention of census on the fowl after year 2000 is listed in the Forest department’s website. One can sufficiently infer from this information how much progress has been made – or how committed the state government is when it comes to nature conservation in green Nagaland. It is interesting that many dissertations have been made on Global Warming and Climate Change by the state government and NGOs alike, but the state’s own symbol is on the brink of a wipe-out!
Another poor reflection of the state government when it comes to nature conservation efforts is the “Kohima Zoo.” The condition of the “zoo” in Kohima today needs no explanation, leave alone even remembered. Neither statistical banks nor data on the existing flora and fauna species, from orchids to fish, could be obtained for this news item. Similarly, dissertations or data indexes on wildlife and especially marine and bird species in Nagaland could not be found on the government web data. Departmental officials dealing with the subjects in question could not be reached for comment. Interestingly, the Forest department has a list of about 50 medicinal plants. While wildlife sanctuaries, zoological parks and wildlife areas have been mentioned, no data on current-existing animal species, research activities in Nagaland is mentioned.
Also, despite repeated attempts, the Minister of Forest MC Konyak could not be reached for comment or the Commissioner & Secretary of Forest and Environment in the Chief Minister’s Office. The Conservator of Forest could not be reached as well.
On a sad note, and ironically, the Nagas are a pastoral people and traditionally, a culture whose ways of life are in one way or the other inextricably linked to nature.

Naga people in Nagaland are one Nagaland Page
There is no superiority or interiority complex among Nagas. Nagas are equalizers one body. God created man with many parts. If the foot were say I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body. If the ear were say, I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body then the cannot stand and functio rather the body completely paralysis. (1.Corinth. 12:12-20).
The Holy Bible “words of God said” At first the people of the whole world had one language and used the same words. As they wonder about the east they came pain “BABYLONIA” and settled there. They build a city with “TOWER” that reached the sky. Soon they will be able to do anything they want. So God mixed up their language. They were not understand another and they stop building the city then they were scattered all over the earth. (Genesis. 11:1-9). Their plan was totally failed. The same condition also may come to Naga Nation.
If people inhabitant Northern region demand and claimed separate their own regionalism. People inhabitant southern claimed separate their own regionalism, people inhabitant eastern region claimed separate their own regionalism and people inhabitant western region claimed separate their own regionalism then there will be lot of controversy problem arise among the Naga Nation Why? because different opinion, different ideology so and so fo. Naga people in Nagaland are one body and the body would be broken into small pecies which is irreparable lost like down fall Mughul empire of India.
Therefore, no Nagas in Nagaland whether Northern region, southern region, Eastern region and western region demand, claimed separate regionalism and should not be entertained such claimed. As everybody well aware, “United stand, divided fall”.
R.K.LOTHA

CM to visit Jessami on Jan 16 Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 11 2010: Chief Minister O Ibobi is said to visit the disputed Jessami area bordering Nagaland in Ukhrul district for the second time on January 16 .

Official source said that the Chief Minister will be accompanied by some of his cabinet ministers during his itinerary to the area.

The team will take a chopper ride during the one day tour to the area. O Ibobi will hand over a 25-kv power substation for 44 villages around Namrei village in Ukhrul district, it is learnt.

Following a cabinet decision, Chief Minister O Ibobi is also said to inaugurate a Sub-Divisional Office at Jessami during his visit to the area.

Among others, the chief minister will also announce the upgradation of the Jessami police station.

The police station which was earlier under the charge of a sub-inspector will be looked after by a Sub-Divisional Police Officer.

The police station will be provided with strength of 70 police personnel to look after the disputed border area.

The source further said that the CM will also open a police station at Dzuko valley in Senapati district, wherein neighbouring state of Nagaland claimed part of Manipur's land, during the tour.

It may be mentioned that the state cabinet had last month decided for the setting up of a police station in the area.

The setting up of the police station in Dzuko valley is expected to minimise the land dispute between Manipur and Nagaland.

The government is also reported to take measures for the setting up of a police station at Lai village in Senapati district in order to control the encroachment of land by neighbouring Nagaland.

Ibobi is also said to bring good tidings for all communities living in the border area.

The chief minister will be accompanied by Power Minister T Phungzathang, Works Minister K Ranjit, IFCD Minister N Biren, and Chief Secretary DS Poonia apart from other high level government officials.

He will also interact with villagers of Jessami and Lai villages during the one day official tour to the area.

The chief minister will also address a public meeting.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister O Ibobi had visited Jessami last year.

He had addressed the public of the area during his recent visit.
Simmering separatism in India's northeast Sunday Times
Our northeast remains disturbed, although not like Pakistan's northwest. The fires burning in the Indian region are mostly political. They are nowhere a conflagration in the name of religion as is the case in Pakistan. However, both the countries face a problem which cannot be resolved only with force. The beleaguered people want development and free say. These aspirations have to be appreciated so that the policies are formulated accordingly.


I have returned from Assam quite disturbed. The state has been wracked by many agitations for a long time. I recall covering the convulsions it went through when there was a movement to oust foreigners, illegal entrants from Bangladesh. The All Assam Students Union (AASU), which was then leading the agitation, entered into an accord with the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, who promised to detect foreigners and delete their names from the voters list. They were to be ultimately ousted from the state.
Nothing like that has happened. In fact, the Assamese have been reduced to 40 per cent in the state. Even when the accord was reached, I doubted if it could be implemented.
The centre had tried to disperse the migrants among the Indian states. But none agreed to rehabilitate them. After the lapse of some years, it is clear that there is no probability of ousting the foreigners. New Delhi should consider issuing work permits because those who cross into India from across the border come in search of livelihood. They want to return to homeland. Since they have no other option they stay back and face the perennial harassment.
It is the New Delhi-AASU accord which gave birth to United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The front has raised the standard of sovereign Assam state and clash with the security forces openly. The violence has led to the killing of thousands of people both in Assam and at the places where the ULFA cadre has sought refuge, particularly at the foothills of Bhutan and the border of Myanmar.
The breakthrough in the ULFA challenge came about when Bangladesh handed over to India the outfits chairman Archinda Rajkova, the party's ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain and a few others. The five rebel outfits in the region have characterized Dhakas' gesture to Delhi as betrayal and they have vowed revenge. This has not deterred Bangladesh which has declared to root out Indian militant outfits from its soil.
No doubt, the state government is trying its best to enter into a dialogue with the ULFA. But the latter's refusal to give up the sovereignty demand has posed a problem. Probably the detained ULFA leaders want their commander-in-chief Paresh Barua to join them before they hold talks. The ULFA does not seem to realize that no Indian government can talk to them on secession because there are some other movements in the country agitating for the same demand.
What has made me more concerned after a visit to Guwahati is the attitude of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the main opposition party to the ruling Congress. The AGP is itself against the demand for sovereignty but supports the ULFA stand for no pre-condition for talks. The AGP obviously wants to harness the sympathy which the ULFA evokes in the state. I was surprised to see the evidence in Guwahati itself. My remark at a seminar that the ULFA leaders should not have been handcuffed was received by the audience with a resounding applause. People in Assam or, for that matter, in South Asia, do not seem to realize that those who raise the gun against the state cannot be given any room because their success means the destruction of polity.


ULFA rebels in Assam: Indian government policies have not addressed the cause of rebellion
The ULFA should tear a leaf out of the Nagas book. Their leder, Phizo, made the same demand for sovereignty and went to London to direct the revolt in Nagaland. I was India's High Commissioner to Britain when Phizo died. One of his comrades, Khodao-Yanthan met me after Phizo's death.
Since the days of the insurgency in Nagaland, Yanthan had been living in Britain. He told me he wanted to go to Nagaland to adivse his old friends to give up violence and seek a solution within the framework of united India. Ours was a friendly meeting. I was confident that he would be a moderating influence on the extremists. I informed New Delhi about his visit which I could not follow because I had resigned by the time he met the Indian governments representatives.
Yanthan told me that Phizo had changed and wanted to settle the Nagaland question within the contours of India, not outside. I wish I had met him. I was told that his death had taken place long before it was announced. My journalist friend, Harish Chandola (Phizo's niece is married to him) vainly tried in London to get the death certificate to determine the date of his demise. I also asked the High Commission officials to look into the matter but did not get any satisfactory response.
Yanthan was insistent on describing his nationality as Naga in the visa application. The Consular section was bent upon rejecting it on the ground that India did not recognize Nagaland as a separate country. I intervened and wrote on his visa application that the Nagas were Indians. He got a visa. I thought it was important that he visited Nagaland and tell the militant fringe that Phizo had himself renounced violence and had proposed talks on Nagalands integration with India. I wonder if the northeast in India and northwest in Pakistan can learn from Phizo.
I feel New Delhi’s policy on the northeast has not been realistic. Jawaharlal Nehru kept the area separate and secluded so as to preserve the culture of the people living there. Indeed, this is a weighty consideration for any government. But it should ensure that the area is not cut off from the mainstream, affecting not only the emotional ties but also the economic and social development.
True, the Taliban menace which Pakistan faces has to be eliminated. But Islamabad must realize that there must have been something lacking in its rule which could not bring about the emotional integration of the territory with the rest of Pakistan.
Historic rally at Diphu endorses creation of Autonomous State Dilip Sharma Nagaland Page
Diphu, January 11: It was a historic occasion in Dimapur Monday afternoon as more than 30,000 people from different communities, irrespective of caste, creed, sex, religion and political affiliation stood united in their demand for an Autonomous State, which has long been pending with the Centre Government.
Organized by the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and joined by at least 21 social organizations, including two National Political parties, from the Karbi Anglong district, the Mass Assembly re-ignited the demand for an Autonomous State for Karbi Anglong under Article 244A of the Indian Constitution. UPDS, who is currently engaged in peace talks with the Government of India is of the view that Karbi Anglong district should be given an autonomous status, if the Centre cannot carve out a separate state out of Assam.
Today's mass rally is a result of the Centre's decision to create a separate Telengana state out of Andhra Pradesh. The rally also saw the growing demand for separate state for NC Hills as representatives from the Dimasa communities also participated in the Mass Assembly.
Leaders of different organizations today spelled out their concerns for the people of Karbi Anglong and said that the prosperity and growth of Karbi Anglong lies in creation of an Autonomous State out of Assam giving 'self-rule' to the people of the trouble-torn district.
ASDC General Secretary, Elvin Teron strongly advocated for an immediate solution to UPDS peace talks and welcome the KLNLF peace initiatives, which is demanding for a separate state for Karbi Anglong.
Explaining the provisions of Article 244A of the Indian Constitution, he said that the Article should be implemented to grant Autonomy for Karbi Anglong in the interest of the people of Karbi Anglong which has been demanding for same for the last many years.
He said that the people do not want a temporary solution. People are united now, they have come out together voicing their concerns, therefore, the Government of India should respect it, he added.
Stating that over 3 lakh people have been displaced in the last 30 years in Karbi Anglong, their hopes have been broken and large number of them have become victims of insurgency, Terong said that these people now want a permanent solution to the impasse.
"UPDS is demanding full-fledged state, if the Government of India cannot give, at least implement Article 244A facilitating an autonomous status, which will satisfy the people," he said and questioned GoI as to why it was avoiding a permanent solution to Karbi Anglong's problems.
He also disclosed that the Government of India had promised to create an Autonomous state of Karbi Anglong 30 years back, which was for a permanent solution of Assam, but till today it has not been achieved.
He also said that the existing Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council and the NC Hills Autonomous District Council have become puppets in the hands of Dispur. He alleged that Dispur calls the shots in every aspect of the autonomous councils in the hill districts.
"Autonomous statehood is a commitment of the central government to the people of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills under the Article 244 (A). But the Centre has failed to honour the commitment. If the mood of the state government is any indication, the commitment will not be honoured in the near future," Teron said.
The fire-brand leader said that all the organization present in Monday's meeting would form an umbrella organization by January end to press for the demand for an autonomous stated and disclosed that everyone is standing behind the peace process.
He also called upon the Government of India to start negotiations with the KLNLF.
Leader of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, George Millick said that the entire population of Karbi Anglong is hungry for peace as the seedlings sown earlier had not satisfied the needs of the people.
He said that people of Karbi Anglong today needs economic, social and political security, which has have been lagging in the district.
Various speakers from different political and non-political organizations expressed similar views and vouched for the creation of an Autonomous State of Karbi Anglong under Article 244 A of the Constitution of India. They even pointed out that when the Government of India can create a separate Telengana state out of Andhra Pradesh, why can't it provide autonomy to Karbi Anglong.
It may be mentioned here that Article 244A was specifically inserted in the Constitution through an amendment in 1969 for the formation of an autonomous state, comprising certain tribal areas, within the state of Assam.
Another speaker cited the example of Mizoram where the rebel leader Laldenga facilitated the creation of the state after entering into a peace talk with the Government of India. He also said that similar arrangements can be made for Karbi Anglong as the prominent organizations like UPDS and KLNLF after surrendering have entered into a dialogue with the Government.
The movement for Autonomous State for Karbi Anglong started some 30 years back.
After the State Re-organization Act was passed by the Government of India in 1971, leading to the creation of the state of Meghalaya, the Government did not consider this status for Karbi Anglong and instead created the Hills Areas Development Ministry Department under Assam State Government to look into the affairs of Karbi Anglong. What followed later was the formation of Autonomous State Demand Committee during the 1980's, which grabbed the reins of power in Assembly, Parliamentary and Council elections for next 12 years. The movement led by ASDC for an Autonomous State surfaced again and garnered people support.
The subsequent development further led to the creation of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in 1995, which were given powers to have control of 30 departments. This was the result of a tripartite agreement between the Government of India, Assam Government and ASDC, after which the ASDC stop its agitation.