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01/29/2010: "NSCN (IM) disowns news report The Telegraph"

NSCN (IM) disowns news report The Telegraph

Dimapur, January 27: Reacting to a news about 29-point proposal from the GoI to resolve the Indo-Naga political issue as stated by Dr P Mor, Deputy Kilonser, Ministry of Religious Affairs, GPRN, the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) of the GPRN today aid that the MIP is the only official organ through which the government disseminates its information and as such the NSCN/GPRN does not own responsibility for any statements or news information that goes to the media without the knowledge and approval of the MIP.
The MIP is not aware of any of the points mentioned by him as appeared in the print media therefore does not reflect the position of the NSCN/GPRN, a release issued by MIP/GPRN stated. (Page News Service)
Planters flee for fear of gun

Nagas of Manipur appeal Jan 29(NPN
Dimapur,): Various Naga organisations in Manipur have made an appeal to all people and especially the government authorities to intervene in resolving the current impasse in Shirui (Shiroi)village Ukhrul district, the scene of a siege by the 17 Assam Rifles on the camp of the NSCN(I-M) which has been going on since January 19.
ANSAM president David Adani Choro, general secretary Reisangpem Shaiza; president Senapati District Students’ Association Kuba Peter, chairman Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur G.H.Newmeh, president Naga Students Union Chandel S. K. Stephen and president Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong P.R.Jordan said the siege on the NSCN(I-M)camp in Shirui village by the ‘Indian Armed Forces(17 Assam Rifles)’ could result in “huge loss of lives and properties of innocent civilians.”
Further the signatories have accused the 17 Assam Rifles of laying siege on the camp with “heavy artilleries” stationed in and around the village and occupying a private residential courtyard, village panchayat hall, IFAD resort centre besides demanding cooking utensil, plate and collection of firewood all which have led to shifting of children to nearby Ukhrul.
The signatories said the NSCN(I-M)camp had been established a few years back and also visited by the “Indian Armed forces on one to two occasions”.
It was also stated that the siege had adversely affected students appearing examinations as well as leading to cancellation of the scared ‘Seed Sowing festival’ that might lead to the Naga belief of “famine and other undesirable consequences.”
The signatories said in affirmation of the commitment to resolve the “Indo-Naga conflict through peaceful negotiated settlement”, the women folk of surrounding villages had staged a “peaceful sit-in protest in Mahatma Gandhi square” to signify their commitment to non violent resolution in Ukhrul town “to avoid possible armed conflict.”
They also termed as uncalled for, the statement purportedly made by the DIG 10 Sector, Assam Rifles that there is no cease fire in Manipur despite the currency of the cease fire for 12 years since 1997.
Stating that the cease fire was between the Government of India and the NSCN, the signatories appealed to both parties to adhere to the cease fire agreement “in letter and spirit”.
Further, they also appealed to all to support the “hard won peace talk and to shun violence” but urged Nagas not to “succumb to hardship” but exhibit “traditional endurance and magnanimity”.
The signatories have also appealed to Nagas that the show of endurance should not be “mistaken as a sign of weakness” and that such “violent attitude” being shown , would leave them with no option but to resort to “available democratic means” for which “our elders” had laid down their lives for the “sacred noble cause”. –
NDFB terror grips Sonitpur tea estates A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph


Guwahati, Jan. 28: A fear psychosis has gripped the managerial staff of nearly six tea estates located in the fringe areas of Chariduar reserve forest in Assam’s Sonitpur district following constant harassment by militants of the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
Already two senior executives of a tea estate in Dhekiajuli have tendered their resignations citing personal reasons and left in the past month. The garden has witnessed at least two abductions in the past few months.
A few more executives are said to be toying with the idea of resigning. Several executives, who are still serving in these gardens, have sent their families home.
The official version is that resignations are normal in a company as people look for greener pastures. However, sources said fear of the gun was forcing the staff to quit.
An official of the Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association, admitted that the executives of at least six tea estates in Sonitpur were working under constant fear of the gun. “Most of these gardens are in the remote areas and there has been a constant threat from the anti-talks faction of NDFB.”
He, however, said that despite all odds, these gardens were functioning normally.
“We are in touch with the district administration and have apprised them about the situation,” he added.
Such has been the NDFB’s terror in the garden from which two executives resigned recently that the owner of a departmental store sold his property and fled to Rajasthan a few months ago. The Bodo militants had abducted an employee of the store and released him only in lieu of a hefty amount.
The NDFB also kidnapped the son of the new owner of the store last month. He returned after about 15 days. There are also reports of the NDFB serving extortion notices to other petty businessmen and tea garden employees in these areas. The only executive still posted in the estate said he had no option but to stay on. “I have sent my children home. I am staying with my wife here,” he added.
Another tea executive said, “How can someone work when there is always the lurking fear of militants kidnapping you or your family members?”
A senior police official at Tezpur said the militants were taking advantage of the remoteness of these gardens.
“By the time we get information of militant movement in these areas, they manage to flee. It is not possible to post a police picket in each and every part of the district,” he said.
Not only the tea gardens, the NDFB has been spreading terror in the entire Sonitpur district. “These strikes only add to the fear of the businessmen and the tea garden executives. It’s better to pay up or leave,” a tea industry captain said.
Congress vows to fight corruption morungexpress
Dimapur, January 28 (MExN): The Nagaland Congress Legislature Party’s new team held its first meeting today at the residence of the new CLP Leader Tokheho Yepthomi. The meeting was attended by all 18 Congress MLAs except for MLA Nungshizenba who is under medical treatment in New Delhi. This was one occasion where members participated in full strength dispelling doubt that the party is a divided house, the Congress said.
The meeting generated a lot of enthusiasm as all members were upbeat. They resolved to work united and effectively under the leadership of Tokheho Yepthomi, the CLP informed in a note today. The CLP deliberated on various issues pertinent to the state and resolved to fight corruption, irregularities and “mis-governance” of the present NPF-led DAN government, the party said.
Tokheho expressed his desire to serve the Naga people and strengthen the Congress party. He appealed to all party members for ceaseless cooperation and contribution to the welfare of the people. “As dedicated Congress workers the members also resolved to carry out the good programmes and policies of the UPA Congress-led government and further resolved to be watchdogs in the proper implementation of public programmes and policies by the DAN government,” the CLP said.

NDFB to participate in elections (IANS):
GUWAHATI, The pro-talk faction of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Friday announced it would participate in upcoming council elections in Assam. ‘We might not put up candidates on our own, but would support candidates or political parties that advocate our cause for separate Bodoland,’ Gobinda Basumatary, general secretary of the pro-talk NDFB faction, told journalists.
Dates for the elections have not been announced, but they are expected to be held by March.
The statement comes after the outfit held its general council meeting at its designated camp in Udalguri in northern Assam Thursday. The Basumatary-led NDFB entered into a ceasefire with New Delhi in 2005, although another faction headed by guerrilla leader Ranjan Daimary is still underground.
The two rival NDFB factions are engaged in a bitter fratricidal war in the Bodo dominated areas in western and northern Assam. The two factions are also engaged in clashes with the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), a political party now ruling the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), a politico-administrative structure in the region.
More than 200 people have been killed in the last three years in these clashes.
The BPF was formed after the outlawed Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT) was disbanded and the Bodo Accord signed in 2004 after the entire BLT rebels came overground. ‘We hope our decision to join the electoral process, although not directly, is taking in the right perspective. We appeal all to stop killings and bloodshed,’ the NDFB leader said.
‘The decision by the NDFB to enter the political domain would trigger more violence,’ a senior Congress party leader said. Although the pro-talk NDFB leaders and their cadres (about 700) are supposed to stay in designated camps, there are reports that they move around with weapons and engage in violence. Formal peace talks with the ceasefire NDFB group are yet to begin.
NDFB terror grips
Sonitpur tea estates
A fear psychosis has gripped the managerial staff of nearly six tea estates located in the fringe areas of Chariduar reserve forest in Assam’s Sonitpur district following constant harassment by militants of the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
According to a report in the Telegraph, already two senior executives of a tea estate in Dhekiajuli have tendered their resignations citing personal reasons and left in the past month. The garden has witnessed at least two abductions in the past few months. A few more executives are said to be toying with the idea of resigning. Several executives, who are still serving in these gardens, have sent their families home.
The official version is that resignations are normal in a company as people look for greener pastures. However, sources said fear of the gun was forcing the staff to quit. An official of the Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association, admitted that the executives of at least six tea estates in Sonitpur were working under constant fear of the gun. “Most of these gardens are in the remote areas and there has been a constant threat from the anti-talks faction of NDFB.”
He, however, said that despite all odds, these gardens were functioning normally. “We are in touch with the district administration and have apprised them about the situation,” he added. Such has been the NDFB’s terror in the garden from which two executives resigned recently that the owner of a departmental store sold his property and fled to Rajasthan a few months ago. The Bodo militants had abducted an employee of the store and released him only in lieu of a hefty amount.
The NDFB also kidnapped the son of the new owner of the store last month. He returned after about 15 days. There are also reports of the NDFB serving extortion notices to other petty businessmen and tea garden employees in these areas. The only executive still posted in the estate said he had no option but to stay on. “I have sent my children home. I am staying with my wife here,” he added.
Another tea executive said, “How can someone work when there is always the lurking fear of militants kidnapping you or your family members?”
A senior police official at Tezpur said the militants were taking advantage of the remoteness of these gardens.
“By the time we get information of militant movement in these areas, they manage to flee. It is not possible to post a police picket in each and every part of the district,” he said.
Not only the tea gardens, the NDFB has been spreading terror in the entire Sonitpur district. “These strikes only add to the fear of the businessmen and the tea garden executives. It’s better to pay up or leave,” a tea industry captain said.

Lui-Ngai-Ni on Feb 15 Newmai News Network
Imphal, Jan 28: This year’s seed sowing festival of the Nagas, the Lui-Ngai-Ni will be celebrated at Senapati on February 15 under the theme, ‘Our Resources-Our Future’ which will be hosted by Naga Peoples Organisation (NPO).
In this connection, lea-ders of the United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students Association, Ma-nipur (ANSAM), Naga Wo- men Union, Manipur (NWUM), Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and others had convened a meeting few days ago and constituted a fifteen member organising committee and five sub-committees.
During the celebration of the Lui-Ngai-Ni, the Almi-ghty God is invoked to sho- wer blessing on the seeds sown that they yield boun-tiful and bumper harvest in order to ensure the well-being of the people. “The blessing of the supreme dei-ty is besought with expre- ssions through dances, songs and rituals. The cul-tural continuity is a way of showing our unique iden-tity. And this is the cultural continuity which we see in some of the most delightful dances, songs and other customary rituals presented by Lui Ngai-Ni every year,” said the organising commi-ttee. “Out of many festivals that different Naga tribes are celebrating, the seed so-wing festival is one of them which are celebrated by all the Naga tribes almost si-multaneously. This festival was given a modern concept by naming this festival ‘Lui Ngai-Ni’ and its celebration given a collective shape in the year 1987.

NE insurgency a national problem: Meira Raju Das Assam Tribune
SHILLONG, Jan 29 – The problem of insurgency in the North East is a “national problem” and the entire nation must stand up to make necessary sacrifices in solving it. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said a Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs in its report to the Parliament has recognised insurgencyin the North East as a “national problem” and urged that the problem be “tackled accordingly, demonstrating the willingness to make necessary sacrifices by the entire country.”

Kumar during her maiden visit to the region quoted the PSC report while inaugurating the twelfth North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference here today.

Touching on the region’s natural resource potentials, she said, despite the potentials the North East is “grappling” with various problems of “underdevelopment, unemployment, backwardness and insurgency.”

Emphasising that realistic development cannot be achieved in the region unless people, who have taken up arms for political objectives, give up violence and work for the region’s development.

Kumar said initiative must also be taken to bring back those “influenced by the cult of violence,” into the mainstream of the society. Stating that “violence and democracy cannot co-exist,” India’s first woman Speaker asserted, movements instrumental in depriving citizens their fundamental rights and undermining development “cannot claim any place in a democratic society.”

On the region’s human resources potential, she added, although having a literacy rate higher than the national average the same has not transformed into high rate of employment opportunitiesin the North East.

“The high literacy rate has not transformed into a high rate of employment due to lack of economic development and industrial activities in the region,” she told the gathering of Speakers and MPs and other dignitaries of the region.

She further urged the Legislators and Parliamentarians to utilise fund earmarked for development of the region within a “stricter time-frame.” “A total of 233 (Centrally-sponsored) projects for the year 2008-09 are lagging behind the schedule due to delays in utilisation of funds. The projects should be pursued within stricter time-frame,” she said.

‘Travel to Myanmar via Manipur much cheaper’ Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Jan 28: The road to Myanmar via Manipur has many a positive sides, said Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance president RK Shivachandra during a press meet in Guwahati today.
“This is the cheapest way for tourists. The journey via this route costs around Rs 12,000, including food and lodge. This is much cheaper than other routs,” said Shivachandra. The Government of Myanmar is also quite friendly in this regard. Stating Manipur as the gate way to South East Asia, he said it is time now to think positively to avail the opportunities. It is a potential road for pilgrims to Bodhgaya in Myanmar as well, Shivachandra said.
According to official sources, Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance laid stress on travel industry. It was started way back in 2003 with a vision to bring about love and friendship among different sections of people around the globe through the medium of tourism.
Mother pleads for release of forcibly recruited son Kyaw Kha Mizzima

Mizzima News – A mother of a 14-year old boy persuaded to join the Burmese army speaks of her family’s ordeal with Mizzima. Sandar Win, the mother, says her son, Maung Kyaw Min Tun (alias Kyar Min) was recruited on the 19th of this month and is being kept at the army’s Light Infantry Battalion 83 based in Michaungye in Taungdwingyi township of Magwe Division.
According to her, she journeyed to the barracks to try and bring her son home, but officials at the gate denied her request. The incident happened soon after Burma's military government renewed a one-year agreement with the International Labor Organization to stop the conscription of underage youth into the army.

Here is Kyaw Kha’s interview with the Sandar Win.

Can you tell me your son’s biography and briefly of your family life?

My son’s name is Kyaw Min Tun. His date of birth is December 20th, 1995. Now he is 14 years old. He is a student of first standard at Myo-U primary school. Though he’s still enrolled, he was not attending school at the time, as I could not afford to send him. We live in Aung-zay-yar quarter in Taundwingyi township.

My name is Sandar Win. My husband passed away when my son was five. I have to earn money by selling watermelons. I have suffered from cancer. When we could not get by with this job alone, my son had to stop going to school and start selling boiled quail eggs. He suffers from vomiting blood and his hand was once broken.

When and how did he go missing? How did you know that he was missing?

He went missing around 4 p.m. on the 19th of this month. When I returned home from my business, neighbors told me about it. At the time, he was visiting a friend at the back of our home.
Sergeant Naing Win, who is used to visiting our home, sent a boy to call my son to see him in a teashop. Naing Win and his wife, Ma Thida Tun, live in our same quarter. Some people from our quarter found that Naing Win took my son on his motorcycle after offering my son alcohol and dressing him in an army uniform. When they asked my son where he was going, he said Naing Win was taking him for a moment. From that day on, he has been missing.

Which military division is the boy in now? Did you complain about this incident to the authorities?

Naing Win, who deceived my son, is a lieutenant sergeant from LIB 83 based in Michaungye between Magwe and Taundwingyi. His ID is Ta/231478. It is known that after deceiving my son he transferred him to Captain Zaw Lin Tun of the same battalion. I have not complained to anyone yet. Supposing my son was at the place (LIB 83), I went straight to see him there.

How did you know if your son was there or not?

A boy who escaped from being recruited into the army told me. His name is Ko Phyo and he is about 19 and a student of 9th standard. We live in the same quarter. Like my son, he was asked to drink alcohol and taken for recruitment. When I asked him, he said he had escaped after showing his hospital record and the signature of our quarter chairman. It cost him 40,000 kyat (US$ 40).

Did you go to that Division? And did you see your son?

When I arrived at the gate, officials told me they could allow me to see him only after training. They said they could not permit me to see him then no matter what I would do. I was so heartbroken that I begged them with tears to let me see my son. But it was in vain. At that time, Naing Win was also inside and I requested to see him, too. My request was again rejected.

Regarding your son, what else did Ko Phyo tell you?

Ko Phyo, who was just released from recruitment, told me what to urgently do if I wanted my son released. This month, newly recruited boys will be sent for medical check-ups in Magwe’s 88th Division. They [the army] are threatening the recruits with guns during meals and even in the toilet. I came to know from him that my son was crying hard and could not take his meals or do anything.

What do you plan to do next?

I am feeling very bad. I have only this son. A mother and a son is our solitary life, we have to struggle for our living. Please help us. If my son can return home now, it will be enough. He is too young, just over 14.