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03/20/2010: "Help solve Naga problem, Naga Hoho urges UN Eastern Mirror"

Help solve Naga problem, Naga Hoho urges UN Eastern Mirror

DIMAPUR, MAR 18 (EMN): The Naga Hoho has appealed to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to take cognizance of the Indo-Naga political issue and help solve it.
In a representation, the Hoho urged the UN for due recognition of the rights of Naga indigenous people under the purview of UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People in the UN General Assembly during its 61st session.
Explaining that situated in the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar, Naga nation comprises 47 recognised communities/tribes who speak languages of the same root which is quite different from that of the Indian.
“History vividly speaks that the Nagas and Indians have nothing in common in terms of history, culture or race,” the representation signed by Naga Hoho president Keviletuo Kiewhuo and general secretary P Chuba Ozukum.
The Hoho further said Nagas are peace and freedom loving people who contributed their best to the world peace during the First and Second World War and they want maintain and safeguard those values against all odds.
It stated that the British colonial power not only invaded the Naga country 1832 but also divided it into many parts placing them in different artificial international boundary.
Named Naga Hills district, a part of the Naga nation was incorporated under Assam province in 1866 for its administrative convenience, the representation said. Later, it was placed under the status of Excluded Area, meaning the Naga territory was outside the purview of the new Constitution of India.
Soon after the Britishers left, India invaded Nagaland making it one of the longest unsettled political conflicts in Asia today.
Former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Myanmar prime minister Thakin Nu (Unu) further divided the Naga homeland dissecting our territories with an imaginary boundary line without our knowledge and consent, the Hoho said.
The Hoho complained that the Nagas are being placed in worst political situation and their existence in their own homeland is not only threatened but also their land and resources are being exposed to the aggressor forever.
The Naga people are made to suffer, isolated and marginalized by both India and Myanmar to the extent that there is no room for future survival, the Hoho said.
Pointing out that houses including churches were burnt, farms and crops forests were destroyed besides mass torture, rape, massacre and detention during the heat of the confrontation, the representation said “we can no longer bear such ruthless treatments meted out upon our people and remain silent.”
It further said Naga integration is a necessity and not a choice since the desire of the Nagas for living together as one people in their own homeland under one political roof is a natural longing.
The Hoho also pointed out that Nagaland State Legislative Assembly has unanimously resolved for Naga integration consecutively for four times during different governments reiterating the unification of contiguous Naga areas.
It added that Naga national resistance movement should not be interpreted as separatist or secessionist movement, as the NNC plebiscite on May 16, 1951 was for a sovereign separate Naga state.
NSCN (I-M) informs public, (NPN)
DIMAPUR NSCN (I-M) has informed all social organizations, civil societies and general public that there would be no interview with its “ato kilonser” till April 5, due to preoccupation with “government works.
” NSCN (I-M) chief principal secretary Samson Jajo, in a statement, requested all responsible to cooperate and bear with them. The MIP also issued a similar statement. Meanwhile, the NSCN (I-M) MIP “kilonser” A.Z.Jami, in a separate press release, said that its 30th republic day would be held at council headquarters, Hebron with “ato kilonser” Th. Muivah as chief guest. The MIP “kilonser” has welcomed all civil societies and general public at the “national program.”
The programme would begin at 10 a.m., it stated

I believe GoI is sincere: Muivah NSCN leader to apprise Nagas on ongoing talks A Staff Reporter | EMN

DIMAPUR,NSCN/GPRN Ato Kilonser Th Muivah arrived Dimapur on Thursday wherein he is scheduled to apprise the people on the progress of the ongoing talks as well as hold consultative meetings with the various tribal hohos before returning to New Delhi for the next round of talks.
Interacting with the press at the airport before proceeding on to Camp Hebron amid tight security, Muivah said of his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram: “We had serious talks; both the PM and HM are committed and I believe that they will be sincere in finding a negotiated settlement.”
Ruling out any further talks on greater autonomy, the NSCN-IM leader said the history and political stance of the Nagas have already been clearly spelled out. He affirmed that Nagas are prepared to stand their ground on the ‘inalienable right’.
Also reiterating the commitment and sincerity of the NSCN/GPRN towards finding an honourable solution, Muivah said the NSCN has done everything on its part and left no stone unturned as promised.
However, he said the absence of a proposal from the GoI is standing in the path of solution to the long pending Naga issue.
He stated that the NSCN would firmly continue to stand for the rights of the Nagas while stating that ‘those who do not stand up for their rights do not deserve to be free’.
Prioritising the need for various organisations and the entire Naga people to come to a better understanding, Muivah did not rule out holding consultative meetings with the various Naga organisations during his short stay here.
“Besides, I have an obligation to brief the people on the talks,” he said.
On the ongoing reconciliation process, the NSCN Gen Secy affirmed the need for all Nagas to stand for unity and reconciliation based on national principal.
The Ato Kilonser during his stay will grace the Republic Day celebrations and hold fasting and prayer session starting March 24 at Camp Hebron before proceeding back to New Delhi on March 28.
.Parties back Naga peace process OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, March 19: Close on the heels of NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thiungaleng Muivah’s arrival in Nagaland, political parties and organisations have started airing their views on the Naga political problem.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF), the main constituent of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), reiterated its commitment to support the ongoing peace process between the Centre and the NSCN led by Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah, by playing the role of “active facilitator”.
Party secretary general K.G. Kenye said the NPF would support the peace process for a political solution that was honourable and acceptable to the people and which would bring lasting peace in Nagaland.
“The NPF and DAN alliance partners will continue to strive for the unity and integrity of the people living in the Naga contiguous areas under one administrative umbrella and to provide protection to all ethnic groups of the areas. At the same time, we will be playing our role of protecting and preserving the unique identity, culture, ideology and traditions of our people within and outside the state,” Kenye said.
Naga Hoho, the apex body of the Nagas, has sought the intervention of the UN on the integration of the contiguous Naga areas. The Hoho, in an appeal to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, sought due recognition of the rights of the Nagas under the purview of UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People.
Hoho president Keviletuo Kiewhuo today said Naga integration was a process of final solution to the “Indo-Naga” problem, stating that disintegration of the Naga homeland was a gross violation of human rights.
Muivah optimistic Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, "New Delhi is committed to solve the Naga political problem.

The Prime Minister and the Home minister are serious about the talk and I believe in their sincerity," said Thuingaleng Muivah soon after he landed at Dimapur airport.

The NSCN-IM general secretary arrived Dimapur at around 3:20 pm by the Air-India flight along with his wife.

Talking to waiting journalists at the VIP lounge of the Dimapur airport, Thuingaleng Muivah said that he would not stay long in Nagaland.

"I have come here just to consult with the Naga leaders, our people," said Muivah.
Muivah also said that he fully endorse the ongoing Naga reconciliation process initiated by Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).

Some 20 Naga leaders received the NSCN-IM leader and his wife at the airport.

Just after meeting the media persons, Th.Muivah was went straight to camp Hebron, the NSCN-IM headquarters, off Dimapur at around 4 pm.
Normal life hit in six-hr shut down in Nagaland PTI
Kohima: Normal life was hit in the Nagaland capital and its district head quarter towns in the 6-hour shut down by the opposition Congress in the pre-lunch hours today.
The shut down, which began at 6am and ended at 12pm, forced offices, banks, post offices and other establishments and shops to down shutters.
Only in Kohima the shutdown lasted for three hours due to a public function organised by the apec Naga Students Federation. There was no untoward incident reported from anywhere in the state and work resumed after the end of the shut down.
Congress had called for the shut down to protest against alleged corruption, nepotism and gross irregularities in several sectors in the Neiphiu Rio DAN government.
There were gross irregularities in appointments of school teachers and misuse of central funds for various rural development schemes, including NREGA, the party alleged.
ONGC finds crude in Golaghat, Sivasagar OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Jorhat, March 19: The Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd (ONGC) has discovered oil fields in Golaghat and Sivasagar districts of Assam recently and is keen to resume operations in Nagaland, which has a vast reserve of oil and gas.
This was disclosed by A.K. Balyan, the director (human resources) of ONGC at a news conference held at the state-owned company’s Assam & Assam Arakan Basin headquarters at Cinnamara in Jorhat district today.
Balyan said production had already started at the recently discovered Kasomarigaon oil filed in Golaghat district while it would start very soon at the North Geleki area in Sivasagar district.
“Besides these two discoveries in Assam, a new gas pool has been discovered at Sundalbari in Tripura, which will contribute to the proposed Tripura power project of the ONGC,” he added.
The Assam & Assam Arakan Basin unit of ONGC looks after the company’s exploration activities in the seven states of the Northeast.
Its exploration activities in Nagaland, however, had to be stopped about 15 years ago because of “local problems” in the neighbouring state. “ONGC is keen to resume its activities in Nagaland but lack of a transparent system in that state has prevented us from doing so,” Balyan said.
The senior ONGC official, who is also in charge of the company’s business development in the region, said Nagaland had got a huge reserve of oil and gas and the company would be happy to resume its activities in that state for the greater interest of the nation.
ONGC had to pack off from Nagaland in 1994 because of threats from militant organisations, especially from the NSCN (Isak-Muivah). The company, official sources said, had invested more than Rs 100 crore in infrastructure and machineries in the state before pulling out.
Balyan said the company’s drilling performance in the Assam & Assam Arakan Basin had increased from 15 wells in 2008-09 to 24 wells by the end of February 2010 and was expected to complete 29-30 wells in the current fiscal.
“Five leads to presence of new wells have already been obtained from various fields in Assam and some more are waiting to be added following testing shortly,” he added.
He said the basin had fared well on all fronts in oil and natural gas exploration. “This year also, the basin is expecting to add up a significant quantity of hydrocarbon accumulation,” he added.
The official said the Navaratna public sector unit was supplying cooking gas to Assam towns through the Assam Gas Company Limited.
“At present, around 30,000 standard cubic metre of natural gas is being supplied per day from the fields of south Assam shelf and if the market of gas in towns like Jorhat, Uriamghat, Golaghat and Sarupathar expand, there is a potential of enhancing the rate of supply,” he said.
Regarding the ONGC’s corporate social commitments towards the region, Balyan said its Assam & Assam Arakan Basin unit had contributed extensively to the socio-economic development of the community in and around the oil field areas there. “In this fiscal alone, the A&AA Basin has contributed Rs 1.8 crore.”
Balyan said the ONGC had also drawn up a project to preserve the ancient monuments of Ahom kings.
Nagaland warned over encroachment A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, March 18: The All Assam Students’ Union today threatened to launch an economic blockade against Nagaland if the neighbouring state continued to encroach upon Assam’s land.
The Sivasagar district unit of the students’ union alleged that despite its repeated requests to the Naga people not to encroach upon Assam’s land in the Geleki area, the Nagas had not stopped construction.
“The Nagas should not take our silence as acceptance, we will forget our brotherly relations if they continue to grab our land,” the president of the Sivasagar district unit of AASU, Pranab Chetia, said today.
He said vast areas in Geleki bordering Nagaland in Sivasagar district were encroached upon by the villagers from the state. According to him, if the authorities concerned take no steps these areas will be lost forever.
The student body, he said, would not wait and watch any more and would soon launch an economic blockade against the neighbouring state.
He said besides the Sonari-Namtola Road that leads to Mon district of Nagaland, the blockade would also cover the Jorhat-Mariani Road, connecting Mokok-chung district of Nagaland and National Highway 39, which connects Dimapur town, the commercial hub of Nagaland.
Most of the essential commodities are ferried to Nagaland from the wholesale markets in Assam on these three roads.
The adviser to the Sivasagar district of AASU, Kushal Dutta, said it was a shame on part of the state government that no steps were being taken to stop villagers from Naga-land from grabbing Assam’s land.
He said besides Sivasagar district, the Nagas had encroached upon reserve forest lands in Jorhat district also.
“More than 80 per cent of the land in Desoi Valley, Desoi and Tiru Hills reserve forest under the Mariani forest range in Jorhat district are under the occupation of the Nagas,” he said.
Congress to field 24 candidates in BTC polls By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, March 19: With Bodoland People’s Party (BPF) president Hagrama Mohilary making it clear that his party would not go for any seat-sharing with the Congress in the BTC polls and that his party would field candidates in all the 40 BTC constituencies, the Congress today decided to field candidates in 24 constituencies in the BTAD, not in eight constituencies as had been decided by the party earlier.
State Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman, All Assam Congress Committee (APCC) vice-president YL Karna and Congress associate MLA Chandi Basumatary took this decision at a meeting held in Guwahati today. The constituencies where the Congress will field candidates are: Parbhotjhara, Gooma, Srirampur, Boukhomri and Fakirgram in Kokrajhar district; Thuribari, Kajalgaon and Sabaijar in Chirang district; Nonoi Serfang, Pansoi Serfang, Mudoibari, Rowta, Bhairabkunda, Dhabashri, Harisinga and Khulilduar in Udalguri district; Tamulpur, Nagrijuli, Sukhaiserfang, Mathanguri, Koklabari, Salbari, Goreswar and Baganpara in Baksa district.
There have been speculations of a cold war between the Congress and the BPF that joined hands to run the government at Dispur.
Indian media joins debate over Burma’s elections indoburma news Sources: Mizzima News
New Delhi, As regional governments and those further afield weigh in on the prospects for Burma’s 2010 elections in the wake of the recently announced election laws, Indian media is also entering the fray, with opinions varied as to the pros and cons surrounding the much anticipated polling.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last week reiterated his call for Burmese authorities to ensure an inclusive political process leading to fair, transparent and credible elections in which all citizens of Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi, can freely participate. Ban Ki-moon’s statement came a mere two days after Burma’s generals published its initial electoral law for the country’s first election in 20 years.

“The indications available so far suggest that they do not measure up to the international community’s expectations of what is needed for an inclusive political process,” Ban said. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown followed up by asking UN chief to call a special meeting on Burma in New York.

The Philippines, notably among ASEAN countries, has joined ranks with western governments in denouncing the regime’s electoral laws and said the Burmese government via the announcement of its electoral laws broke its promise to democratize the country.

However, and not surprisingly, there have been near complete silence from Burma’s immediate neighbors on the election laws. China concerned with possible conflicts between Burmese government troops and ethnic ceasefire groups such as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and United Wa State Army (UWSA) on its border with northern Burma, only confirmed the near-future visit of Premier Wen Jaibao to Naypyitaw for bilateral talks on cooperation.

India, touted as the world’s largest democracy, as it has done for some years has remained silent on what is likely to be a flashpoint between the Burmese government and the country’s main political opposition. India had awarded its highest civilian honor, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, to Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 1995. However, nowadays the situation has changed, with India’s external affairs ministry answering that they were too busy with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit when repeatedly approached for comments by Mizzima.

Yet, at least one leading Indian daily has broken its relative silence over Burma and termed the junta’s electoral laws a “fraud”.

The Hindu, one of the leading Indian national dailies, in a March 15th editorial argued, “There cannot be a greater fraud on the electoral process, the sole aim of which is to keep the military junta in power.”

“The international community, led by the United Nations, was hoping against hope that the military rulers would see some reason and make the forthcoming elections an inclusive process,” contends the editorial.

Another daily newspaper, Times of India, in a less combatative editorial entitled “Myanmar’s Self-goal”, wrote that the announced election law that bans detained pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from contesting is an “unfortunate development”.

“When the world was hoping that the generals would do more to open up the country, this looks like a giant step backwards,” finds the Times, adding that New Delhi should offer friendly advice to the Burmese government not to turn the clock back in the region.

Another Indian daily, however, sees some hope in the upcoming elections, though admitting true democracy may yet remain a dream. The Pioneer on March 10th wrote that there are two emerging camps, those who find the election a farce and those who perceive it as an opening.

“A democratic election, irrespective of whatever degree of probity, could prove to be crucial for democratic forces in Burma to further their democratic struggle. This will no doubt take time and depend on several factors. But the very fact that the junta is willing to move towards a semblance of democracy means that international pressure and perhaps internal rumblings are getting to the military generals,” postulates The Pioneer.
Originally a staunch supporter of Burma’s democratic opposition following the 1988 countrywide uprising, India’s foreign policy took a major shift regarding relations with its troubled eastern neighbor as a result of New Delhi adopting its Look East policy, in which India prioritizes the establishment of economic links with the Southeast Asian hinterland.