[Previous entry: "Muivah on way to Delhi for next round of talks Indian Express 15 april 2010"] [Next entry: "Muivah resumes dialogue OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"]

04/18/2010: "Centre-NSCN talks held Spl correspondent Assam Tribune 18 april 2010"

Centre-NSCN talks held Spl correspondent Assam Tribune 18 april 2010

NEW DELHI, April 17 – The Government of India and NSCN (I-M) today held yet another round of dialogue to work out a solution to the vexed Naga problem. The two sides are slated to meet again on Sunday.
Earlier, led by its all-powerful general secretary Th. Muivah, a five-member team of NSCN (I-M) arrived here to resume the dialogue. Other members of the team included RH Raising, Imcha and V Makritsü, sources said and added that the Government of India’s interlocutor for Naga peace talks RS Pandey and Joint Secretary (Northeast) Navin Verma – who were part of the Central team – discussed substantive issues with the Naga leadership.
The talks were part of fresh attempt by the Centre to engage the NSCN (I-M) leadership. During the intervening period, the Centre had also dispatched Pandey to Nagaland to hold talks with the Naga civil society and NGOs.
The two sides had met last month after a long gap to kick-start the stalled peace process. In the meantime, the Centre removed K Padmanabhiaih and brought Pandey in his place.
Amidst reports of serious deadlock persisting over the issue of integration of Naga inhabited areas, Muivah who was in Nagaland met several NGOs at Camp Hebron. He reportedly briefed the various NGOs and tribal organisations about the ongoing dialogue.
At the core of the negotiations is I-M’s 31-point proposal, which included the controversial demand for unification of eight districts spread over the States of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, besides a separate constitution, flag, currency and army.
NSCN (I-M) leadership has been maintaining that talks with Government of India have not broken down as media reports suggested. “It is too early to comment but the process is already on,” he said.
Meanwhile, Muivah, who is expected to stay in Delhi for about a week, is expected to meet some Central leaders also.
Naga people in Nagaland are one R.K. Lotha Morungexpress
•-There is no superiority or inferiority complex among Nagas. Nagas are equalizer one body. God created man with many parts. If the foot were to say, I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body. If the ear too say I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body then the body cannot stand and function rather the body be completely paralysis (1 Corinth 12:12-20).
The Hoy 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 became plain ‘Babylonia’ and settled there. They built a city with ‘tower’ that reached the sky, soon they will be able to do anything they want. Sp God mixed up their language, they could not understand one another and they stooped building the city. Then they were scattered all over the earth (Genesis 11:1-9). Their plan totally failed. And the same condition also may come to Naga nation.
If people inhabitant of northern, southern, eastern and western region demand and claimed separate their own regionalism then there will be lot of controversy problem arising among the Naga Nation because of different opinion, different ideology and so for Naga people in Nagaland are one body and the body would be broken into small pieces which is irreparable lost, like downfall Moghul Empire in India.
Therefore, no Nagas in Nagaland whether northern, southern, eastern and western region demand, claimed separate their regionalism and should not be entertained. As everybody is well aware ‘United we Stand, Divided we Fall’.
R.K. Lotha

Insight into NSCN-IM charter of demands in right time: Phungthing Eastern Mirror


DIMAPUR, APR 16: Ceasefire Monitoring Cell (CFMC) Convener Phungthing Shimrang today reiterated that the collective leadership will come out to the people with the charter of proposals submitted to the Government of India by the NSCN-IM when the time is right. Interacting with the media today at the CFMC office at Diphupar, Phungthing said the time is too premature to disclose the many nuances of the proposed charter owing to a lot of complications in different quarters.
“We want to see the solution early, because it is for the people but now and again, it is always with the Government of India”, he maintained.
It may be mentioned that NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah accompanied by a number of high officials left for Delhi on Thursday to continue the protracted political dialogue with Delhi.
On queries of the role of the FNR in the Naga political process, Phungthing said “everything that is good for the people-we should say it is good.”

However, intonating categorically on the Naga issue being a political one, he reiterated that the FNR movement should not be confined to a certain area alone.
Coming to the rampant invasion of Dimapur by anti social elements and extortions, kidnappings committed frequently in the name of the national workers, the CFMC convener voiced exasperation over the organized crime haunting especially the commercial capital and said these criminals need to be dealt with sternly.
“This has been bringing bad name not only to Naga society and we need to we need to tackle such activities, with cooperation from every one,” he stated.
‘We would like to see such kind of rampant criminal activities rooted out once and for all,’ Phungthing said making it obvious that those culpable would be given the highest level of punishment.

EPA to support resolutions for Naga political issue Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR Ex-Parliamentarians’ Association (EPA) resolved to support the resolutions adopted by 60 elected representatives at 11th Legislative Assembly session on Naga political issue. EPA in its consultative meeting on April 13 particularly supported resolution no.4 which dealt with constituting a joint parliamentary committee on Naga political issue comprising of members irrespective of political party. A joint press statement issued by EPA president, T. Khongo Shiu and general secretary, Nuzota Swuro said association also resolved to make ‘fervent’ appeal to all Nagas to unite for early solution of Naga political issue.
Further, EPA has expressed appreciation to Nagaland chief minister and Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaker for inviting ex-parliamentarians to a joint meeting of the sitting and its former members on April 14 at Chumukedima, Dimapur.

ANSAM extends NH blockade for 1 week Nagaland Post
Over 170 trucks were stranded at Khuzama beyond Mao gate on Nagaland side as the ANSAM extended its intensified form of economic blockade on the National Highways in Manipur for another one week even as a high level meeting convened by the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh discussed on the latest development in the proposed conduct of elections to the Autonomous (Hill) District Council.
The agitating ANSAM has decided to extend the economic blockade on the NH- 39, 53 and others for another one week even though the six-day blockade expired last midnight. It has extended the blockade for alleged failure on the part of the Manipur government to initiate any apparent step to address their demands for amendment of the Manipur (Hill) Areas Autonomous District Council Act, 2008 before the election to the ADCs are held.
Reports received here said that more than 170 goods laden trucks arrived from Dimapur side and being stranded at Khuzama, the last gate of Nagaland to Manipur owing to the blockade. Drivers also reportedly refused to proceed with security escorts saying that the number of escort personnel provided was not enough to protect them from possible harassment from supporters of the strike.
Plying of inter-state passenger buses has also stopped Saturday due to fear of attacks by the blockade supporters. At Jiribam on the Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53, around 30 loaded trucks arriving from Assam were stranded. Inter-state buses were also off the road, reports said.
Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh Friday evening convened a high level meeting with the top bureaucrats discussing on the main issues ahead of the state government holding ADC election under the existing Act.
It may be mentioned that despite government’s plan to issue the notification for election to ADCs by April 15, the same was not issued apparently owing the objections coming up from various pressure bodies like the UNC, ANSAM and other tribal bodies.
Employees of the state government under the banner of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO continued their cease work strike which commenced from January 17 last demanding in toto implementation of recommendation of the
Sixth Pay Commission effective from January 2006. The consultation meeting on the ADC election was also attended by the DCs of the five hill districts of the state, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Churachandpur. Reliable sources said that Chief Minister was likely to convene a meeting of the cabinet to review the decision with regard to the holding of the elections

Dance of diversity Ranjita Biswas, Trans World Features
The colourful dances of the Northeast offer a glimpse of the outstanding diversity of the region’s population and their sense of beauty, writes Ranjita Biswas
The Octave, according to Oxford English Dictionary, is “The day week of a festival, eight days, including festival and its day week.” In music, an Octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. This phenomenon is considered as the “basic miracle of music.”

At a recent festival of dances held at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata, the nomenclature for the event, “Octave”, merged both the elements. If not in the number of days — three days actually — the festival showcased the virtuosity of the folk dances from eight states in the North East, a slight extension of the ‘seven sisters’ group of NE states that is Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura with the addition of Sikkim. These states extending from the foothills of the Himalayas have a certain homogenous quality, though the differences are as great in performing arts.

Most of the dances on display made it amply clear that the folk dances of the region are basically based on agriculture and celebration of Nature. Spring — a time to plough the field for sowing and harvest are of supreme importance to the farmer community and folk dances and songs are woven around them all across the world. The essentially folk beliefs and elements have now entered into the urban milieu as folk art traditions of a country or region.

The spring Bihu or Rangali Bihu (Bihu of joy) of the Brahmaputra valley is now firmly ensconced as a symbol of Assamese folk dance. The vibrancy, the nymph-like movements of the women resplendent in Muga mekhela-chadar who whirl to the beat of the dhol, is now pretty familiar to the audience across the country. Why, even abroad! The group that came to perform in Kolkata has also travelled to New York and other cities.

But less well-known are dances like Eme-Relo dance of Arunachal Pradesh or Hozagiri dance of Tripura. In Eme-Relo dance, women dress in black and white sarong-cum top dress. They belong to the Galo tribe of the Adis living in the West Siang district. The theme of the dance is based on the creation of rivers and animals living in the water.

The Hozagiri dance of Tripura was a discovery of sorts for most city-breds as they are less exposed to this folk dance. It belongs to the Reang community who, next to the Tripuris, constitute the second biggest group among the tribal population of Tripura. It is believed that they migrated to Tripura from somewhere in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the middle of the 15th century. However, some pundits point out that since in older times the boundary extended from Burma (Myanmar) to the Bay of Bengal, including the Lusai Hills (Mizoram), they were the original inhabitants of Tripura and have similarities with some tribes of Burma.

The women dancers dress in black sarongs and striped material tied at the back like a kachuli to cover the upper part (Pachra and Rea); heavy chains made of coins completely cover the upper part. They move to the beat rhythmically creating wonderful waves of lasya while round plates made of metal twirl around their fingers.

Only the lower portion below the waist moves since the dance also involves acrobatic movements. More awe-inspiring is the way they keep on moving even as they prop themselves up on earthen pitchers with a bottle on the head and a lighted lamp on it but never missing a beat. The dancers even form acrobatic formations with one girl standing on the shoulders of another, all the while keeping the lighted bottle intact. Musical instruments like Khamb, flute made of bamboo and bamboo cymbal are used.

From Meghalaya came the dancers of Masieh associated with the Nongkrem dance festival. Nongkrem dance is a part of the original autumn festival of the Khasi people which is held in autumn. The festivities are to celebrate a good harvest and appease Ka Blei Synshar, the ruling goddess of crops.

The Nongkrem dance is actually a part of the pom-blang (goat killing ceremony) performed by the Siem (king) of Khyrim (or Nongkrem). Traditionally, the Siem sends words to all villages to congregate with their offerings for the worship. The dance called Ka Shad Mastieh (dance of men) starts with men with sword and shields and chowries (fly-flaps or whisks) They are dressed in black and white attires of dhotis, full sleeved shirts, embroidered sleeveless coats and turbans which are adorned with cock’s feathers (U thuiyah).

The women, usually unmarried debutants, dance at the centre taking tiny steps, barely lifting their feet from the ground. Their dance is called Ka Shad Kynthei. The women wear rich silk clothes and silver or gold crowns with plates and hold down their arms to the sides and their eyes are demurely cast down.

Tiew Lasubon (a rare sweet scented golden coloured flower found only in the deep jungles), worn on the crown indicates the purity of women. The hair is worn tied in a knot behind the head but with a long tail hanging down and adorned with silver ornaments at the end. They also wear an assortment of silver and gold chains, coral beads, bracelets and earrings.

Meanwhile, to the sound of Tangmuri (pipes) and drums, the men dance round the south side of the circle of women holding their swords on their right hands and whisks in their left. The sword symbolises the man’s defence of himself, his house and his family and his mother, and the whisk signifies his care and sound advice.

The Cheraw dance or bamboo dance of Mizoram which was also on display recently made news by figuring in the Guinness World Records as the largest and the longest dance ensemble in the world. A total number of 10,736 dancers in 671 bu or groups performed this intricate dance. In the dance men sit face to face on the ground and tap long pairs of horizontal and cross bamboo staves opening and closing in rhythmic beats. Girls in colourful Mizo costumes of Punchei, Vakiri and Yhihna dance in and out between the beats of bamboo to the accompaniment of gongs and drums.

Cheraw is a very old traditional dance of the Mizos. It is believed that the dance form goes back to the first century AD, while the Mizos were still somewhere in the Yunan province of China, before their migration into the Chin Hills in the 13th century AD to the east of present Manipur-Nagaland border and eventually to the present Mizoram. Some of the tribes living in South East Asia have similar dances in one form or the other with different names.

The performance of other dances from the NE as part of the festival, like Nuknarar Tsungsang dance of Nagaland, the whirling-drum Pung Chalam dance of Manipur in Vaishnavite tradition, vindicated the diversity of North East not only in flora and fauna but also in folk traditions. Not to forget the Buddhist tradition reflected in Singhi Chham dance of Sikkim where dancers are attired as snow lions the guardian deity of the land as decreed by Guru Padamsambhava. He is revered as the teacher who first spread the word of Buddha in Bhutan, Sikkim, Tibet etc. The dance performed in autumn is also a tribute to mount Khan-Chen Dzongpa, or the Kanchenjunga, worshipped in the land.

Octave rightly showcased how every corner of India has a unique folk dance tradition to offer.
Tea farmers can dream of a bright future morungexpress
Dimapur, April 17 (MExN): A day long training cum seminar was held at Nagashine Tea estate, Lumami on April 13 where 119 farmers from 10 villages of Akuluto sub division participated.
Advocating the scope of organic tea in the domestic and international market, I. Kheto Kinny MLA and proprietor of Nagashi Tea said that Nagaland, having a large number of villages is called ‘kingdom of villages.’ However, the irony is that all the villages are deficit in agriculture produce in spite of having 82.6% of the population engaged in farming; the reason that 75 % of our farmers depend on Jhum farming thereby putting everything at the mercy of monsoon. Jhum system is not only un-sustaining but have many side effects, specially causing ecological imbalance. The organic tea plantation is one such option to wean away the farmers from the traditional farming in to commercial farming.
The MLA further highlighted on the need for judicious use of natural resources to improve health by adopting the organic farming. He said that the demand for organic food is soaring and people are willing to pay the premium for organic food as they have now become aware of the ill effects caused by the consumption of in-organic substance in their food. He is optimistic that with the suitable agro climatic condition and rich natural resources, there is no reason why Naga farmers can not achieve the desired feat. “It is toward this direction that the Nagashine Tea has taken the initiative to produce the organically produced tea in the near future and hopefully we can put a dent with our product in the word map while creating a history to ourselves,” Kinny said.
He also said that now that Nagashine Tea has already engaged Competent Certification Agency for Organic Tea Certification, the tea farmers of the locality can dream of a bright future.
Earlier, Ahovi Sumi SDAO Akuluto in his keynote address briefed on the policies of the government where it is envisioned to eradicate poverty and make Nagaland a hunger free state by 2020. While the status and the scope of tea plantation and department policies on tea plantation in Nagaland was explained in detail by Nosezolie Dy. Director Agriculture and the procedure involved for getting Organic Certification by Ibomcha Sr. Inspector, OneCert asia, the technical aspects involved for organic tea production was delivered by James Agri. Officer and Atoi Sema.
Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer, Akuluto in a press release said that the tea farmers acknowledged the proprietor of taking such initiative for the farmers who, in fact have long lost hope of marketing their farm produce for lack of tea processing unit in the vicinity.