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06/06/2010: "Tension in Nagaland, Manipur undermines peace process: NSCN(K) Hindustan Times"

Tension in Nagaland, Manipur undermines peace process: NSCN(K) Hindustan Times

The Khaplang faction of the NSCN on Sunday regretted the tension and unrest in the neighbouring states of Nagaland and Manipur, saying it has harmed the Naga peace and reconciliation process.
The NSCN(K) said that the 'Covenant of Re-conciliation' signed by top leaders of three Naga underground groups at Chiang Mai in Thailand last year at the initiative of Forum for Naga Reconciliation was being undermined by the tension between the two states.
A statement by the group said that the covenant assured the Naga people that 'violence in any form among the factions should be avoided so that in due course all political groups shall reconcile with each other, giving themselves a chance to create a common platform to push for a final political settlement between the Nagas and the Government of India'.
''The covenant did not anoint Th. Muivah (NSCN-IM general secretary) or anyone to represent the Nagas and create social unrest in Manipur and Nagaland,” the statement said hinting at Muivah's intended visit to his native village Somdal in Manipur's Ukhrul district that gave rise to tension between the two states.
Manipur pushed to brink by Nagas OINAM SUNIL TIMES NEWS NETWORK, TOI
Manipur has been severed at the throat for more than 50 days now. Its highways blocked by Naga protestors, there is neither fire nor food, neither medicines nor miracles in the state. Petrol is selling for Rs 170 a litre and LPG for Rs 1,500 a cylinder. It’s time the Centre woke up to Imphal’s misery

There is not much hope in Manipur these days, not enough food either, or medicines, cooking gas and petrol. The only thing in abundance is despair, fear and bitterness at being on India’s fringes, literally and metaphorically.
At its hospitals in Imphal, the shelves are bereft of medicines, even common antibiotics , and doctors go around with forlorn , sorrowful expressions on their faces, cringing every time a patient is wheeled in. There is an acute shortage of lifesaving drugs and oxygen. And even the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, the top care centres in Manipur, have stopped all routine surgeries. “There are no oxygen cylinders, no syringes, nothing,’’ says a nurse. “The blockade will kill us all.’’

It’s been more than 50 days since Manipur , which depends entirely on National Highway 39 for all its supplies, has remained choked. The All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (Ansam) enforced an economic blockade beginning April 11 this year, opposing local body elections which they allege will suppress their tribal rights, and there’s no telling when the roads will open again and ease the stranglehold.

In fact, the blockade has only intensified after the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah ), or NSCN (IM), a group that has been demanding the creation of Greater Nagaland — ‘Nagalim’ as they call it — by merging Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur with Nagaland, lashed out at Manipur recently. NSCN (IM)’s separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah wanted to visit his ancestral village in Somdal, Ukhrul district of Manipur, but Imphal wouldn’t allow it fearing mischief.

So anxious was Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh about Muivah’s visit — there is a large population of Nagas in Manipur and many still hope to break away and form Nagalim — that on May 2 he rushed a police commando force and India Reserve Battalion troops to Mao Gate, the entry point from Nagaland, to prevent the NSCN leader’s “home coming’’ . Nagaland-based Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) immediately swung into action and banned the entry of all Manipurheaded vehicles into Nagaland, the main supply route for the neighbouring state. NH-39 passes through Nagaland and Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, running from Moreh in Manipur to Numligarh in Assam, via Imphal and Kohima.

To make matters worse for an already bleeding Manipur, especially Imphal valley , the alternative route, National Highway 53, which connects Imphal with Silchar in Assam, was also blocked by Naga students. With the death of two Naga protestors in police firing during a rally at Mao Gate on May 6, the situation turned even more ugly and fraught with danger. The Manipur-Nagaland border today looks like a war zone with no respite in sight.

“The Indian government doesn’t care about Manipur,’’ says an angry Suraj Kumar in Imphal. “We are buying a litre of petrol for Rs 170. When Delhi increases the price of petrol by Rs 2, there are protests everywhere and the matter is raised in Parliament. What about us? Are we not Indians, part of this country? An LPG cylinder costs us Rs 1,500 and a kg of coarse rice is being sold for Rs 50. Where is the money, where is justice?’’

Seven Manipur trucks have been burnt down by miscreants inside Nagaland since the first week of May. Two trucks were pushed down a deep gorge. Hong Kongbased Asian Human Rights Commission and Imphal-based Human Rights Alert in a statement have said that the “economic blockade of Manipur and the plight of its ordinary people is the ultimate example of the failure of the government of India and that of the state governments in Manipur and Nagaland to counter armed insurgency in the region. The blockade is sheer exploitation of the many political power loopholes that exist in the region.”

Flights are not much of a help either. Indian Airlines and other private airlines operating from Kolkata and Guwahati to Imphal have had to reduce their passenger intake and cancel cargo bookings as all of them need to budget for return journey fuel. No aviation fuel is available at Imphal airport.

Though the Centre has now stepped in with the Union cabinet committee on security deciding to airlift food, life saving drugs and fuel to Imphal from Guwahati, it is too little. There are far too many mouths to feed, kitchen fires to light. The situation has also eased up a bit after the government cleared NH-53 to carry food and fuel from Silchar using huge convoys of Army, paramilitary and police commandos to guard it. But it’s far from normal. “NH-39 has to open,’’ says Udoy Thongam, a Manipuri activist. “The Manipur government can hardly do anything otherwise.’’

But that looks like it’ll take a long time in coming. Muivah, who is currently camping at Nagaland’s Viswema village, just a few kilometers from Mao Gate where Manipur troops are deployed, has dug his heels in, screaming his lungs out that Imphal wants to suppress the Nagas. Senior NSCN (IM) functionary VS Atem says they will “move forward and not go back” . Naga leaders have been lashing out at the Centre , too, saying it betrayed its own commitment to let Muivah pass into Manipur.

The Centre had in a surprising move allowed Muivah to visit his village and other Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. But Ibobi Singh, knowing fully well how Muivah is perceived in Manipur — as a rabble-rouser encouraging secession for the cause of Greater Nagaland — decided to oppose the Naga leader’s entry, scared that it would create social unrest and serious law and order issues in Manipur. Annoyed at the way the Union home ministry took a unilateral decision on the matter without consulting Manipur, Ibobi Singh, who’s brought the Congress to power twice in the state, put his foot down.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee intervened and summoned Ibobi Singh to Delhi for a meeting with home minister P Chidambaram, defence minister A K Antony and himself. But the Manipur CM refused to budge. It was only then that the Congress core committee, prime minister Manmohan Singh and the AICC leadership, which discussed the precarious situation in detail, veered around to Ibobi Singh’s point of view and let him have his way. By then they had, of course, rubbed Muivah the wrong way Though Ibobi Singh has managed to score brownie points, it is not enough to save his beleaguered state from the immense hardship it has been facing, and will face in future. Either the roads will have to open or a viable alternative route laid out. Until that happens, the people of Manipur will suffer endlessly, sandwiched between the conflicting politics of neighbouring states that fail to take into account the misery of their people.

HIGHWAY HISTORY

NH 39, known as ‘Imphal Road’ in history books, has seen many wars being fought for its control. This strategic road, which connects the Burmese plains with Assam’s Brahmaputra valley, is an essential component of New Delhi’s ‘Look East Policy’ , geared to take India to the South East Asian markets

The Imphal Road was the highway Netaji Subash Chandra Bose dreamt of capturing during his ‘Delhi Chalo’ campaign

The control for this highway was the flashpoint for Naga-Kuki ethnic clash in the ‘90s which claimed 2000 lives

Don’t proliferate violence: GPRN/NSCN Nagaland Post
The Covenant of Reconciliation signed by Chairman SS Khaplang, Isak Chishi Swu, Brig. Singya, in a nutshell, assures the Naga people that violence in any form among the signatories should be avoided so that in due course of time all political groups shall reconcile with each other in letter and spirit, giving themselves a chance to create a common platform to push for a final political settlement between the Nagas and the Government of India. The forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) initiated and witnessed this historic covenant.
It is most unfortunate to note that the Covenant of Naga Reconciliation which has, so far, been earnestly nurtured with great commitment by the FNR with fullest co-operation from all sections of Nagas, should be tested with such deplorable politics. The signatures of SS Khaplang, Isak Chishi Swu and Brig. Singya symbolises reconciliation and peace among the Nagas. Covenant of Reconciliation also, inwardly, gave hope that Nagas and their neighbors would resolve all outstanding issues with maturity and wisdom.
The covenant did not anoint Th. Muivah or anyone to represent the Nagas and create social unrest in Manipur and Nagaland. The seeds of misunderstanding sowed by adversaries between Nagas and their neighbors can neither be solved by one man’s wishful thinking nor by the whims and fancies of Manipur Nagas or Manipur Government.
Multiple Naga organizations in Manipur state with active support form few financially enslaved civil society leaders in Nagaland state continue to provoke, taunt and threaten neighbors without the knowledge of even their own colleagues. This is the symptom of a dying organization; a victim of self glorification.
It is wrong on the part of Nagas of Manipur state to solely believe in the wisdom of Th. Muivah and some Civil Society leaders from Nagaland, on the question of integration of Naga areas into Nagaland albeit with a little help from the Government of India. It must be made clearly known that no amount of pressurizing Manipur Government, economic blockades or memorandums to GOI shall suffice.
Look at the Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections in the Naga areas in Manipur. On closer observation most of the unopposed winners are nephews and nieces of IM leaders. It is not a mistake that in 2009, Tangkhul Naga Long pleaded with the GOI to make Ukhrul the summer capital of Manipur.
Let those spearheading the social unrest in Manipur state realize that Nagas of Nagaland state are not fools. Beneath the façade of Hohos and Hahas lies the general public who knows who is confusing them. Those enjoying the benefits of two states i.e Manipur and Nagaland under the guise of National workers should not talk about the subject which is simply not theirs.
Every one of the seventeen tribes inhabiting Nagaland state will have to be taken into confidence.
A brother, who wants to come home, having lived with another family for hundreds of years, will possess different attitude and mannerisms. If there is discord and disunity within Nagas of Nagaland today, Nagas must point their fingers to a band of suffering brothers who entered Nagaland during the early 1980’s having chased out by their brethren from eastern Nagaland.
Today, tribes from Nagaland state questions as to why integration should precede political solution when it is within the parameter of political solution. Justification of every misadventure, past and present, helps little to raise the confidence level. Reconciliation, peace and unity of Nagas shall have all the answers which more than 65 rounds of talks between GOI and IM could not find.
Nagas of Nagaland, today, is paralyzed because many frontal leaders have licked too much salt at the hands of others. Rational views and positive criticism never finds space in their book. GPRN/NSCN is clear that Naga political struggle against occupational forces has little to do with one man going to his village in another Indian state.
The Somdal bound group was sheltered by hospitable Angamis for a month and they are now performing another round of circus at Pfutsero in Chakhesang region. Lest the Nagas forget, after the infamous Shillong Accord of 1975, having condemned A Z Phizo as traitor who destroyed the Nation, Th. Muivah on many occasions, declared that Angamis, Chakhesangs and Lunkhum Villagers in Ao Region would not be enrolled in the National service for three generations. There are many NNC era living witnesses who recalls the unfortunate days. Suddenly Nagas are hearing Th. Muivah singing paeans to A Z Phizo and other NNC leaders.
The destructive pamphlets authored by him accusing A.Z Phizo and NNC will, however, have the original contents.
For more than a month, Nagas of Manipur have suffered much for wrong politics. Mobilizing Nagas at Mao gate on 5th May and the aftermath is a picture of horrendous political miscalculation. Nagas of Manipur have gained little from the economic blockade. It has only hardened the stand of neighbors.
The massacre of two boys by Indian paramilitary forces has not rewarded anyone. This approach is flawed from the very conception. Some miscreants are reportedly being paid to create trouble in Dimapur by targeting Manipur bound vehicles. When neighbors are setting their houses on fire deliberately, it is foolish for anyone to follow suit.
Should emotional distance between Nagas of Nagaland and Nagas of Manipur widen through recent brouhaha, Mr. Th. Muivah along with few Naga civil society leaders under his payroll, allowed it to deteriorate.
MIP, GPRN/NSCN.


D E C L A R A T I O N
Dated-Chamdil, June 04, 2010

In a public meeting held at the district H/Q. Chandel on the 4th June, 2010 attended by the people unprecedented in Chandel meetings history, the meeting after minute’s discussion and taking stock of the prevailing situation took a historic public declaration.


1. We, the Chamdil Naga Peoples hereby declare our commitment to steadfastly support the Indo-Naga political dialogue for an honorable and peaceful political solution.

2. That, those Naga candidates who contested the ADC election defying the voice of the Naga Peoples are Anti-Nagas; Anti-People; Anti-National etc. We support the stand taken by the UNC on 16th May, 2010, to initiate appropriate/befitting action or punishment.

3. That, we condemn the Manipur Government and valley people’s policy to bar Mr. Th. Muivah Ato-Kilonser NSCN/GPRN from visiting his native village and other Naga areas and the unilateral back-tracking of Government of India (GOI) from its commitment.

4. That, we condemn the brutal actions of the Manipur state security forces-killing of innocent civilians, torturing, wounding hundreds of civilians physically and using abusive words towards the Naga people.

5. We, the Chamdil Naga Peoples strongly urge Th. Muivah, Hon’ble Ato-Kilonser, NSCN/GPRN to pay a visit to Chamdil (Chandel District) at his convenient time.

Chamdil Naga Peoples.
A CALL TO THE NAGA YOUTH
Dated Tahamzam: 6th June 2010

Every once in a while, the youth to whom the future belongs, is challenged to fight for their tomorrow. On 6th May, 2010, two Naga youth with bright future gave their all to ensure that the collective journey of the Nagas reaches its destiny. At this particular juncture of our history, we are faced with threats to our future as a people -subtle, stealthy and crafty threats, disguised as legitimate, constitutional and procedurally correct initiatives of the Communal State Government with regard to the tribal people, their land and identity.

Under this scheme, Nagas and tribals will have no right over our lands and the Manipur State Government(which will always have the dominant community majority), through the district council can take over any tribal land citing necessities. The tribal traditional institutions and customs will also be at the mercy of the District Council making them an extension of the State Government. In short there is an evil design to separate the tribals from their lands and their traditional customs and traditions. The design has the decimation of tribal identity and dignity as its ultimate target.

Listen to the voice of the adversary. They harp on peaceful coexistence, harmonious relationship, age-old ties as per their perspective and definition. But when the tribals raise their voices for their rights to their land, identity and existence, they shoot you down, call you destroyers of Manipur, misguided and forced by some NGOs.
The Communal forces AMUCO has call an appeal for Unity day donation, for the dubious stage managed both by Govt and communal forces in 2001, imagine how much money will be siphoned of by the IBOBI from the Hill areas development fund as was done before. Now even Home secretary GK Pillai has joined the forces on humanitarian ground for the Imphal valley. Even though he is yet to address the victim justice(Naga), which means Nagas are sub-human for him, then ibobi handing him new suitcase is true when he last visited imphal. Sir Nagas minds are fresh of your notorious past relation with Nagas, when you uttered in JNU Delhi in a seminar ten years backed that “ so what if 150000 Naga people are killed in Nagaland, even 1000 people died of road accidents in Delhi…”

What are we Nagas without the inviolable rights to our land ? what are the Nagas without our traditional customary practices and institutions ? where would our identity be then ?

We therefore call upon all Naga youths in whatever fields they may be to respond to the need of the hour and become involved in volunteerism to protect our land, dignity and existence. Join your fellow Naga youths in the Naga Youth Front as volunteers for safeguarding our future. This is the most opportune time when we can garners all our collective strength to bear upon the situation which has presented itself upon us. It is a do or perish situation and we can not afford to dither in confusion and indecisiveness. History has brought us to this point of time and given us the opportunity to decide and determine that we cannot be slaves and tied down forever by the chain subjugation of the dominant with whom we never chose to live.

M.Dosopuwa
Investigation and Publicity Wing
Naga Youth Front