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06/07/2010: "Villagers return home to Mao OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Villagers return home to Mao OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


The displaced Nagas attend the special programme at Kisama on Sunday. Telegraph picture
Kohima, June 6: Displaced Nagas from Mao town in Manipur’s Senapati district were repatriated to their respective villages from Kisama, a heritage village in Nagaland, nearly 15km from here today.
Around 500 displaced people, mostly women and children because of the May 6 Mao town firing, were living in the heritage village since May 9 after they were shifted from Khuzama near the Manipur border.
On May 6, two students were gunned down and over 80 injured when Manipur police tried to crack down on the rally organised by the Mao women protesting against Manipur’s decision not to allow NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah to enter the state.
A special programme was organised at Kisama by Naga organisations today for the displaced people and the speakers vowed to work for the aspiration and desire of Naga people. They encouraged the people to keep their faith saying no force on earth can divide the Naga people.
The convenor of Coordination Committee on Naga Civil Societies, Niengulo Krome, said no force or government could suppress or divide the Naga people. “We will remove all artificial boundaries,” he added.
Krome said Nagas were living in different administrative units but the day would come when Nagas would do away with all artificial boundaries.
Representatives from several Naga organisations also attended the programme.
Before leaving for their homes in Manipur, women and children presented special songs. They thanked various organisations in Nagaland, including the administration and Nagaland government, for extending help.
They returned to their villages by nine buses arranged by the Nagaland government.
What is the jurisdiction of NSF, Naga Hoho and NGOs? Post-mortem Nagaland Post
The National Highway 39 passes through Nagaland to Manipur. The All Naga Student Association Manipur (ANSAM) started blockade since April 12 in protest against Manipur’s announcement to hold elections to its autonomous district council of its Hill Districts.
Now nearly 50 days have gone, the district elections are over and the result going to be announced; Muivah has blinked and has moved out of Viswema; there is not much meaning to continue the blockage now.
Formation of the district councils in Manipur, its elections and an inhabitant of that state visiting his native village has nothing much to do with the inhabitants of Nagaland. It is outside the purview of the state of Nagaland or its inhabitant. They are internal matters of the government of Manipur, yet the Naga Hoho, NSF, civil societies of Nagaland have dragged Nagaland into the internal affairs of a neighboring state.
If the NGOs of Nagaland want to help their Naga bothers and sisters in Manipur, they should go to that state and share their burdens just like the Nobel Peace Prize winner Woman who has gone in help of Gaza and the Israelis have arrested her. Such action would have been a very conscientious solid demonstration of their support.
The help that Nagaland provided to those who took refuge in Nagaland villages at the aftermath of Mao Gate turmoil was a good thing to do; even the government of Nagaland should have contributed.
But to bring the internal burdens of Manipur to Nagaland, blockade and burn Manipuri Trucks in Nagaland is just what we should not do to a neighbor whose only sin is to preserve the integrity of its state.
The burden of taking out Naga inhabited areas from Manipur and joining Nagaland is mainly the burden of Nagas of that state just like taking erstwhile ‘Naga Hills’ out of Assam was the responsibility of Nagas of Nagaland.
Nagas of Nagaland neither asked nor got any help from others. Let us sometimes call spade a spade.
And let us be very clear that from the times of ancient Empires, National Highways have always been the exclusive jurisdiction of the government. During the British administration of Naga Hills, even Castles were not supposed to drop their manure on the Sarkar’s Roads!
Communications, be it roadways or railways; airways or waterways, or telecommunications are the exclusive areas of the nation; national highway 39 is not only the artery of Manipur alone, it is the lifeline of Nagaland too and the government of Nagaland has every duty to keep it open in the interest of Nagaland.
The writer feels that by pleading with the NGOs to end the blockade, the government has abdicated some of its legitimate authorities and responsibilities.
The government must seriously take its responsibility of keeping its national and state highways free not only from land slips and subsidences alone but also from groups of people who try to use it for their own purpose only.
Thepfulhouvi Solo.

Manipur Church reaches out to Naga civil societies for peace The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2010: Taking the intiatives to break the present deadlock throttling Manipur, arising out of the deep divide between the people and valley people as well as the ban imposed on the movement of vehicles from Manipur in Nagaland or Naga inhabited areas, a team of the All Manipur Church Association (AMCO), led by its president Rev Prim Vaiphei has held talks with its Nagaland counter parts as well as Naga civil societies.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, the AMCO's president said that during its two days stint in Nagaland (May 28 to 29) it held talks on wide ranging issues with the Nagaland Baptists Church Council (NBCC) as well as the Naga Hoho and the Naga Students' Federation.

"During our meeting with the NSF representatives, the student leaders said that their attempt to enter Manipur on May 3 was not in any connected with the proposed trip of Muivah," Rev Prim disclosed, while recalling his interactions with the student body. The NSF delegates said that the ban was imposed in protest against the bar on the entry of the students, including its president by the Manipur police at Mao Gate.

Efforts to usher in peace and clear all misunderstandings and bring peace in the two neighbouring States through the initiatives of the Church leaders from either side (AMCO and NBCC) was discussed, said Rev Prim. As the umbrella body of all Church associations, irrespective of denominations in Manipur, AMCO undertook the initiative to embark on a peace mission and will continue to do so, he added.

Rev Prim further made it clear that AMCO is a neutral body and does not owe allegiance or leanings towards any political parties or civil society organisations and the goodwill mission to Nagaland was neither sponsored nor organised by the State Government.

"After our return to Manipur, we have already briefed the Chief Minister and the MPCCI president Gaikhangam of our goodwill mission to Nagaland so that the State Government may start some initiatives to end the deadlock," he said.
AMCO may visit Nagaland again or the NBCC may come down to Imphal, he added.
Dont be Jihadis: GPRN/NSCN to NGOs Staff Reporter KHEHOI (NPN): (DIMAPUR




Envoy to the GPRN/NSCN collective leadership, Kughalu Mulatonu (3rd from R), ‘kilo kilonser’ Hothrong Yimchunger (2nd from L) along with other GPRNNSCN members at Khehoi designated camp, Monday. (NP)
Referring to the ongoing blockade of national highways by the NSF on vehicles of Manipur, the GPRN/NSCN on Monday advised NGOs against turning into ‘Jihadis’ in Naga soil as Nagas never destroyed the lives of innocent people unless it was their enemy.
Making the statement endorsed at the joint council meeting of kilonsers at the Khehoi designated camp Monday, envoy to the collective leadership of the GPRN/NSCN, Kughalu Mulatonu reminded that way back in 1990s, the government of India had blacklisted NSF and NPMHR for “extremist activities” such as the ongoing economic blockade. He said the GPRN/NSCN condemned such activity as it totally violated human rights. He disclosed the GPRN/NSCN would take up the issue with the UN Human Rights Commission. Mulatonu also announced that the GPRN/NSCN would trace out “self vested culprits” with regard to the ongoing issue.
He also warned that in the event of any counter blockade in Assam on Nagaland, in retaliation to the NSF road blockade on Manipur, the tribes affiliated with NSF and Naga Hoho would have to bear the brunt. “The rest of the Nagas will remain unaffected,” he said.
Asked if the GPRN/NSCN had attempted to prevent the ongoing blockade, Mulatonu replied “we cannot talk with individuals who have become terrorists under the umbrella of civil societies.” He asserted the GPRN/NSCN would never approach such organizations whose “terrorism” has already threatened the lives of three million people in Manipur.
Taking note of the ban on trucks carrying essential goods and petroleum products to Nagaland which was called by 12 organizations spearheaded by the All Assam Manipuri Students’ Union (AAMSU), Mulatonu said the GPRN/NSCN would meet the student bodies, study their intentions and come to an understanding. He reasserted that the organizations should enforce the blockade only against those tribes affiliated with the NSF and Naga Hoho.
He slammed the government of India and the Nagaland government for “playing under cover tactical policies” by giving coverage to NSF and Naga Hoho which led to enforcement of the economic blockade for almost 60 days. Mulatonu pointed out that rampant arson such as attack on vehicles carried out by the NSF on the highways would not have been possible without the assistance and support of the centre and Nagaland government since there was a normal government running the affairs of the state. He also alleged that the NSF was paid by the NSCN (I-M) to carry out such activities in collaboration with NPMHR. He pointed out that the NSF and Naga Hoho were a conglomeration of only six or seven tribes including minor tribes of Manipur whereas majority of tribes from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Eastern Nagaland were not a party to them. Mulatonu also alleged that NGOs such as Naga Hoho, NPMHR and NSF were encouraging “terrorism” by forcibly encouraging Manipur security forces to kill innocent people.
Talks by year end
On the possibility of the GPRN/NSCN holding talks with the government of India, Mulatonu said the group was hopeful of starting political dialogue by the end of this year. He said the group was meeting Indian leaders and that the steps and process for holding the dialogue were “very positive.” He also said the GPRN/NSCN would hold one dialogue with the government of India to solve the “Indo-Naga” political problem and not stretch on.
Manipur: Another False Peace Sandipani Dash Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
A Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Kuki armed groups and the Union Government was signed in August 2005, but has done little to contain violence by these groups. While the agreement with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF), two umbrella organisations of as many as 19 militant groups, continues to hold, the conflict simmers on, with little progress in resolving the Kuki militancy in the Manipur Hills.
Kuki Insurgency related Fatalities in Manipur: 2001-2010
Year Incidents Civilians SFs Militants Total
2001 2 0 0 3 3
2002 8 0 0 4 4
2003 10 0 0 20 20
2004 17 0 0 22 22
2005 18 1 1 11 13
2006 18 5 0 7 12
2007 67 3 1 51 55
2008 82 4 0 44 48
2009 43 4 1 20 25
2010* 25 0 0 3 3
* Data till June 6, 2010
Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP)
The violence unleashed by the Kuki armed groups in Manipur has registered an irregular trajectory in 2005-2010 with sharp increase in the years 2007 and 2008. Despite a subsequent deceleration, the overwhelming fratricidal violence remains well above the 2005-06 level.
‘Area domination’ exercise carried out by warring Kuki groups, primarily in the Hills region, have resulted in relentless internecine clashes, almost across the State of Manipur. In a total of 136 Kuki-related insurgent fatalities, at least 69 Kuki insurgents were killed and 16 others wounded in some 29 factional clashes in Senapati, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul Districts in the Hills and Imphal East and Thoubal Districts in the Valley through 2005-2010 (till June 6). While Senapti was the worst affected District, with 16 recorded clashes, Churachandpur reported nine clashes, while there was one each in Chandel, Ukhrul, Imphal East and Thoubal.
The worst of the intra-Kuki clashes since 2005 include:
July 24, 2007: At least 10 Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) militants were killed in a clash between Bongbal and Rongyang under Yairipok Police Station in Thoubal District.
May 29, 2007: The Zougam faction of the Kuki National Front (KNF) killed five of its cadres, who deserted the outfit's camp at T. Bijang in Churachandpur District.
March 13, 2007: Six Kuki National Army (KNA) militants were killed and another injured in a factional fight with the KNF at Phaijang village in Senapati District.
February 22, 2008: Five Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants were abducted and subsequently killed by suspected KLA militants along the road leading to Thangal Surung from Ekou Bazar under Saikul Police Station in Senapati District.
May 25, 2008: Four KLA militants and one KRA cadre were killed during an internecine clash at New Saikhul under Saikhul Police Station in Senapati District.
This fratricide has even spread far beyond the State’s territory. On November 12, 2007, for instance, the KRA ‘commander-in-chief’, Thangkeng Hangshing, was killed by alleged cadres of the rival Kuki Revolutionary Army-Unification at his brother’s residence at Sriniwaspuri in the national capital, Delhi.
The ethnic rivalry between Nagas and Kukis adds another lethal dimension to the turf wars in the Manipur Hills. While the large-scale massacres of the early 1990s have not recurred, the faultlines of a festering conflict have remained intact. In the first week of May 2010, the apex community group of the Kuki tribe, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), sent an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the Kuki people also opposed National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah’s visit to his native village, Somdal, in Manipur’s Ukhrul District [Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel Districts figure in the projected territory of Nagalim (Greater Nagaland) conceived of by the NSCN-IM]. The KIM letter stated, "His proponents may call him the ‘champion of peace in South East Asia, but he is a Champion of Peace because he was killing over 900 Kukis, uprooting 350 Kuki Villages and rendering over 100,000 Kukis refugees in their own land during the 1990s? (sic)." Though Muivah was forced to defer his visit to his birth place due to the Manipur Government’s decision not to allow him to enter the State and a subsequent intervention by the Union Government, the stalemate still persists, with the Naga insurgent leader insisting that he will go ahead with his visit. Violent protests and counter protests have virtually paralysed normal life across Manipur.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Hills have, over the years, continued to witness sporadic clashes between Naga and Kuki insurgent groups. At least 14 Kuki insurgents were killed by NSCN-IM militants in three clashes in Ukhrul and Tamenglong Districts since 2005. In a major confrontation on September 3, 2007, at least 12 KLA cadres were killed by the NSCN-IM in a forest near Tangkhul Hundung Khunou under the Litan Police Station in Ukhrul District. KLA cadres had earlier hijacked two passenger vehicles from the Maphou Dam area. The clash ensued following the KLA militants’ violation of an ‘understanding’ between the outfits not to intrude into each others’ area of operation without prior information. In retaliation, on September 8, 2007, five NSCN-IM militants were shot dead by suspected KLA cadres between Jotsoma and Khonoma in the Kohima District of Nagaland.
Almost five years of cease-fire have failed to curb extortion and other insurgency-related offences committed by the Kuki militants across Manipur. The Kuki groups continue to extract ‘levies’ and ransoms from residents and transients over the years, targeting Government offices and beneficiaries, educational institutions, commercial establishments, transport agencies, and the wider civilian population alike. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal, at least 56 extortion cases have been ascribed to various Kuki armed groups since 2005 (a preponderance of such cases go unreported). Manipur Legislator Morung Makunga, on March 10, 2010, confirmed, in the State Legislative Assembly, that militant groups under the truce were not in compliance with the conditions laid down under the SoO agreements, and that such agreements should, consequently, be suspended. The Minister disclosed that Kuki armed groups had been collecting as much as 50 per cent of the compensation given by the Government to land owners at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Moreh town in Chandel District along the India-Myanmar border in the Hills. This is confirmed by a trickle of refugees who have fled Moreh under threat of extortion, or of reprisals for refusal to pay.
The Kuki insurgents’ forays outside the Hills have provoked incidents of occasional public protest and even vigilantism in the Valley. In one such incident, on December 22, 2009, two alleged cadres belonging to Prithvi faction of the KNF were reportedly lynched at Nongbrang in Thoubal District. Three women were injured in the attack. Police subsequently clarified that the two persons who were lynched were students belonging to the Kuki community.
On May 24, 2010, employees of the Manipur Sericulture Department demonstrated in front of their office, in protest against the May 20, 2010, abduction of a senior official of their department by cadres belonging to the Military Council faction of the United Kuki Liberation Army at Sangaipat in Imphal East District, for his department’s failure to meet the demand of INR five million. The group had reportedly made the demand nearly a year earlier. Subsequent to the abduction, the outfit had raised its demand to INR ten million. While the Police are yet to trace the abducted official, the Kuki group has denied involvement in his abduction.
The South Asia Terrorism Portal database records that 133 cadres belonging to various Kuki groups have been neutralized by Security Forces (SFs) in Manipur since 2005. While 105 Kuki militants were arrested in 61 search operations, 28 militants were killed in at least 23 standoffs with the SFs. Two civilians and three SF personnel were also killed in these confrontations.
There are 11 designated camps constructed for the cadres of the Kuki outfits under the SoO agreement, in the Manipur Hills. Periodic meetings of the KNO and UPF, representing the Kuki groups, and the Manipur and Union Government, have been held in capital Imphal, the most recent of these on March 25, 2010. However, the KNA, a signatory to the SoO agreement, had declared, in January 2010, its objective of creating an autonomous Kuki State under the relevant articles and provisions of the Indian Constitution. Similarly, the KNF, another signatory to the SoO agreement, raised the demand of separate State for Kukis within the Constitution of India before the Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai during his visit to Manipur on February 26, 2010.
With little evidence of tribal reconciliation in Manipur, fratricidal turf wars and continuous criminal activities by Kuki groupings even under the cease-fire, there is little possibility of substantive resolution of the Kuki conflict. The collapse of governance in the State and the enveloping milieu of violence can only enormously compound a perverse dynamic that has birthed scores of insurgent groups in this tiny State of 2.4 million people.
Press statement
Dated Ukhrul: 07/06/2010

Know thyself

“We can be stripped of everything but not our dignity and freedom, never!”

The Naga Youth Front is shock once again with the surfacing of some vested individual anti-Naga along with responsible Naga elders and leaders, who have tried to become leader whom their own villages and people have already rejected. Taking the name “Naga leaders Forum” which is purely Manipuri Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCCI) forum is disgusting to oneself. Imitating like Meitie forming one man one Organisation/Lup/Club is completely disrespecting to Naga custom and culture values as collective society. Sources say estimated around twenty thousand (20,000) Meitie ORGs/LUPs/JACs/Meira paibi/Clubs are there in Imphal valley.
Sense and sensibilities is what you deserved to keep yourself check and tackle every issue for your society. What democratic approach for healthy and positive good of all concern do you mean? Romantic and poetic phrases writing without a sense of responsibilities itself exposes ones own hypocrisy against your own people and humanity.

Where was yours sense and sensibilities when the Naga and tribal people approached democratically to have peoples consensus to the well crafted Anti-Tribal act that was pushed through by the majority communal community to undermine the existence of tribal interest? Where was yours sense when two students Chakho and Loshou were murdered, hundreds women were assaulted and shot like an animal in Mao-gate, striped naked and beaten up without any provocation in Taphou, shooting randomly targeting at the innocent villager in Khumji, and creating war like situation in Ukhrul to the women torch bearer, shooting with AK/INSAS and teargas?

Don’t sing the song of peace, like a wolf in the sheep skin, You all have stated right when you came out open “ As elders and leaders of the Naga community in the state, we would like to see our people further dividing in different groups” That’s what you responsible elder and leaders Mr. R. Keishing, Gaikhangam, RK. Thekho, A. Aza, A.S. Arthur, L. Benjamin Anal, Francis Ngajokpa, D. Korungthang Maring, Khangthuanang Panmei, and DD Thaisii have exhibited before and still continue when the tribals are insulted to the level of Sub-Human?

Reasoning with sense as to why you are out of place in the Naga Society after dedicating decades of your youthful for the struggle of our people and land. Watch your steps carefully before befriending some one who has grudged against the Naga people which you are also included. Your children and families member are here in Naga homeland not with you in hiding place guarded by communal commandos/Manipuri IRB. Is this how you begin your journey as a prodigal son to use the Naga Identity and act as traitor to evolve a theory to assimilate yourselves into the communal Meitei Society?

History will not fail us to keep your names in golden plate as “biggest betrayer of Naga people” time will say when your own children and generation will curse for what they inherited from you. The blood and tears that runs like a river of oppressed innocent Naga souls of children, women, students, young and old will not forgive you that easy.
M.Dosopuwa
Investigation & Publicity Wing.