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06/26/2010: "Re-aligning the Road Map to Reconciliation and unification By Ngaraipam Mahongnao"

Re-aligning the Road Map to Reconciliation and unification
By Ngaraipam Mahongnao

No nation can survive without determining their national interest as survivability of a nation depends much on identifying what interest will best serve the interest of a nation. National interest and public opinion dictate the nature of a long term as well as short term efforts in policy making. For every nation, there are certain irreducible cores of national interest at any given time which is called the vital interest of a nation, which is considered so vital that a state is willing to go to war to safeguard one’s national interest even though war is not the only option. To determine what constitutes the vital national interest is all together a difficult task, however certain issues like protection and preservation of their independence, territorial integrity and symbolic value of national prestige are considered basic and irreducible vital national interest and is true till today.

The status and quality of a nation depend much on the capacity and quality of the citizen residing within the country. Historically speaking, powerful countries are not exactly powerful just because they have natural resources, infrastructure, technology, arms and weapons, but the quality of the citizens which manipulate the available resources to translate it into useable or tangible instrument in the furtherance of one’s national interest which dictates the policy of a respective nation. Ultimately, it is the people which make nation a powerful entity. A nation frequented by defection and infiltration of the enemies within the system cannot be a strong nation. Certain nation or state or particular community can be susceptible to such kind of characteristics and such kind of characteristics are so internalise so much so that hardly ever can they realise the damage of weakening the very foundation of nation building. Sometimes an emotion can even overwhelm the entire community en bloc which smacks off the very rationality of a clear vision. No nation can be strong unless the people are mentally, physically, spiritually, morally, socially, economically, technologically, militarily and nationalistically prepare to defend their nation. These exact conditions confront the very existence of a Naga nation today.

As the Naga Peoples’ Convention to be assembled on 1st July in Senapati (Tahamzan) is inching closer, every citizen of Nagalim must pull up their sleeve and be ready to defend and keep certain things aware.

Firstly, every Naga citizen must keep in mind that we are a colonised country under the political and administrative subjugation of India. This colonisation and premeditated arbitrary division is killing the very basic relationship of brotherhood and sense of nationhood and the present situation is unacceptable to the people of Nagalim. Our glory can be restored only by unifying the fragmented Naga homeland.
Secondly, every Naga should be aware that we are at constant war with the colonial master in different form, either in the form of actual physical war or cultural, political, economic, social, moral, psychological and intellectual war; and the danger is that, certain individuals and leaders are already toeing the line of the oppressor; becoming their spokesman.

Thirdly, real reconciliation and unification should begin first from within the civil societies as has been initiated by Naga Hoho, UNC, ANSAM and NSF irrespective of the artificial political boundaries of all Naga Hills which should be followed by various revolutionary factions base on the credibility of the leadership to lead the nation without any premeditated motive.

Fourthly, the very basic exigency of reconciliation and unification itself has become a political weapon by anti-Naga voices to weaken the real unification process of the entire Naga community, emotionally and territorially by deliberately prompting and putting the cart before the horse thereby jamming the entire process of real unification. The very basic exigency of pushing unification therefore cannot be initiated without a clear-cut road map for real reconciliation which should be followed by emotional and territorial unification of the entire Naga community, or else, defeat the very purpose of this endeavour thus far. It is impossible for the train to run until the rail track has been laid just as without the road map the unification process cannot be initiated as there can be no mistake this time.


Fifthly, there should be a clear-cut dichotomy between the issue of reconciliation and unification of the Nagas on the one hand and the negotiated settlement of the Indo-Naga political issues on the other. The roadblock to reconciliation and unification should not be a stumbling block to negotiated settlement. For which, reconciliation and unification of the Nagas is only a process to internal settlement within; which is a beginning in itself, thus internal adjustments are in actuality infinite, where as Indo-Naga political settlement should be a permanent solution which is an end in itself which can not be indefinitely delayed.

Sixthly, there should be no confusion for every Naga citizen, irrespective of the boundaries, that economic development is not an alternative answer for political sovereignty lest it may hijack the very cause Nagas are fighting for. Nagas demand for political sovereignty is not an offshoot of economic underdevelopment but due to outright political subjugation and denial of historical rights which every Naga must enjoy like any other nations.

Seventhly, every Naga citizen must know that they have an obligation towards one’s own state to which he or she is aspiring to live in, because it is only through this aspiration to live under one state which is going to make Naga a nation. One can not be a Naga by citizen and at the same time, a Manipuri or a Pakistani or an Indian by loyalty.

Considering the fact that Nagas are today fighting a different war unlike the past, the enemy itself has surfaced in the form of our own people, speaking the same langauge, eating the same food habit and lifestyle, advocating the same reconciliation and unification, fighting the same cause yet speaking different tones. Perhaps, India has realised that the war to defeat the Nagas is not a war between India and Nagalim but Nagas versus Nagas, and it appears that few section of the so-called nationalist are eagerly and deliberately embracing it in favour of the adversaries posing threat to the Nagas. The real danger lies in the fact that when people fail or are unable to identify the thin line dividing the real nationalist and the traitor or the real enemy within, the fall of the nation begins. It is therefore for this reason, unification of the revolutionaries should be brought forth with extreme cautiousness and every Naga must refuse to fight a war engineered by India. It also call for total rejection of artificial political boundaries which divide the Nagas, and must outrightly refuse to accept the artificial political boundaries as social boundaries, refuse to give communal and inflammatory statement which conforms to the whims of the adversaries, and refrain from enchanting autocratic, dictatorial and tribalistic decision which do not delegate us; turn a deaf ear to the adversaries which do not conform to the national principles and opinion of the Nagas. However, certain facts which every Naga must keep on constant guard are that not all opinion which is written in the print media is public opinion; hundred wrongs can not make a right wrong. Irrespective of how many write, speak or condemn, the irreducible truth must remain even though there is no absolute truth other than god. It is because of these facts that every Naga must break all illusionary differences which are being created by the enemies to serve their selfish interest. Therefore, the need for resolving the conflict to bring fragmented territorial unification and peace within the family must be treaded cautiously so as not to aggravate the already compounded problems within. The concept of unification and peace has its relevancy only where there are confrontations. Usually, conflict refers to an ongoing state of hostility between groups of people both civil and armed cadres. Thus the process for resolving dispute should be adequately addressed to have a satisfactory outcome. The fear is that, what if Nagas take the wrong step set by the adversaries? Will the Nagas future be secured? Unification, being the purpose to end physical confrontation within, should therefore require urgent understanding of their causes and find ways for its prevention.

Today, communalism and tribalism is the biggest challenge to the Nagas’ march towards reconciliation, unification and solution. Usually, communalisms and tribalism are born out of ignorance, backwardness, unfounded ambitions, and fear of uncertainty of future. Such kind of people often indulge in communal passion and divide the people so that on the spoils of such mischief, they often flirt to achieve their lust for money, power and leadership, and sometime to derail the real desire of the people’s quest for real solution. Usually, communalisms can be easily spread where people are backward, rationally weak and ignorant. This becomes a fertile ground for planting mistrust and hatred towards one tribe against another by the adversaries. And such people often become a stooge and act as a pawn to sabotage real peace and solution and very hardly ever realise their mistake. The facts which every Naga must know are that, to murder an innocent citizen just because he or she belongs to another tribe is the worse form of communalism. To misuse one’s own privileged position to serve selfish interest is communalism. No individual or tribe can claim that they love Nagalim more than any one else by killing an innocent tribesman. It is jingoism or chauvinism and not nationalism. Communalism is not only anti-Naga but anti-human, it is against the basic foundation of Naga nationhood; it is against the very basic secular set up of a Naga nation, by killing one another in the name of tribes, we are killing our own nation. It is an affront to Naga’s search for permanent solution. Nagas must contain such menace so that we do not fight another avoidable war in the name of tribes in the years to come. There are certain fact which Nagas must admit today without any hidden agenda is communalism, which is the real threat and a real challenge to unity, peace, and solution. Nagas cannot afford to talk reconciliation, unity, peace and solution, and at the same time brandish hostile and harboured animosity towards other tribe. To achieve certain mileage is extremely difficult but it takes just a careless statement to undo the sacrifice of generations

Nagas must be extremely cautious as it has become an eyesore for the neighboring state to see the Nagas walking down the road of reconciliation and territorial unification. No doubt, they have reason to fear as we inch closer and nearer to our long cherish goal. No matter what others have to say, if Nagas reconcile and stand resolute by silencing the dreadful traitors, no one on earth can stop the Nagas except God. Today, Nagas can see the fear and restlessness in the minds of our neighboring states and other agents, and they are all out to destabilize the process of reconciliation and territorial integration. Nagas need a lot of appreciation to NSCN for consistently standing on the principle of irreducible truth despite its various weaknesses. The enemy always sees Nagas as Muivah and Muivah as Nagas. Therefore they are all out to destroy his image. Succeeding in doing so will meant burying the Nagas historical rights. By defending him, we are not only defending Nagas historical rights but defending our Naga nation. Muivah as an individual is immaterial to the Nagas, but Muivah as a leader of the Naga National Movement is everything for the Nagas. The enemy has wittingly tried to pin and exclude the Nagas to a subject matter of Naga issue to Muivah, leaving him alone to defend, forgetting that he represents the future of the Nagas. The enemy has new found weaponry trying to strip down the Naga national issue to petty individual issue and on communal line. How long can we allow the enemy to assault our Naga nation in the name of Muivah, leaving him alone to defend forgetting that he bears the brunt for defending the Naga nation? The sooner the Nagas realized the earlier our process of integration will be.

The burden of bringing unity, peace and negotiated settlement is not the sole responsibility of the national worker. However, there can be no illusion on the part of the civil societies tempted to spearhead the negotiation for settlement, as there are hordes of people wanting to be leaders without commitment to the cause and thus easily betray. The civil societies can simply be a facilitator and not a negotiator for any desired ends. Nagas must realise that the real chance for solution has been missed time and again simply because we often try to choose the easiest path without foreseeing the consequence and sometimes even if they could, they choose to deliberately do it for selfish interest. Real solution can come only when each citizen is willing to take complete responsibilities of managing their own state of affairs. No individual can completely dissociate himself or herself from the land and community to which one belongs to. We derive our security only by associating with it, be it social, economic, or political. Escaping from the problem cannot be the solution. One of the biggest drawbacks and challenges of the Nagas toady is that, we were not taught by our colonial master to cope with problem but to escape, condemn and procrastinate it. The much confusion of what we have today is the direct consequence of what we were taught in yesteryears. Constant bombardment to the younger generations of Nagas with negativism, alien history and propaganda devoid of Naga history, culture, ethos, and traditions are bound to bring these much of confusion. Nagas today are barely aware of what constitute the territorial boundary of the Naga homeland. Despite living in proximity, the Nagas seem to be unaware of each other, the recent development being an exception which deserved deep appreciation. It is becoming painful to witness that every able citizen of Nagalim can easily betray its cause in the name of the national movement. Today the temptation of confining the language of unification to the so-called Nagaland state is extremely real. Any possible road map to unification must begin from the civil societies in consultation with the nationalist who can lead the Nagas to the right direction. After all, the strength and capacity of the nation depends on the able leadership with international credibility and well conscious national interest backed by power and the vigilant citizens, lest it falls at the hands of the traitor. The biggest challenges confronting the civil societies is the modalities for unification which are time consuming and at the same time the challenges of becoming incompetent to handle the core modalities and road map looms large. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation, the Naga Hohos, the NMA, the NSF, ANSAM, UNC, ENPO, and various other Naga civil organisations operating in Changlang and Tirap of Arunachal Pradesh, Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel of Manipur; and Naga inhabited areas of Assam and Myanmar must constantly deliberate on how to unify the Naga Homeland and work out the pragmatic modalities and road map for emotional and real territorial unification. There can be no mistake on the part of the Nagas that the support of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and Naga Hoho and various civil societies for reconciliation cannot be translated as the endorsement of the physical unification of the warring entities by force. Until such tangible unification on the side of the civil societies happens, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to unify the NSCN under the collective leadership, and the NSCN (K) led by Kitovi and Mulatonu, and the NNC. The real danger of infighting between these factions is real and inevitable. This exact catastrophe is what the adversaries are anticipating for, and from the spoils of this infighting, the enemy is going to indulge. Nagas can not afford to repeat the same mistake committed in the past. It is time for every Nagas especially the younger generation to say traitor a traitor. We should no longer allow traitors to hide in the closet of nationalism, neither shall we allow selfish community’s interest to override the Nagas national interest, or else this will cost another preventable war and bloodshed.

In any Christian society, the voice of the Church is powerful and this is more real in a state like Nagaland. However, there are dangers in indulging too much on the activities of the state’s affairs without dichotomising the role, even though a clear-cut division is extremely difficult. This is not to demean the role and contribution of the church leaders towards reconciliation. Despite having fully appreciated, church leaders often measure political yardstick with morality which very often ends in political suicide. Very often they are poorly informed of the management of state’s affairs devoid of national interest despite their good intention thus compromising the irreducible core. We have to realize that we are not Jesus and one can not simply proclaim and expect others to behave like Jesus lest people are watching what one is up to. Temporal world is not an ecclesiastical affair and thus the responsibility of feeding moral education to the people differs with the revolutionary struggles to defend ones country. There can be no mistake that simply advocating only on moral issues without comprehending the political complexities with due consideration to national interest often lead to confusion. We are no longer in the medieval era. Countries very often interfered by religious groups in the governance are the least develop and most corrupt, frequented with bloodbath and very often people are found standing on different lines of allegiance confused with the moral teaching and the nation to which they are called to defend. Clearly, very few theocratic state survive in modern times, for example, Pakistan is a confused state today with bloodbath inextricably mixed with religious fanaticism and politicking, because they are reaping what they have sown. After all, most of the religious leaders if not all, are poor performers in education and very often, they command respect not because they are intellectuals but merely because they are the servant of God. This position often makes the religious leaders to misuse and led the masses to the wrong direction which they seldom realised. Every sensible Naga citizen must be concious that “we have to pay to Caesar what is due to Caesar and unto God what is due to God.” If Nagalim is burning, hungry with power, corruption, bloodshed, defection and switching of loyalties, lack of dignity and commitment to the cause, and lust for money, committing only to the material world without committing to the people, the Church leaders have a fair share of responsibilities, because they are the exact outcome of the moral indoctrination. It is the exact reflection of what the Naga families are up to at home, for no nation can rise above the families. The church leaders, very often presume that all moral decision has a positive outcome, however it should be kept in mind that good intention doesn’t always lead to good result, and very often, moral decision too has adverse political implication. Perhaps, Nagas will be wise if we learnt from history that, the appeasement policy of Chamberlain towards the communalist Nazi, who campaign against the Jew costs England and the whole world, a World War. The intention of Chamberlain was good and moral, but the outcome was catastrophic. The policy of Chamberlain to prevent war and bloodshed by pleasing the anti-human communal Nazi Hitler forced England to fight the war. They fought the war to end the war and indeed it ends the war. The decision appears immoral yet the outcome was moral. England perhaps knew that the war with anti-Jew Hitler was inevitable, yet they tried a very moral policy in order to please the moralist, yet when England chose to fight the inevitable war, Hitler was much stronger though. This same history can be repeated in a small country like Nagalim. The harboured animosity and hatred towards certain communities by a few section of the so-called nationalist cannot easily be ignored, as this is not only anti-Naga but anti-human as well. It is indeed increasingly surprising to note that communalism has become a feature or a habit of certain so-called leaders. Even though Nagas are culturally, racially, and religiously homogeneous, the so-called leaders are Indian by taste and outlook, devoid of Naganess and have been completely capitulated intellectually, physically, psychologically, morally and financially to India for survival by executing anti-Naga activities in the guise of serving the people. After all, their survivability rest on raising pseudo Naga issue which are literally anti-Naga to earn cheap money and support, thus further forcing them to foment trouble to the detriment of the Nagas national Interest. The so-called sections of the nationalist are today the detractor of real reconciliation and territorial unification by aligning with the adversaries like, Indian agencies, ULFA of Assam and UNLF and PLA of Manipur etc of the neighbouring states for their sole survival. Perhaps, these anti-Naga militants of the neighbouring states are laughing away with the very kind of folly and wasted opportunity and resources of the people in the name of serving the nation, wondering as to how Naga parents are allowing their children to the camp of the adversaries to train for anti-Naga activities back home. Few sections of the Nagas are today deliberately embracing it, despite the fact that it serves the interest of the adversaries. Today, the younger generations are increasingly accepting the artificial political boundaries as the social and cultural boundaries, despite the fact that Nagas are homogeneous and one. This perhaps could be blamed to the kind of Indian education we are imparted upon, completely ignoring the Nagas historical perspective and deliberately encouraging to develop apathy towards the movement, thereby indefinitely postponing the search for solution. Thanks to the nationalist leaders, who kept the national issue alive locally and internationally.

As eternal vigilance is the price of democracy, eternal sentinelism is the only option, lest while we nap, the freedom may be snatched. The challenges of the Naga nationalist are overwhelming, every Naga army is a foot soldier, intelligence gatherer, strategist or analyst, trainer, torch bearer, government, economist, arm manufacturers, scientist, social engineer, messenger of peace and hope, freedom fighter, diplomats or ambassador, advocate of justice, forest and border guards, law enforcement agency, educationist, spiritualist, legislator, negotiator, constitutionalist, philosopher and so on anchored in one single individual and the chances of them committing mistakes are very high, yet the Nagas are increasingly unforgiving. However, giving up is not the option we can take. The strength of the adversaries like India is overwhelming, with various departments, each independently manned by different individuals of different qualifications yet we have sustained this far. The chances of the enemies exploiting the in-competencies are very real, and yet we are taking the bait. It will be unwise on the part of the Nagas to assume that adversaries are always from outside the system, as infiltration of the so-called traitors can be within the nationalists and within our home propagating unification and peace, extremely watchful of the burning issue hijacking the limelight and stealing the show. Nagas should sternly demand for a clear-cut differentiation between self-imposed selfish opinion and real public opinion. Thanks to the younger generations and the old alike which are withstanding the onslaught of the overcharged word—unification devoid of unity. Statement for statement sake without modalities for unity and peace cannot work out. Semblance peace is not real peace. The enemies of the Nagas are today flirting and exploiting the overdue unification of the Nagas itself as the weapons to thwart the process of reconciliation for settling the Indo-Naga political crisis, deliberately putting the cart before the horse, and thus jamming the whole process to real unification. There is no denying the fact that a train cannot run until the rail track has been laid, thus without the acceptable modalities and road map for unification, the process cannot be initiated. However, cautious treading of the issues cannot be translated as anti-reconciliation, anti-unification and anti-peace. Nagas as a whole are overwhelmingly for reconciliation and unification if the real road map and modalities are heading to the right direction. It should be extremely cautious, for we are treading on the future of millions of the younger generations of Nagalim, which can be easily exploited by the detractor. Each time, the vigilant Naga citizen raises its concern, the adversaries, and detractors change its colour. Nagas let us beware!
(The writer is a Shillong-based Lecturer in Political Science)
The author can be contacted at ngmahongnao@gmail.com

UNC won't allow ADCs to function
2010-06-26
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 25: The United Naga Council (UNC) has reiterated its declaration of the ADC election as "null and void" and, that under no circumstances, the District Council shall be allowed to function in Naga areas. The UNC also reiterated its commitment to protect the rights and existence of Nagas and to initiate steps for fulfillment of their objective, stated a press release issued today by the UNC's president, Samson Remei, who has been proclaimed "wanted" by the Department of Home, Government of Manipur.

The press release further stated that "the UNC and its sister organisations would like to put on record their acknowledgement and appreciation of all the candidates, who had responded with honor and dignity to the call of Naga people by disassociating themselves with the ADC election which was held against the interest of the Tribal people. Their steadfastness in upholding the struggle of the Nagas and the tribal for peace and their rights has brought the movement thus far against all odds." In a joint press statement of Tangkhul Nagalong and Tangkhul Coordination Committee claimed that a meeting of the Tangkhul Frontal Organisations, the Council of the Village Authority and the Public was held today at TNL Hall Ukhrul, on the present political situation in the Naga areas of Manipur. It si reported that the meeting endorsed the United Naga Council’s decision to declare the imposed District Council Elections in the Naga areas of Manipur as “null and void”.

It was also mentioned that the meeting also endorsed the decision of the UNC to sever all ties with the Government of Manipur. The meeting has demanded the Government of India immediately to make alternative arrangement for the Naga in the present state of Manipur. The meeting decided to extend full participation and cooperation in the event of UNC decision to fight for the aspiration of the Naga people.
http://hueiyenlanpao.com/news.php?newsid=1330

UCM, Police accused
2010-06-26
By Hueiyen News Service

Imphal June 25: The Senapati District Motor Vehicles Owners’ Association today accused the UCM and Manipur police of colluding with some unknown persons in attacking and damaging two Imphal to Mao service buses on June 21 last. A statement of the association signed by its secretary Sahdev Gurung dispatched to the media house while expressing condemnation to the damages caused to the two buses alleged that two unidentified persons coming on a scooter with no number plate attacked them at 2nd MR Gate and Sangapham Bazar. Two persons a driver and a women passenger sustained injuries in the incident. The statement further alleged that vehicles belonging to the association parked at A O C Imphal were also intimidated not to come down to Imphal apart from forcibly pulled down the passengers boarded on the vehicles on June 17 last too.

The association further accused that Mao buses stationed at north A O C were again threatened not to ply and were abused to go to Nagaland on June 19 last. On June 23 also people at the booking counters at North AOC along with some persons allegedly identifying themselves as members of UCM threatened to burn down vehicles plying on the route. They also assaulted the president of the Mao Tata Sumo Association. Not ended with this the statement went on to charged that on June 24, OC of Imphal police station summoned the president of the Senapati District Transport Association to his office at Babupara over phone.

The OC with a member of booking counter also told the president to stop plying buses on the route. The OC intimated the president through his phone for a meeting at his office at Imphal on June 28 again. They have decided not to attend or pay heeds to any uncalled threat or disturbances, the statement added. The association called upon the people of Manipur and state government to condemn the uncalled and communal acts and helps in stopping threats on them immediately. The association further also cautioned that if such acts go on, they will be compelled to take up their own course of actions.
http://hueiyenlanpao.com/news.php?newsid=1334

Make people understand Naga issue: Muivah
Correspondent TSEMINYU/WOKHA, JUN 25(NPN):

Stating that solving the first problem for the solution to the Naga political issue was to make the people understand the issue, NSCN (I-M) general secretary, Th. Muivah said he undertook the ongoing journey to various Naga areas to make the people understand the same. He said when most of the people can understand the issue, problems can be solved as the Naga history was very clear. Muivah was addressing media persons at the Tourist Lodge Wokha after coming from Tseminyu Friday. “We will try to cover as many Naga villages because when people are clear about the issue, only then can we expect solution to arrive at,” he said.
Asked to comment on the response of the people during his tour so far, Muivah affirmed there was no doubt that Nagas were for and support the Naga issue and expressed happiness over the sincerity of the people.
To another query as to whether he has any concern over his age while pursuing for solution to the Naga political issue and at a time when the talks were dragging on for the last 13 years, Muivah exuded confidence saying “I believe we can manage.” ”We’ve confidence in ourselves that we can work out the best and acceptable solution,” he added.

Earlier, addressing a public reception organized in his honour by the Rengma Hoho at Tseminyu Town Hall while en-route to Wokha from Pugoboto today, Muivah called upon the Nagas to take a decision for the Naga nation. He said the best time to take decision for the nation was while on earth and not in heaven.
“There’s time for everything, during your time if you don’t take the right decision, nation can perish. If you can’t take the right decision, sorry we’ll all perish together,” Muivah said. He said the time has come for everyone to take decision for the Naga nation and be the master of history and nation. Dwelling at length the turn of events in the Naga history, Muivah reiterated that the pioneer Naga leaders like late A Z Phizo, late Imkongmeren and late Whenha took the right decision that Nagas would not be part of India or then Burma. He said these leaders did not fail the Nagas. Muivah pointed out that the Mizos, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir have fallen because they have decided to join India but that Nagas have not because of the wise decision of the Naga leaders. He lauded the Rengma Naga tribe for being able to take the right decision. “Rengma may be small but the Rengmas are the people who can take the right decision and they have not failed in the Naga history even though the Naga society is ridden with different factions,” he said.
Big or small, Muivah said one would have the biggest history if they can stand for the right decision. He said the time has come the Nagas to search each other’s history.

On the Naga reconciliation, Muivah pointed out that it was the NSCN (I-M) who initiated the Naga reconciliation sometime in 2004 as both politically and in God. He said it was also the right time for the Nagas to reconcile because the government of India had recognized the unique Naga history. He, however, regretted that some people had started putting conditions for reconciliation. “If one puts condition for reconciliation, it’s for their personal interest and not for God or politics,” he alleged and added that the people would know who was for reconciliation and who was for Naga nation. He said the NSCN (I-M) can reconcile with anyone provided it accepted the reality of the Naga history. But the NSCN (I-M) would never reconcile with anyone who wanted reconciliation at their whims to suit their personal interest, he said. Earlier, co-convenor, steering committee NSCN (I-M), Q Tuccu in his short speech at Tseminyu said, “We are not here to say we are right or we are wrong as the people know better.” He said that the ongoing journey of the collective leaders of the NSCN (I-M) led by the general secretary have been two months now.

Advisor, Rengma Hoho Kenyuseng Tep delivering short speech said that the Rengmas stood on the Naga political issue as the Rengma history stood clear. He said that reconciliation and unity among the Nagas was a must and that it should be in the spirit of forgive and forget and that one must accept and accommodate each other. Former advisor, Rengma Hoho, Khillo G Rengma who gave a written speech on the detailed history of the Rengma and their contributions towards the Naga political struggle pointed out that the first Naga flag of independence was hoisted at Pharashen in Rengma country in March 1956 by the Federal Government of Nagaland. He said that the Rengmas acknowledged and extended their unflinching support to the declared commitment of Naga reconciliation.

Meanwhile, Muivah who arrived at Wokha from Pughoboto was accorded rousing welcomes by both the Rengma people at Tseminyu and the Lothas in Wokha. He was scheduled to deliver a public address Saturday at Wokha and halt there and then proceed for his next destination Mokokchung tentatively scheduled on June 28 next. After Mokokchung, he was likely to proceed for Tuensang though the date was yet to be fixed, sources said.
http://nagalandpost.com/ShowStory.aspx?npoststoryiden=UzEwMjc2Njg%3d-CdId%2fK1lqjg%3d

NNC flays Muivah
DIMAPUR, JUN 25 (NPN):
Terming NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah’s current “peace mission” to several places in Nagaland as “a peace mission of crocodile tears”, the NNC Friday asked if there was any room for Th. Muivah to “initiate and launch his private peace and reconciliation mission” after allegedly killing about three thousand Nagas in the past three decades. In an e-mailed statement, the NNC Shepoumaramth regional council president K. Salouni further pointed out Muivah’s “treacherous policy and criminal activity” had killed more than three thousand Nagas including Naga national leaders, national workers and innocent Naga civilians. Stating that “this spate of killings pained and saddened us so much in the lost of their precious lives and their steadfast national services,” the NNC said they “cannot forgive and forget.” Also, maintaining that “high sounding and loose lofty talks” of Th. Muivah and “his treacherous practices” were opposite, the NNC urged “true Nagas” to be “very much aware of Muivah.”
http://nagalandpost.com/ShowStory.aspx?npoststoryiden=UzEwMjc2NzI%3d-jtXvbMR5qPc%3d

DGP denies allegations
2010-06-26
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal June 25: The Director General of Police, Manipur, Y Joykumar today refuted the allegations levelled against him and the Manipur Police Department in a news report published by a vernacular daily published in Imphal. Reacting to the said news item which alleged that on June 8, the Commissioner of CAF&PD gave in writing to DGP, Manipur about the non-tracing of 73 oil tankers and requested for tracing out these vehicles, and which also alleged that due to non-initiation of timely action on part of the police, the 73 tankers remained untraced till date, a statement of clarification issued by the DGP stated that Commissioner (CAF & P.O.) or any of his staff had neither given in writing nor verbally about the non-tracing of 73 oil tankers to the DGP, Manipur or any police official of Manipur Police till date.

On the other hand, it is the Police Department which has been making all out efforts by calling meeting with the LO.C. authorities of Imphal Depot along with owners and contractors of oil tankers of Manipur to sort out the problem of very few oil tankers bringing petroleum products for the state, the DGP's statement asserted.
http://hueiyenlanpao.com/news.php?newsid=1338

Cong receives elected ADC candidates
2010-06-26 By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal June 25: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today celebrated party’s victory in the recently concluded Manipur (Hill areas) District Council election with a felicitation function at Imphal Congress Bhavan. The felicitation cum victory celebration function was attended by Chief Minister, O Ibobi, MPCC chief Gaikhangam, Cabinet ministers, MLAs and other state Congress leaders, workers and well wishers.

Mention may be made that Congress swept the election by winning in 106 seats out of 144 seats in six ADCs. The election was held in two phases on May 26 and June 2 last amid the boycotts called by various Naga bodies. Chief Minister, O Ibobi speaking on the occasion reiterated that his government was determined to conduct the election to the ADCs noting seriously deprivation of democratic rights of the hill district people for more than 20 year. With regard to the boycott by some social organisation, he said government had not targeted to any particular organisation or tribe to overcoming all odds in the way of holding the election. It was long enough suppressing the democratic rights of the hill people. It is the bounded duty of a government to put its best to deliver equal rights to all section of people, Ibobi said. He further said that without developing the interior areas of the state, particularly backward hill areas, Manipur cannot be said as developed. To bring about a balance development in both hills and valley is the objective of the Congress led government in the state. When only the valley or hill developed, the state cannot be called a developed state.

Considering for all round development in the state and with the determination to ensure grass root level governance,Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government was compelled to go ahead with the district council elections he asserted. Chief Minister also observed that development in hill areas have been lagging behind for a long time due to non-existence of grass root level body to look after the development works in the region and hoped that once the district councils are constituted, the passage of development in hill areas will be sped up.
Saying that the district council Act has not targeted to a particular tribe or community, the Chief Minister asserted that any section or provision which is considered hurting the interest of the tribal people can be amended.

Government is always ready to amend it. Government was not hasty in taking decision to conduct the election. After a thorough discussion at various level and slow pace of development in the hill areas due to absent of local bodies, the decision to go with the election was taken, he clarified. “The decision was not against any particular organisation or community or tribe. It just took for the sake of development and democratic rights of the people,” Ibobi said.

President of the MPCC, Gaikhangam who also spoke on the occasion said that only a few section of the people who wanted to break the territorial integrity of the state tried to block the ADC elections only to charge the valley people of suppressing rights of hill people. Despite steep oppositions from this section of the people who wanted to break the integrity of the state, the ADC election was successfully conducted. Keeping in mind the supports extended by the people, elected candidates must work for the welfare of the people sincerely and cooperate the government in developing the state, he said. He further said that district councils were in defunct state for the last more than 20 year when the demand for sixth schedule in the state hill areas comes up. Government had to defer the election to the council for such a long time as there could not bring a consensus on the demand of the sixth scheduled of Indian constitution. Before the government taken up works for holding election, almost all hill based civil organisations criticized the government alleging that hill people were neglected and when government announced election again opposition surfaced on the way of election. What is the matter behind it, he asked.

Hill people wanted the election has been clearly showed by the fact that they turn up in large number and exercise their franchised on the polling day despite the steep opposition from some civil organisation. This also showed that people want ADC functional and make security to their right to exercise franchise for development to bring in their region, Gaikhangam went on to say. Almost all the Congress candidates, most of whom taking shelter at Khuman Lampak youth Hostel and youth centre for security reasons, took part in the felicitation function held this afternoon at Congress Bhavan, Imphal. Among them were four women candidates, two from Ukhrul and one each from Tamenglong and Churachandpur.
http://hueiyenlanpao.com/news.php?newsid=1336

Ukl meet backs UNC stand
Addie Chiphang

Ukhrul, Jun 25 : A joint meeting of all the Tangkhul frontal organisations, the council of village authorities and the public was held at TNL hall, Ukhrul today to discuss the pre-sent political situation in the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur and has unanimously endorsed the UNC’s stand to declare the ‘imposed’ District Council elections as ‘null and void’. Organised under the banner of Tangkhul People’s Convention, the joint meeting further decided to fully endorse the decision of UNC to sever all tines with the Government of Manipur. To fill up the vacuum so created by the severance, the joint meeting demanded that the Government of India immediately make alternative arrangement for the Nagas in the present State of Manipur. Lastly, the meeting unanimously decided to extend full participation and co-operation in the event of UNC’s decision to fight for the aspiration of Naga people.
http://thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local%20news-04.html

UNC hails

The United Naga Council and its frontal organisations have acknowledged and appreciated all the candidates who have responded to the call of Naga people by disassociating themselves with the ADC election which was allegedly held against the interest of the tribal people. A press release issued by the UNC reiterated its declaration that the imposed election was ‘null and void’. Under no circumstances, the District Council would be allowed to func-tion in Naga areas, it added.
http://thesangaiexpress.com/

What is corruprion
By ajohnson
Created Jun 23 2010

It is a mindset, a behavior, a tendency, or attitude towards the improper, dishonest, premeditated, or deliberate and malicious misuse, misappropriation, mismanagement, or wasteful spending of public funds or any public ownership, in total defiance to ethics, and morality. It is a culture of institutionalized wasteful spending, or malicious, illegal, and unlawful mal appropriation of funds, whether public or private, or an act geared towards depriving certain people of their birth rights to their nation's economic wealth. For example, the use
of luxurious vehicles by government officials of a country just emerging from a long devastating civil war, while the impoverished, powerless are abandoned to themselves into a web of all socio-economic ills of all sorts, instead of trading luxury for necessarily at such critical moment in Liberian history. The culture of corrupt practices has so much exponentially grown out of proportions in the Liberian post-civil war era, as it was during the pre-civil war since JJ Ross, that it is only culture that remained untouched by the long, devastating civil war. So when it comes to the culture of corruption, the long Liberian civil war never taught Liberian civil servants any new lessons that could accelerate the rapid expansion of that national monster, in order to speed-up Liberian economic recovery process.

Quite to the contrary, the excessive proliferation of that diabolic socio-economic national malady is slowly and progressively railroading the speedy economic recovery of Liberia. That culture is on the rampage in every Liberian public institutions: in schools, at all levels of the country education system, road blocking, and preventing
the quality standard of Liberian human resource formation badly needed; in offices under and on top of the tables; in the bathrooms; in the café, bars, and restaurants; on the high ways and streets; in the hall ways and corridors; on the tennis tables; on the dinning room tables; in the vehicles, and even public transport buses. So much so that in the Liberian daily parlance, the word corruption loudly and resoundingly resonates everywhere in conversations. That is the hottest headlines one reads in daily newspapers. It is the only expression prevailing in people daily conversations. In today's post civil war Liberian economy reduced in shambles, the culture of corrupt practices has become the "bin laden" of the Liberian Nation, so much so that it has become to Liberia in this crucial stage of its economy, what the event of September 11, 2001 was to the US Government, terrorizing and railroading its economy and infrastructural development. It will continue to be so until the Liberian anti-corruption laws become truly anti-corruption in their execution, starting with the Liberian government's massive wasteful spending on luxurious vehicles the country devastated economy can't afford without more foreign indebtedness at the stiff expense of Liberian future posterity, the same way the culture of corruption does. Without the
rigid, inflexible, and in discriminatory true anti-corruption laws, drastically executed to curb the exponential rise, and exacerbation of the corrupt culture holding firmly hostage Liberia wholesome speedy recovery, this country will continue to gravitate around itself in a vicious circle of everything, and anything that makes its greater majority impoverished grass-root lives totally unworthy living ad-infinitum, while the few internal economic terrorists continue to deprive the country of all its natural and financial resources. The Liberian Government should strongly back-up the General Auditing Commission under the courageous leadership of Mr. John Morlu, in its difficulty, but honorable mission of drastically dismantling Liberia's deep seated culture of corrupt practices and other forms of illegal, fraudulent, and malicious acts of economic sabotage particularly in Liberian post-war society, in order for the Liberian economy to freely flow for all Liberians. From time immemorial, the culture of corrupt practices has been so deeply intertwined with Liberians mindsets, habits, attitudes, behavior, and ways of perceiving public service industry that it is becoming practically impossible to distinguish it from a private business enterprise for personal profit motives, along with Liberians growing tendency of having everything in return for nothing. With the mysterious disappearances of so many millions of USD out of the Liberian economic growing so increasingly worrisome to the health of the Liberia economic, this is how far the culture of corrupt practices has deeply invaded, and profoundly penetrated the Liberian socio-economic ways of perceiving the Liberian noble public service industry. I personally wish to live long enough to see a Liberian society relatively set free from the pandemic and epidemic culture corruptibility railroading the economic Health of the greater majority
of Liberian most impoverished grass-road. If corruption in the public sector of the Liberian economy is not brought under control, the Liberian national poverty reduction strategy program will end-up turning into a national poverty exacerbation strategy program taking much more Liberians into deeper abject property. We need to inject
more transparency, integrity, accountability, honesty, fiscal and financial responsibility in the management of this country's economy, to make it much more dynamic, functional, and beneficial to all Liberian, particularly the most dispossessed and most impoverished grass-root majority. Copyright Liberian Observer - All Rights Reserved.

This article cannot be re-published without the expressed, written consent of the Liberian Observer. Please contact us for more information or to request publishing permission.

Opinion
Copyright 2009 | Liberian Observer Online | www.LiberianObserver.com
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Jun 17, 2010
Racial Divide in India’s Northeast
By sinlung
By Bhaskar Dutta-Baruah
People specific states and Autonomous Councils have helped in the protection of the identities of the tribals.A friendly chat on a sultry summer evening in Kokrajhar with my Bodo friends — in low voices — the arrest of Ranjan Daimary (commander of the Bodo rebel outfit, NDFB) and the visible mistreatment meted out to him by the Assam government crept into the conversation.

Questions that arose — why the bias in the manner Daimary was handled compared to Arabinda Rajkhowa (chairman of the ULFA) after their arrests? How did the Guwahati blasts turn Daimary into a bigger criminal than Rajkhowa who was accountable for the killing of schoolchildren in Dhemaji? Daimary and NDFB are the prime accused in the serial Guwahati blasts of 2008; the ULFA has been charged of the murder of 10 schoolchildren in 2004. We talked about my ‘foreign’ ancestry and my invading forefathers — a tinge of guilt overshadowed the feeling of pride in my mind. A cold spring afternoon in Nagaland; the conversation I was having with a senior Naga associate went into the days of the Naga movement in the early 1950s and the punishments his father’s generation faced from the Indian authorities. A majority of the Naga people had voted for independence during the plebiscite of May 16, 1951.

The Indian authorities’ efforts to suppress this movement resulted in countless atrocious incidents and the ugly memories they left behind will probably remain in the Naga pyche for another generation or more. Five of the seven northeastern states were a single entity before the 1950s — Assam. One by one, the indigenous people rebelled and succeeded in forming their own political entities namely Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. I can give other examples of this global phenomenon of ‘assimilation.’

Australia, 1869-1969: The white settlers created the ‘Stolen Generations’, ie the indigenous Australians victimised during the process of forced assimilation — most went missing, many died and the aboriginal gene became endangered in Australia.

North America, late 18th century: The European settlers took steps to eliminate the culture and traditions of the indigenous Red Indians. The resulting Indian wars lasted for more than a hundred years.

Ancient India (Indo-Aryan transmigration theory): Immigrants from the western side of Hindukush settled in the Indian subcontinent — without going into the debates and ongoing researches on this theory and stating from the old chronicles, we find citations of many ‘clandestine’ people in parts of what is now India, namely Asur, Daitya, Danava, etc. It is difficult to believe they were simply mythical creatures; the fact is that basically everything non-Aryan or native was branded Pagan (negative) and had to be either assimilated or obliterated.

In the northeast: The indigenous people never gained the ‘mainstream’ status among the ‘more advanced’ people that migrated here from Uttar Pradesh in the 14th century — these warlords called the Baro-Bhuyans bulldozed the indigenous culture, especially in the plain areas through their customs, language and later their religious views. Barring the ruling Ahoms that were the 13th century settlers of Assam, the indigenous people including the Kacharis were pushed to lead an obscure existence. Something that both my Bodo and Naga friends had told me separately, “I lived in Delhi for so many years, but never was I invited by my friends to their homes for a meal because I am a Bodo/Naga.”

It may not be what they think it was; maybe their friends never thought about it that way, but something, somewhere must have hit them to shape their mindsets in this manner. It is easy to see what this factor might have been — Kachari is a metamorphosis of Ku-Achari (people of an evil nature) in the Assamese language — most of the tribes have the suffix Kachari added to the name of their tribe. Majority of the modern Assamese (read: until a generation back) scorn the Kacharis because “they eat pork, drink alcohol, dress scantily and possess a bad temper”. No reader of this article, Kachari or non-Kachari can deny having heard this in the past.

Today, people specific states and Autonomous Councils for the tribal people have forged strong environments for the protection of their identities. The rebellions, past and present, were in fact ways these indigenous people hit back at their oppressive conquerors. ‘The invader-native conflict in northeast India’ is by far the longest of such wars in the world and it still continues. We do not need any more ‘lands’ or bloodshed here — this is a time for unity and for these wars to stop. Let the invaders realise the mistakes of the past and rectify the future and let the natives forgive and start the social order afresh.
http://www.sinlung.com/2010/06/racial-divide-in-indias-northeast.html
Senapati transporters complain of threats and intimidations at Imphal
IMPHAL, June 25: The Senapati District Motor Vehicle Owners’ Association in a press release expressed its grievances for public benefit saying they have been meted out raw deals at Imphal. Earlier, it said a bandh was called by them on June 22 to condemn the incident of June 21, where two of Mao to Imphal bound buses were attacked at 2nd MR Gate and at Sangakpham bazar by two unidentified masked persons riding a numberless scooter and causing injuries to a driver and passenger. Prior to this incident, on June 17, it said its vehicles parked ai North A.O.C, Imphal were told not to come down to Imphal and the passengers boarded on the vehicles were forcibly pulled down On June 19 the Mao buses stationed at North AOC were once again threatened not to ply and were abused to go to Nagaland, it said. Again on June 23 after the incident of June 21, the Imphal based passenger counter agency personnel along with some persons came and threatened to burn down their vehicles and even to physically assault the president of the Mao Tata Sumo Association, it said.

It further said June 24, the Imphal west O.C summoned by phone the president of the Senapati District Transport Association to his office at Bapupara, and who was already seated with one Kiran Singh, member of Passengers Counter Agency. The O.C. also intimated the president to call a meeting at his office at Imphal on June 28, it added. However, in this regard, the association has decided not to respond to any threat or disturbances, the release said. The association also called upon all the rightthinking people and Government of Manipur to condemn such uncalled for and communal acts of these unknown men and help stop these illegal acts immediately or else we will be constrained to take up our own course of actions as deemed fit by the organization to get justice.
http://ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=10587

REPEAL THE MANIUPUR (HILL AREAS) DISTRICT COUNCIL ACT, 1971
AS AMENDED IN 2008 AND NEED TO BRING THE HILL AREAS UNDER THE SIXTH SCHEDULED TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 was passed by the Parliament to provide for establishment of Autonomous District Councils in the Hill Areas in the then Union Territory of Manipur, but following the attainment of statehood in the year 1972, the Government of Manipur immediately adopted this Central Act by issuing the Manipur (Adaptation of Laws) Order, 1972 and in exercise of the power vested in him under Section 3 of the Act, the then Governor of Manipur vide Notification dated 14.02.1972 initially constituted 6 (six) Autonomous District for the purpose of constitution of Autonomous District Councils (ADC in brief) under the aforesaid Act of 1971, namely (i) Manipur North ADC now Senapati ADC, (ii) Sadar Hills ADC, (iii) Manipur East ADC now Ukhrul ADC, (iv) Tengnoupal ADC now Chandel ADC, (v) Manipur South ADC now Churachandpur ADC and (vi) Manipur West ADC now Tamenglong ADC.

Unlike the ADC created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, this 1971 Act does not provide legislative and judicial powers to the said ADC, but merely provides limited Administrative Powers under the pervasive control of the State Government under the Act of 1971. The ADC can make recommendation to the state government to bring legislation on the matter concerning the members of the Scheduled Tribe namely (a) appointment or succession of chiefs, (b) inheritance of property, (c) marriage & divorce and (d) social customs. The ADC is not empowered to generate its own revenue but made it dependent on grant-in-aid from the state government. It is therefore evident that no elected ADC under this centralized legislation of the 1971 could function effectively to the satisfaction of the Hills people since its first election in 1973. Despite of calling to safeguard the rights and interest of the Hills people, each political party in power in the State deliberately reduced the ADC to merely an agent of the state ruling party, resultantly, the ADC totally failed to deliver to the backward and illiterate Hills people. Admitting the weakness of the ADC under the above 1971 Act, the first minor Amendment of section 25 of the Act was exercised by the state government in 1975, but the same could not bring tangible results in favour of the Hills people.

Realizing this, amongst others, from late 1970s onwards, the right thinking hills people including the NGOs started a campaign to do away with the ADC altogether and demand for greater autonomy had begun thereafter. Finally, admitting to some extent the unworkable arrangement of the ADC under 1971 Act, the state government though unwilling but compelled to dissolve all the elected ADC i.e. Chandel ADC dissolved on 17.10.1988, Ukhrul ADC, Churachandpur ADC, Sadar Hills ADC and Tamenglong ADC dissolved on 18.03.1989 and Senapati ADC dissolved on 24.11.1993. The state government by misusing the power under the Act of 1971 in discriminately dissolved an extended term of the ADC and thereby the ADC meant for the Hills people were completely brought under the control of the State Government and as a result practically all the functions of the ADC contemplated in the Act have ceased to exist except education.

Realizing the failure of this Act, from early 1980’s the Hills people started demanding for extension of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India in the Hill Areas in Manipur. Denying the merits of the said demand, the Manipur Legislative Assembly without the genuine mandate of the hills people purportedly inacted Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 2000 to repeal the parent Act of 1971 by inserting the word “Autonomous” for the first time in the cause title of the Act without providing true autonomy to the Hills people in the real sense of the term. Fortunately, the said new Enactment of 2000 also could not brought into force.

The Government of Manipur as determined before not to allow the tribal to enjoy autonomy had again amended the Act, of 1971 by Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Second Amendment) Act, 2006 to the extent of inserting sub-Section (1A) in Section 29 (1) thereby conferring power on the ADC to notify any areas in the District Council as Urban Areas for the purpose of formulation of development plan and inserted Section 44A in the Act of 1971 providing therein that no land situated within the ADC shall be allotted, transferred, leased by the Deputy Commissioner, other than for public purpose except with a resolution passed by the ADC at its meeting by a majority of not less than 2/3 of its members. However, this Second Amendment of 2006 also did not bring out vital change in the parent Act of 1971 and the Autonomy remained elusive to the ADC.

Again openly defying the core interest and rights of the Hills people, the Governor of Manipur in exercise of his power under Article 213 of the Constitution of India vide Notification dated 12th May, 2008 promulgated the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2008 and immediately the District Council Delimitation Committee also constituted by the Governor vide Order dated 23rd May, 2008 to expedite the process of imposition of election of the ADC on the Hills people in Manipur. Without wasting any time, the State Government of Manipur finally brought Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Third Amendment) Act, 2008 into existence vide Notification dated 27th October, 2008 with the false pretension by declaring that the wishes of the hills people have been incorporated in the aforesaid third amendment. But on perusing the said amendment it appears beyond reasonable doubt that this Third Amendment Act, 2008 also did not bring major changes in the parent Act of 1971. There are few minor amendments like the strength of the members of the ADC has been increased from 18 to 24, administrative functions has been increased from the existing 17 to 26 by inserting a few more functions like fisheries, co-operative, sports & youth affairs, adult & non formal education, horticulture and floriculture, rural housing scheme, village and cottage industries, small scale industries, non-conventional energy sources, library and culture activities and power to recommend to the State for recognition of villages subject to resolution passed by a simple majority of the Council. This aforesaid powers incorporated in the Act by the Third Amendment are merely an administrative powers to be exercised by the elected MDC as per the dictates of the political party /parties in power in the State. It is correct to assert that conferring more administrative powers/functions on the ADC is not the right approach to safeguard and protect the interest of the Hills people in Manipur but rather this exercise under the present Act of 1971 will open wider doors to State Government to control and misuse the ADC as mere agents/instruments to implement the policy of the State Government instead of tribal policy formulated for uplifting the hills people socially, economically, politically and culturally and therefore, it is very clear that the Third Amendment could not change the nature of the ADC created under the parent Act, 1971.

Admittedly, the present ADC in the Hill Areas in Manipur is only a statutory authority /body created under the Act of 1971 unlike the ADC created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and is a constitutional authority/body. There is unmatchable distinction between the statutory body and constitutional body in terms of power, status and jurisdiction under the constitution. The present ADC in Manipur is absolutely under the extensive control of the State Government in power and as such it is a part of the State. However, the ADC constituted under the Sixth Schedule is neither absolutely under the control of the State Government nor it is a part of the State, but it is ‘a state within a state’ under the Constitution. Basically, the executive, legislative and judicial powers of the ADC under the Sixth Schedule is directly springs from the Constitution of India itself, but the sources of administrative powers of the present ADC in Manipur is only draw from the 1971 Act, as amended in Third Amendment Act, 2008. The ADC under the sixth scheduled enjoy constitutional status and has the privilege of exercising legislative, executive and judicial powers to protect and safeguard the interest of the tribal people and whereas the ADC under the present Act in Manipur lacks such independent power. The urgent needs of the Hills people in Manipur is to have ADC under the Sixth Schedule to restore their tribal autonomy, to safeguard social practices and customary laws, to protect the interest and rights of the tribal over their land, etc. They do not need to have ADC like the present arrangement which is only a State Agency to implement the Flagship Schemes of the State Government as openly stated recently by Shri. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur.

The fundamental objective of providing Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India is to establish ADC in the North Eastern States where the indigenous tribal is minority to safeguard their culture, land, natural resources etc. from unscrupulous exploitation of the majority or plains people and therefore, infact, being minority, the Hills people in Manipur is socially, culturally, economically, politically and constitutionally deserve to have ADC under the Sixth Schedule, but the same has been strongly objected and denied by the Government of Manipur on behalf of the majority Maitei in Manipur Taking advantage of the simplicity of the Hills people, the State of Manipur has forcibly imposed the present ADC upon the Hills people and the present form of ADC in the Hill areas in Manipur is nothing better than a ploy to control the Hills people by the State Government to enable the Maitei majority for unjust enrichment at the cost of the minority hills people. Every now and then the Government of Manipur is trying to persuade the Hills people by saying that the Government is ready to go for further amendment of the Act, 1971 as amended in 2008. In fact, the urgent need of the hour is not to go for further amendment of the Act, but complete repeal of the Act and grant Autonomy to the hills people under the Sixth Schedule to the constitution of India. Until and unless the Act is completely done away with in toto, hundred of Amendments of the present Act will never serve the interest of the hills people as because more financial and administrative power as invited by the state government to endorse on the ADC through further amendment of the Act means more control by the state government. Imposition of election on the unwilling hills people is not only runs contrary to the settle democratic norms but arbritarily demolish the democratic existence of tribal autonomy in Manipur. Therefore the ongoing economic blockade in Manipur called by the ANSAM supported by the hills people and others is the ultimate ultimatum to the state government to constitutionally respect the tribal autonomy. The state government must stop exercising tyrannical forces against the minority hills people to undermine the existence of the hills people in open democracy. Therefore, the central government and the state government of Manipur are constitutionally responsible to the injustice done to the hills people in Manipur under the Act of 1971 and as such onus to respect the cultural, social, religious and political rights of the hills people heavily casted upon the this two governments by immediately bringing the hills areas of Manipur within the purview of the Sixth Scheduled to the constitution of India.

Shri. H. L. Shangreiso
Advocate, Guwahati High Court, Shillong Bench, Shillong 793001
Mobile: 09774065584