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08/25/2010: "Manipur blockade highlights India’s northeast dilemma Reuters"

Manipur blockade highlights India’s northeast dilemma Reuters

An entire state held to ransom for the past three months. And a central government that seems helpless to stop it.
Naga groups on Tuesday said they were extending for another 25 days their blockade of the two highways linking landlocked Manipur to the rest of the country.
This follows almost consecutive 20 days and 69 days of similar blockades, leaving the northeast state surviving on army-escorted supplies for the past three months.
Before a recent deployment of security forces for escorting food supplies, the state faced acute shortage of essential commodities like live-saving drugs. Petrol was priced at 200 rupees, LPG cylinders at 1,500 rupees and a kilogram of rice at 60-70 rupees.

The unrest started in April when Naga students protested amendments to a law governing the state’s autonomous district councils, which they say took away vital rights of the hill people, and intensified it when Naga separatist leader T Muivah was barred from visiting his birthplace in Manipur.
The United Naga Council, which is leading the agitation, says the blockade is being extended because the Centre has not fulfilled their demands, which include demilitarisation of all Naga-inhabited areas.
The Nagas, who are demanding a ‘Greater Nagaland’ state which include chunks from three neighbouring states, are also angry at the home minister’s statement in parliament ruling out division of Manipur.
And therein lies the catch-22 situation for the central government.
The Nagas, who say they have never accepted India’s constitution after independence from the British, claim the right to integrate all areas inhabited by the tribe.
But any sign the Centre is giving way on the issue of a state’s territorial integrity could evoke violent protests, something that has been seen in Kashmir and Telangana.
This represents the crux of the problems plaguing the northeast, home to more than 300 ethnic groups living side by side in eight states, each competing to carve out an identity.
The lack of development and the geographical and cultural isolation of the region from the rest of the country may also further stoke unrest.
Even the media and public from the rest of the country are sporadic in their interest in the region, which is rarely in the public imagination due to its relative political and economic insignificance.
The Centre, which doesn’t look like it has a clear policy for the region even after decades of armed insurgency, still lurches from one issue to the next without really achieving any closure (the 1986 peace treaty with Mizo militants being an exception).
Is there any solution to India’s northeast dilemma?
Assam''s allegation baseless, unfounded: Nagaland PTI
Kohima, Aug 25 (PTI) Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today described as "baseless and unfounded" the Assam government''s claim that the Nagaland government and NSCN-IM were responsible for inter-state boundary tensions.

"The wild allegations of the Assam government''s spokesperson made against Nagaland and the chief minister on the matter of Nagaland-Assam border issue are totally baseless and unfounded," the Chief Minister''s Office said in a statement here.

During his visit to tension-hit Charaipung area in Sivasagar district bordering Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh yesterday, Assam Health Minister and government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sharma alleged that Rio and NSCN-IM were solely responsible for ongoing border tensions.

Rio said Sharma''s statements were "inflammatory in nature and politically motivated", adding that "a responsible government leader was not expected to make such inflammatory statements which were without any basis and justification".

"The Nagaland government condemns the statements and refutes all allegations made by the Assam government''s spokesperson," the statement said.

"The Nagaland government was of the view that the people of Nagaland and Assam have coexisted as friendly neighbours since time immemorial and will continue to do so for all times.

"Therefore, in order to maintain friendly relations and peaceful mutual co-existence, all disputes and outstanding issues should be resolved through negotiations under a spirit of understanding and mutual respect," the statement said.

Rio maintained that issuing of such "immature statements and baseless allegations" would only create enmity and mistrust, saying that responsible leaders should refrain from such "unbecoming behaviour".
Assam Minister flays Rio Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Guwahati,: Assam has blasted Nagaland and the NSCN-IM for all the border problems in the North East India region.

Spokesman of Assam government and state Health minister Himanta Biswas told media persons in Guwahati today that Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio supported by NSCN-IM continues to carry out all sorts of aggressive activities.

Neiphiu Rio should be held responsible for all its border skirmishes with the neighbouring states in the North East region, said the spokesman of Assam government.

The Assam minister then made it clear that Assam would not part with even an inch of its territory.

At the backdrop of the ongoing row between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on the issue of border, Himanta Biswas said, "Neiphiu Rio is the man responsible for the breach in ties among the 'Seven Sisters' (read the Northeast) on the issue of border".

"Backed by NSCN (I-M), Neiphiu Rio cannot continue with such aggressions.

However, if he persists, like if he treads one step, we'll tread two steps," Himanta Biswas said.

Apart from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam is embroiled in border conflicts with Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

Terming the Nagaland chief minister as "provocative", the Assam government spokesman said Neiphiu Rio was the main person to create border conflict in the North East region.

Himanta Biswas then cautioned, "We will not accept such aggressive attitude of Rio.

By taking along the NSCN if he thinks the Assamese people are weak, befitting reply would be given to Nagaland".

Meanwhile, the Assam government spokesman appealed to Arunachal Pradesh government to immediately flush out the NSCN-IM from Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

"If the Arunachal Government fails to do so, we will write to the Centre for similar action" Sarma said.

He and Assam's Forest Minister Rockeybul Hussain visited Charaipung on Tuesday.

Meanwhile talking to reporters during a visit to the border areas, Rio alleged that the Assam government had done little to restore confidence among the people.

"The Assam government should ensure that peace prevails on the border before levelling baseless allegations against the neighbouring states," he said.

It is pertinent to note that Charaipung, a village in Sibsagar district of Assam and bordering Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, has been witnessing a tensed situation after the miscreants from Arunachal, allegedly backed by Naga militants, unleashed a reign of terror for the past few days.

However, the NSCN-IM has denied yesterday saying it did not involve in such activities.
Bullets greet Assam ministers - Sarma, Hussain come under attack while travelling to Arunachal border on foot OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Assam forest minister Rockybul Hussain and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during their visit to Charaipung in Sivasagar on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Dibrugarh, Aug. 24: Assam ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rockybul Hussain braved gunfire to reach the troubled Arunachal Pradesh border on foot after their convoy was blocked by tree trunks on a dug-up road around 3 this afternoon.
Nobody was injured. Sivasagar superintendent of police Akhilesh Singh, escorting the two ministers, said the policemen exercised maximum restraint and did not fire back but he was concerned about their safety.
An hour before the attack, Sarma, health minister and a government spokesman, warned the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to refrain from its act of arson and intimidation on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border or face the consequences during an interaction with reporters at Charaipung in the Upper Assam district.
The ministers, accompanied by Sonari legislator Sarat Borkotoki, after a round of discussions with villagers in Charaipung on the atrocities committed by the NSCN (I-M) and criminals during the past few days, then started for the border demarcated by the Tiok river.
After travelling around 3km, the convoy of 15 cars came to a stop on the road which was dug up and blocked by felled trees. However, both ministers were determined to complete the remaining 4km journey and set off on foot, a source said. Accompanied by nearly 200 security personnel from Assam police and the CRPF, they had travelled a distance when they were fired on from hilltops.
“The firing came from a distance of around 250 to 300 metres. The ministers completed their journey to the inter-state border and returned under a thick security blanket. We were very concerned about the security of the two ministers,” Singh said.
“Let us make it very clear to everybody that we will not concede an inch of our land to anybody. The Assam government is competent enough to deal with the situation in Charaipung. There should not be any doubt in anybody’s mind that we will definitely give a befitting reply to anybody who wants to create trouble in our territory,” Sarma said.
He also said the Arunachal Pradesh government would be officially asked to drive away all NSCN (I-M) militants from Tirap and Changlang districts.
“If the Arunachal Pradesh government fails to take any action against the NSCN (I-M), we will move the Centre with evidence as to how the outfit is violating the ground rules of the ceasefire,” the health minister said.
Forest minister Rockybul Hussain said the state government would seriously consider helping out the small tea growers of the area who had been affected because of the violent situation.
“We realise that the small tea growers had faced atrocities in the area. We will do whatever possible to develop the area,” Hussain said.
Earlier, Borkotoki, who visited the site directly, charged the NSCN (I-M) with having engineered all the trouble in Charaipung in the past few days.
“Despite the denial from the NSCN (I-M), our administration and police have enough proof of the involvement of the outfit in the recent spate of violence at Charaipung. We will not tolerate this and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of our people,” Borkotoki said.
The MLA added that all those whose huts had been gutted during the recent violence would be rebuilt under the Indira Awas Yojana.
In Tinsukia, addressing reporters in its office, Ulfa peaceniks today warned the NSCN (I-M) to be prepared for a befitting reply for the atrocities it had been committing on the Assam villagers for the past few days.
“We warn the NSCN (I-M) to immediately stop its aggression on the people and territory of Assam or be prepared for a similar action,” Jiten Dutta, a leader of the ceasefire group, said. The group said it would block the Margherita-Changlang road from tomorrow from 6am for 72 hours in protest against the violence in Charaipung.
Manipur blockade extended OUR CORRESPONDENT The telegraph
Imphal, Aug. 24: The United Naga Council issued a fresh diktat and extended the 20-day economic blockade on the state’s national highways by 25 days with immediate effect.
The UNC on August 4 imposed a 20-day economic blockade, which was to end today at 6am. It is demanding a judicial enquiry into the Mao Gate shooting in which two students were killed on May 6. It is also seeking the removal of the wanted tag on its president and the dissolution of the Autonomous District Council.
Manipur witnessed almost 88 days of blockades in two phases. Though the Centre deployed the CRPF to escort vehicles carrying essentials, the government is unable to restore normal supplies.
The UNC said the Centre failed to fulfil its demands. Hence, it was forced to extend the blockade.
Ulfa slams Hiren
Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua today criticised Sanmilita Jatia Abhibartan convener Hiren Gohain saying “irresponsible stateme-nts” made by the intellectual has complicated the problem. Gohain had said recently that Barua would not be allowed to decide the future of Assam and talks between the outfit and the Centre should start even without him.
A release issued by Barua today said he was not opposed to holding a dialogue with the Centre but was against deviation in Ulfa’s ideology, which includes sovereignty.
Absu sets deadline on postings OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kokrajhar, Aug. 24: The All Bodo Students Union (Absu) has set a week’s deadline to the Assam government to revoke the appointments of Assamese-medium teachers in Bodo-medium schools across the state.
Absu today observed a two-hour sit-in from 11am in front of the district elementary education officer’s offices across the state to protest against the appointments.
In Kokrajhar, hundreds of students from various parts of the district participated in the sit-in and shouted slogans against the government’s move.
Absu president Promode Boro condemned the government’s move and termed the appointment of the Assamese-medium teachers in Bodo-medium schools unconstitutional and unlawful.
He said Absu would not allow the non-Bodo teachers to teach Bodo-medium students.
“This is a government plot to eliminate Bodo-medium schools systematically. How can a teacher, without a background of Bodo language, teach in a Bodo-medium school?” Boro asked.
The Absu president said around 50 teachers with experience in teaching in the Assamese medium have been appointed to teach in Bodo-medium schools in Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Baksa, Udalguri, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Goalpara districts.
According to data available with Absu, 31 teachers from Assamese medium, including three in Dhemaji, seven in Lakhimpur, 17 in Goalpara and four in Udalguri, were appointed in Bodo-medium schools.