08/28/2010: "Two NSCN Cadre Killed in Nagaland Outlook India"

Two NSCN Cadre Killed in Nagaland Outlook India
An NSCN(I-M) cadre was killed in a confrontation with security forces in Mon district and a NSCN(K) cadre died in a factional fighting in Wokha district, prompting the Nagaland administration to review law and order today.

A self-styled 'major' of NSCN(I-M) was killed during a confrontation with a joint patrol of Assam Rifles and Nagaland Territorial Army personnel at Tizit under Mon district, police sources said.

As per cease-fire ground rules, cadre have to confine themselves to mutually agreed designated camps and should not carry arms in populated areas.

Five others were also apprehended, the sources said.

In a separate incident of factional fighting, an NSCN(K) cadre was killed by NSCN(I-M) rivals in Mekokla village under Bhandari sub-division of Wokha district yesterday, the sources said.

The incident in Wokha was the only major instance of factional fighting in past two years after both the groups signed the 'Covenant of Naga Re-conciliation' at the initiative of Forum for Naga Re-conciliation (FNR).

The state security coordination meeting reviewed the law and order in view of yesterday’s incidents and appealed for exercising utmost restraint so that the present peaceful situation was not vitiated.

The meeting, presided over by Home minister Imkong Imchen and attended by top police, civil and paramilitary officials, urged the Union Home Ministry to immediately hold cease-fire monitoring meetings with the underground groups.

The meeting resolved to appeal to all sections as well as police and central paramilitary forces to exercise estraint while dealing with each other, Chief Secretary Lalthara said.

The meeting also appealed to Union Home Ministry to urgently call meetings of the cease-fire monitoring group (CFMG) and cease-fire supervisory board (CFMG).

CFMG is a surveillance mechanism with NSCN(I-M), while CFSB is with NSCN(K).

Meanwhile, the FNR in a statement today expressed dismay over yesterday’s incidents at Tizit and Mekokla and called for restraint.

AR escalating tension: NSCN (I-M) Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, (NPN):
Convenor of the NSCN(I-M) Cease Fire Monitoring Cell, ‘Brig’ Phungthing has squarely blamed the 6 Assam Rifles for the firing incident Thursday in Tizit, where one cadre was killed and five others apprehended.
Speaking to media persons at the CFM Cell office here, Phungthing warned that escalation of tension in the state cannot be ‘taken lightly’.
He also termed the Cease Fire Ground Rules as a ‘farce’ and that it was better not to have a ceasefire in such situation though talks can continue adding “we don’t mind”.
Phungthing said due to the ongoing ceasefire, the NSCN (I-M) did not retaliate against the 6 AR.
He dismissed as ‘one big lie’ the AR version that the NSCN (I-M) cadres as Namsa (Tizit) had fired first adding “we have not fired a single shot”.
He claimed that the AR personnel at Tizit were aware about the existence of the NSCN (I-M) camp since the past three years.
Asked if the camp was a designated one, Phungthing shot back “you can as them (AR) since we have pointed out to them during several meetings”.
He claimed there were thirty-plus NSCN (I-M) cadres in the camp and that if they had fired, there would have been casualties on the Assam Rifles.
He also alleged that the AR was lying in order to protect those in command.
He further alleged that the higher ups in the AR were not properly disseminating about the ground rules to the jawans as they wanted to make their presence felt by bulldozing through sheer numbers.
“We are not at the mercy of the AR jawans” he said and criticized the AR personnel for justifying their actions and shifting the blame on the 164 TA Bn. “If we can own up our actions why can’t they ?” he asked. He also questioned whether the government of India was using the 164 TA as ‘mercenaries’. Phungthing went on to say that they NSCN (I-M) can teach security forces about guerilla warfare if they were using Nagaland as a playground for training.
He said violations by agencies of the government of India led to such incidents adding the CF ground rules was to be followed not only by the NSCN (I-M) but also the agencies of the government of India.
Phungthing said the government of India should differentiate the cease fire rules with the rival faction and not impose the same rules with the NSCN (I-M).
He also suggested that civil societies attend the ceasefire meeting as observers and no objection should be raised in order to create a congenial atmosphere. He also opined that bureaucrats should not to attend ceasefire meetings since they shy away from such crisis .
He said the NSCN (I-M) wanted a meaningful settlement and affirmed that they were trying their best. “By making the AR officiate every situation, I don’t think it will be fruitful” he said. On the arrest of NSCN (I-M) cadres and seizure of weapons in Tizit, Phungthing said these have not been handed over to the CMFG.
On the killing of one NSCN (K) cadre at Mekokla, Phungthing did not say if the NSCN (I-M) attacked the camp but said it fully supported the reconciliation issue but that such should be meaningful.
Police yet to receive seized weapons
The arms and ammunition which was seized on Thursday at Namsa, Mon by the 6 AR from NSCN (I-M) was yet to be returned till the time of filing this report. Informing about the incident, SDPO Tizit P C Chuba disclosed that the seized arms and ammunitions were yet to be received while the five arrested cadres were directly handed over at Mon police station.
Meanwhile the arrested cadres were identified as ‘ss’ maj Asin Tangkhul, ‘ss’ capt Liksan Maring, ‘ss’sgt maj Ramjoan Tangkhul, ‘ss’ sgt Rustom Tangkhul and ‘ss’ sgt Amos Tangkhul.

AR refutes NSCN (I-M) charges (NPN):
DIMAPUR, Assam Rifles (AR) Friday clarified that operation in Namsa, which resulted in killing one NSCN (I-M) cadre and apprehending five cadres, was not “pre planned”.
PRO IGAR (N) in a release said, the AR troops who were on routine patrol was first fired upon by NSCN (I-M) cadres and in “self defence” the security forces retaliated. Pointing out that the said camp was not notified; it said the cadres were concentrating there for quiet some time. “Huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered alongwith administrative stores which were in gross violation of ceasefire ground rules,” PRO IGAR (N) said.
“Time and again” the cadres violated the ceasefire ground rules and were involved in using “un-parliamentary and offensive language” against the AR, which the PRO said should be restrained in the interest of peace and tranquility. PRO further said the faction was solely responsible for disturbing peace in the state by not observing cease fire ground rules.

NNC/FGN’s appeal to stop killing (NPN):

Article published on 8/28/2010 12:14:21 AM IST
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NNC/FGN on Friday noted that killing among “national workers” despite peace initiatives has posed a grave threat to the spirit of reconciliation, saying it has also reflected poor state of discipline amongst the cadres and insincerity of the top leadership.
Bringing to light the content of the “declaration of commitment” at Chiang Mai VI by the conveners of the joint working groups, based on the “covenant of reconciliation”, which read: “To facilitate the meeting of a summit at the highest level, at the earliest, in affirmation of the ‘covenant of reconciliation’. We reaffirm our total commitment to work together in the spirit of love, non-violence. Therefore, we pledge to cease all forms of offensive activities in toto”, the FGN “kedallo” and joint working group convenor Zhopra Vero, in a statement, said going by the words of the pledge, every Naga must understand that the “covenant of reconciliation” surpasses geographical boundary.
He said it was not of or for the Nagas alone but a testimony before the international community, and most of all, it was a sacred covenant declared before the Almighty God.
The FGN leader said that incidents spoke of “total disregard” of the covenant and sincerity towards other group(s) of “national workers.”
“It is betrayal of the trust and confidence of our people and before God,” the NNC/FGN said and appealed to stop killing in the true spirit of reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the FGN also slammed the Assam Rifles and said that at a time when ceasefire between the government of India and various “Naga political groups” has brought relative calm and hope for talks through peaceful means, the Assam Rifles has once again revealed their true colour.
“Their ugly track record of highhandedness and provocations only reflect total lack of discipline of the force,” the FGN “kedallo” said, adding that government of India has failed to contain forces who have practically demonstrated “total lack of understanding of the meaning of ceasefire.”
Asserting that incidents including the most recent one at Namsa have once again brought to light the poor image of Assam Rifles, the FGN asked: “how can they keep killing (hill) people and be so blatant as to claim themselves as “friends of the hill people.”?”
MVC, MSU dismayed
Mekokla village council (MVC) and Mekokla students’ union (MSU) have expressed unhappiness over August 26 Mekokla incident, where one GPRN/NSCN cadre was killed by NSCN (I-M) activists.
Maintaining that it felt obligatory to cooperate and provide protection to “national workers”, irrespective of their affiliations, the MVC chairman Yansathung Kikon and MSU president Thungjanbemo Ezung in a joint statement said it was pained to observe that lately many national workers, especially lower cadres, have been “lured away” by some short term benefits thereby tarnishing the good image of GPRNs in particular and Nagas in general. Mekokla bodies have also urged both the groups to control their cadres. Pointing out that the minds of poor villagers have been gripped by fear, as this was the second incident within the village, the villagers suggested “national workers” to avoid staying permanently in thickly populated areas as far as possible.
Also, it appealed to all the Naga “national workers” to stop targeting each other but to reconcile for the betterment of the Naga future.

Nagas, Life On The Edge! morungexpress
•-Nagas, like any race of the world has its own distinct culture, myths, ethos, etc. The uniqueness of Naga history is recognized but not read, discovered or dissected. Perhaps it is the time for us to understand and think over it otherwise, what went wrong to our people is asked by every individual of today’s generation. Is the political scenario of present Nagaland/Manipur true to the sense of people? Perhaps, it is high time for the political leaders to ponder upon this matter. Today many political leaders are leading the people for their own personal gain, fame, wealth etc. and not for the welfare of the society, state or country at large. Are the leaders speaking and doing the right thing for the people? Many leaders make false promises and divide the people into cleavage instead of bringing to work together. They never preach what they practice. To follow or not to follow is the question of every people as the present situation is very sensitive and blur. Most of our leaders have misled the people in the past and perhaps till today.
We should eradicate the feeling of tribalism, corruption, egotism and individualism which will never bring us to a healthy solution. The Nagas belong to one color and race which is unique and special to us, however we are still under the divide and rule policy inherited from the British. Will it be wrong to say that Tribalism is a curse in the modern society where that dictator philosophy will never work-out in the true sense of unity? We should be broad-minded enough as to view oneness to fellow Nagas and not in tribalism. Today, most of the political leaders are corrupted and forget to realize who has elected them to their post. Leadership is action and not position but many leaders after they hold the diplomatic post they keep distance from their own people. If we trace back to the history of our forefathers, we definitely come to know about their honesty, justice, sincere and simplicity with courage. Many of our leaders needs to drop their enormous ego as it says, “Be ordinary and you will become extra ordinary”. No doubt, political leaders are the ones who shape the lives of people and also brings new reformation and they are the ones who are responsible for the people at present and for the future.
Politicians are the main key to change the system of any form of government. So, the public are totally dependent on them especially in terms of economy, education and employment. But do the politicians really care for the people? Its enough, the verbal promises are exasperating, which were never put into practiced. There are very few politicians who are really concerned about Nagaland/Manipur and its people. No doubt, the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. So, the students should learn the quality of education and think for our better Naga society. It can be rightly said that we are still in darkness, especially in terms of technology, global education and science. Students can play many roles today for the society and to achieve something we must set goals with common interest. The word “UNITY” should be applicable to all and we need to think, work and pray for a better Society to keep ourselves on the winning edge.
Joy Maikho
Karong, Senapati.

‘Assam’s dispute with entire Northeast shows who’s wrong’ morungexpress
Dimapur, August 27 (MExN): The government of Assam has land and border disputes with almost all the North Eastern states such as Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram and these issues reflect the fact that the tribal were driven away from their lands by Assam, a former senior Nagaland minister said. Since India became independent in 1947, in the name of insurgency or the undergrounds, the government of Assam has taken away lands belonging to the tribals Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram, former Congress leader TA Ngullie said in a statement today.
In his tirade against the government of Assam, Ngullie said any individual can fish out government papers since ‘the 1928 notification’. “In the name of the series of notifications by the Assam Government all the lands belonging to the tribals were forcibly taken away. All the notifications shows that it extents the boundaries of the boundary till the tribals were completely driven out of Brahmaputra valley one after the other,” the former minister stated.
Ngullie said the Assam Government’s continued blaming of the Nagas undergrounds is a tactic to grab lands from Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. “These tribals are dominated by the people inhabiting in Assam but whose origins are not of Assam (Ahoms) or who are not Assamese or non Ahoms. These non Assamese people are noted for the harassments they cause to the Nagas and these criminals from Dimapur are found in Kholapani, Merapani, Sorupathar etc areas and they are protected by the Assam Govt. to forcibly occupy the lands of the Naga people and other tribals lands.”
During his 50 years of politics and legislator, Ngullie said, he has seen “a lot of mistakes” committed by the Assam government. “All the Bengalis in Assam were beaten and driven off out of Assam. Any Behari and Hindi speaking people were killed or beaten and driven out of Assam, Assamese language was officially imposed to the tribals and thereby 8 ( eight) such States were created in the North East because of language issue,” he explained. If Assam is claiming ‘historical facts’, where is the land, boundary and why it has “lost” all its boundary documents and maps, he queried.
On the outburst of Assam government spokesman Hemanta Biswas Sarma against Nagaland on the border issue, Ngullie said accusing Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as an agent of the NSCN (IM) and running the government in collaboration is a ‘direct accusation against constitutional propriety which is challengeable legally and officially and as per the customary laws.’ “Mr. Rio has not even seen the whole of Nagaland and how was that Mr. Rio know Charaipung in Arunachal Pradesh,’ Ngullie queried the Assam leader.
“Whether Shri. HB Sarma is an original Ahom whose forefathers entered an agreement with the tribal Nagas. Since I do not know him personally I need to put this question to him to maintain peace and harmony between the Nagas and the Ahoms. Shri. HB Sarma should understand that no notification of forest grabbing is accepted by the tribals of the North East and he should be careful in his utterances in respect of land and its resources.”
He also said the Government of India is not trying to ‘diagnose’ the exact problem of the tribal and their lands except offering “good words” to please pacify them. That ruse of the Indian government is the “number one” grievance of the tribal in the country today, Ngullie explained.
Ngullie added that the people of Assam have a longing for peaceful coexistence and friendship with the other tribal peoples. “Land dispute is every where in the Country but this has to be settled amicably and peacefully through negotiations but not with violence and agitations,” he said.
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".
Nagaland reacts to Assam allegations Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Kohima, August 25 2010: The government of Nagaland has termed the outburst of Assam government against the former as 'wild allegations' regarding the border impasse.

On Wednesday, Abu Metha who is the 'press secretary' to the Nagaland chief minister said that it has been the wild allegations of the Assam government spokesperson that was made against Nagaland and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on the matter of Nagaland-Assam border issue.

The government of Nagaland dismissed it as 'totally baseless and unfounded'.

"The statements are inflammatory in nature and politically motivated.

A responsible government and leader is not expected to make such inflammatory statements which are without any bias and justification.

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

It then said that the Nagaland government is of the clear view that the people of Nagaland and Assam have coexisted as friendly neighbours since times immemorial and will continue to do so for all times.

"Therefore, in order to maintain friendly relations and peaceful mutual coexistence, all disputes and outstanding issues should be resolved through negotiations under a spirit of understanding and mutual respect," the official statement of Nagaland government said today.

It then cautions that issuing of such immature statements and baseless allegations will only create enmity and mistrust and responsible leaders should refrain from such unbecoming behaviour.
IANS
Manipur faces food crisis as Nagas start blockade Sify
The northeastern state of Manipur is staring at an acute scarcity of essentials and fuel with tribal Naga groups enforcing a 25-day economic blockade and accusing New Delhi of failing to meet their grievances.
'Manipur would soon witness serious food crisis, coupled with scarcity of fuel and medicines, with trucks carrying supplies refusing to come to Manipur for fear of attacks,' U. Singh, a trader in Imphal dealing with essentials, said Thursday.
Several Naga tribal groups have blocked highways into the state, which borders Myanmar, to protest New Delhi's failure to meet their demand for demilitarising the Naga-dominated areas of Manipur.
The 25-day blockade that began Tuesday and is spearheaded by the United Naga Council (UNC) is once again expected to lead to severe shortages of food and medical supplies as well as cause soaring prices.
'New Delhi had backtracked on our demands to withdraw security forces from the hill districts (dominated by Nagas), besides failing to book the culprits involved in killing two of our protesters on May 6,' a UNC leader said.
The blockade on National Highway 39 has already led to trucks carrying essentials being stopped in Nagaland -- all vehicles entering Manipur need to traverse through Nagaland.
Landlocked Manipur depends on supplies from outside the region and trucks from the rest of India carry essentials to the state passing through Nagaland.
'This time we shall see to it that supplies of essentials are not stopped. We are already taking the blockade seriously with New Delhi,' a Manipur government spokesperson said.
The immediate provocation for the fresh spell of blockade comes after Home Minister P. Chidambaram told parliament that demands for Greater Nagaland by slicing off parts of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, cannot be conceded.
A 68-day blockade on the National Highway 39 by various Naga groups ended June 18 after New Delhi intervened and cleared the agitation by using the military.
The two-month blockade of main roads had led to severe shortages of food and medical supplies and soaring prices of all commodities.

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08/28/2010: "Two NSCN Cadre Killed in Nagaland Outlook India"