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08/28/2010: "'IM' kills 'K' cadre; Tension prevails in Nagaland Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network"

'IM' kills 'K' cadre; Tension prevails in Nagaland Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, August 27 2010: Situation in Nagaland is grim after yesterday's twin incidents where an NSCN-IM 'major' was killed by Assam Rifles and an NSCN-K cadre was killed by rival NSCN-IM cadres.

The NSCN-IM today threatened that they may have to give a second thought again over the cease-fire with the Government of India.

Ceasefire Monitoring Cell convenor of the NSCN-IM Phungthing Shimrang said that the security forces have been 'bullying' the NSCN-IM cadres for all this while now.

"Just because they are a bigger force they cannot continue doing this," fumes Phungthing Shimrang.

He said that 'things cannot go on like this'.

Phungthing was speaking to media persons in Dimapur today in connection with the killing of the NSCN-IM 'major' by Assam Rifles in Mon district of Nagaland yesterday.

The Assam Rifles however, has different version over the Thursday incident.

It said that the NSCN-IM cadres fired at the Assam Rifles personnel on patrol in which the gunbattle was ensued resulting in the death of the NSCN-IM man.

According to a statement issued by IGAR (N), a routine patrol of Assam Rifles and 164Inf TA (NAGA), while patrolling the area south of Namsa, noticed unauthorised concentration of NSCN-IM cadres in a well established camp.

It said the patrol team asked for additional reinforcements from the nearby AR camp and after the arrival of additional troops the AR personnel asked the cadres to surrender as the concentration was a gross violation of ceasefire ground rules.

The Defence release claimed that the cadres, instead of submitting, started running out of the camp while firing towards the troops from their automatic weapons.

Stating that the cadres were firing at close proximity, it said one of the jawans of 164 TA (NAGA) opened fire in defence whereby one of the NSCN-IM cadres, identified as SS Major Ngachonmi Tangkhul, was killed. 5 others, including one self-styled Major and one self-styled Captain have been apprehended along with a huge cache of arms, ammunition and war-like stores, the AR release said.

Meanwhile, the tense situation in Nagaland has been worsened by the killing of an NSCN-K cadre in a factional clash with the rival NSCN-IM in Wokha district of Nagaland yesterday.
Reports said that cadres of NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K clashed at a place called Mekokla village in Wokha district of Nagaland at around 3:30 am on Thursday killing the NSCN-K cadre identified as one Zaremo Udyou.
No reaction has come so far from the NSCN-K side till date.
NSCN-IM responsible for disturbing peace in Nagaland: AR Press Trust Of India Hindustan Times
Shillong, Assam Rifles has charged the NSCN-IM with violating ceasefire ground rules and said cadres of the group are solely responsible for disturbing peace in Nagaland. In a statement, the Assam Rifles said, "The faction is solely responsible for disturbing peace in the state by not observing ceasefire ground rules."
It also said that the firing at a NSCN-IM camp at Namsa-Tizit in Nagaland's Mon district and the killing a self-styled 'major' and arrest of five others on Thursday were not 'preplanned'.
"Our personnel were on routine patrol when the cadres were noticed at a camp which was not notified," the statement said. According to the Assam Rifles, the NSCN-IM cadre fired after which its personnel retaliated.
A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered along with administrative stores from the camp which was a gross violation of ceasefire ground rules, it said. Three AK-47 rifles, one two-inch mortar, two single barrel guns, two grenades, 649 rounds of AK-47 rifle, four motor bombs, 308 rounds of .303 rifle and 21 rounds of M16 rifle were seized from the militants.
The Assam Rifles also claimed that the NSCN-IM cadres were using unparliamentary and offensive language against it. The NSCN-IM had earlier condemned the 'highhandedness' of the Assam Rifles saying, "This action of the Assam Rifles is really provocative and vitiation of the peaceful atmosphere in the area."
Naga miscreants set ablaze a house PTI IBN
Guwahati, Aug 28 (PTI) Naga miscreants today set ablaze a house at Doyalpur Mikirbasti near Merapani of Assam's Golaghat district on the Nagaland border and abducted a woman there, official sources said. A gang of Naga miscreants set on fire the house and then abducted the woman but she was rescued by a group of women of her village later, the sources said. Police has rushed there and investigations are on, they added.

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.

‘Inimical forces trying to sabotage peace’ morungexpress
DIMAPUR | AUGUST 27: The fate of the 13-year ceasefire between the Government of India and NSCN (I-M) seems to hang on a thin line following Thursday’s incident at Namsa in Mon district where a ‘Major’ of the NSCN (I-M) was allegedly gunned down by security forces. Ceasefire Monitoring Cell (CFMC) convenor ‘Maj Gen’ Phungthing Shimrang alleged that some agencies including AR ‘inimical to the peace process’ were trying all out to vitiate the atmosphere and testing the patience of Nagas and the commitment of the Naga leaders for peaceful and honourable settlement to Naga issue.
He said that as per commitment of the NSCN collective leadership to go the length and to “leave no stone unturned” to find an acceptable and honourable solution to, the NSCN cadres had restrained themselves from any retaliatory action. He also expressed doubt on sincerity of the Government of India, especially the Home Ministry, and wondered if the latter was aware and silently backing the “excesses” of the Assam Rifles.
“The Assam Rifles think that they are all in all. If they feel that this (Naga areas) is a playground for them, then we can also teach them a thing or two about guerilla warfare. They may have a large force but that will never deter people who are determined,” said ‘Maj Gen’ Phungthing Shimrang, a senior functionary of the Naga outfit and convenor of ceasefire monitoring cell (CFMC) between GoI and NSCN (I-M).
Reacting to media clarification of IGAR (N) that the NSCN cadre was killed when a routine patrol of Assam Rifles (AR) and 164 Inf. Territorial Army (Naga) was fired upon by NSCN cadres during a routine patrol, Phungthing said the statement was one “big lie to cover their own skins.” “We are not at the mercy of Assam Rifles jawans. We too have our own armed force and to retaliate is the easiest thing. We can pick our own time and place. But just because of the ongoing ceasefire, we have restrained ourselves from firing a single shot,” the CFMC convenor said.

We have restrained from firing a single shot: CFMC convenor
Claiming that it was the security forces which had attacked the NSCN camp despite being fully aware that the camp existed for more than 3 years, Phungthing said that if the NSCN cadres had really fired first or retaliated, then there would definitely have been some casualty on the side of security forces. On IGAR statement that the NSCN cadre was killed by TA, he hinted that it was a tactical ploy of the AR to pitch Nagas against Nagas. “Is GoI trying to use TA as mercenaries?” Phungthing asked.
The CFMC convenor also hinted that the general public and even representatives of the state government were confused with the ceasefire ground rules (CFGR) between the NSCN (I-M) and Government of India and that of the CFGR between GoI and other groups. He said that on many occasions unwanted situations have arisen due to misunderstanding of the CFGR.
The convenor said that if the state government representatives are not aware of their responsibilities, then they should not attend the ceasefire monitoring group meetings. “We want a meaningful settlement and we are trying our best. GoI must tell us if they are serious and rein in the AR, otherwise there things will go out of hand, he said.
Phunghting further disclosed that taking into consideration the amount of arms and properties of NSCN seized and destroyed by security forces during the ceasefire period, the NSCN (I-M) had in consecutive CFMG meetings argued that peace talks can go on without ceasefire.

‘We opened fire in self defense’

Dimapur, August 27 (MExN): In a press release issued by PRO IGAR(N) issued on 27 August 2010, the Assam Rifles has clarified that the operation in Namsa which resulted in killing of one NSCN (IM) cadre and apprehension of five cadres was not pre planned as stated in certain sections of the media. Assam Rifles troops were on routine patrolling activity when the concentration of the cadres was noticed, the press note from PRO IGAR stated.
It is also clarified that the firing was carried out by the cadres of NSCN (IM) first and the fire opened by the security force was only on self defence. It is also mentioned that the said camp was “not notified” and the cadres were concentrating there for quiet some time. “Huge cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered alongwith administrative stores from the site which is a gross violation of ceasefire ground rules”, the press note claimed. Stating that time and again it has happened that the cadres are involving in violation of ceasefire ground rules, the press note pointed out that “the faction is also involved in using un-parliamentary and offensive language against the Assam rifles which should be restrained in the interest of peace and tranquility”. “The faction is solely responsible for disturbing peace in the state by not observing Cease fire ground rules”.

Killing poses grave threat to reconciliation: Zhopra morungexpress
Dimapur, August 27 (MExN): The Convener of the Joint Working Group (NNC/FGN) Zhopra Vero has urged that killing must be stopped in the true spirit of reconciliation. Zhopra who is also the Kedallo, FGN in a press note reminded on the contents of the “Declaration of Commitment” at the Chiang Mai VI by the Convenors of the Joint Working Groups based on the “Covenant of Reconciliation”. This included facilitating the meeting of a Summit at the highest level, at the earliest, in affirmation of the “Covenant of Reconciliation”; reaffirming total commitment to work together in the spirit of love, non-violence and the “pledge to cease all forms of offensive activities in toto.”
The FGN leader stated that every Naga must understand that the ‘Covenant of Reconciliation” surpassed geographical boundary and also that it was a sacred Covenant declared before the Almighty God.
Zhopra stated that killing among workers despite all these initiatives posed a grave threat to the spirit of reconciliation and also that it reflected the “poor state of discipline amongst the cadres and sincerity of the top leaders”. “This incident speaks 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. Therefore, NNG/FGN appeals to stop killing in true spirit of reconciliation”, the press note stated.
The FGN also condemned the action of the Assam Rifles at Namsa where one Major belonging to the NSCN/GPRN was killed. “At a time when ceasefire between Government of India and various Naga Political Groups has brought relative calm and hope for talks through peaceful means, the Assam Riffles have once again revealed their true color”, it stated. It also described as “ugly” the track record of “high handedness and provocations” of the Assam Rifles stating that this only reflects total lack of discipline of the force. Zhopra also pointed out that the Government of India had failed to contain its forces “who have practically demonstrated total lack of understanding of the meaning of ceasefire”. “Incidents including the most recent one at Namsa have again brought to light the poor image of the Assam Riffles. How can they keep killing (hill) people and be blatant as to claim themselves as Friends of the Hill People.”

PM’s concern over Naga-Metei ‘divide’ ANI
New Delhi, August 26 (ANI): Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday said that the situation in the North East is better today than it was in the recent past, but some areas of concern still remain, like the Naga-Metei divide in Manipur. Addressing the second-day session of the 45th conference of Director Generals Of Police and other senior security officials here, Dr. Singh said: “In Manipur, for example, the Naga-Metei divide had accentuated.
The unfortunate growth of identity-based assertiveness in the North East, particularly in Manipur and the North Cachar Hills, needs well thought-out and sensitive handling.” He said that, in other areas of the North-East, there was need to consolidate the gains of the past while at the same time ensuring that new problems did not arise and could be controlled when they did.
Ceasefire, reconciliation face stern test morungexpress
Dimapur | August 26 : In an unexpected development, two separate unrelated incidents has been reported one from Tizit under Mon district and the other from Mekokla village under Wokha district. In the first incident, it was informed that one SS Major belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim was killed in a firing incident involving an Assam Rifles patrol party. Today’s incident at Tizit appears to be a step backward in the peace process currently underway between the Government of India and the NSCN/GPRN. It is also a jolt to the decade old ceasefire agreement signed between the two ‘entities’. Meanwhile in the second incident at Mekokla village one cadre belonging to the Khaplang group of the NSCN was killed in factional fighting with cadres of the Isak and Muivah group of the NSCN. The incident at Mekokla will be a set back to the tireless efforts being put in for maintaining peace between the Naga armed groups. Today’s factional feud will also question the credibility of the ‘Covenant of Reconciliation’. Both the NSCN groups’ involved in today’s clash along with the NNC/FGN are party to the ‘covenant’.
Meanwhile both incidents reported today have been confirmed through an official statement issued by Nagaland Chief Secretary Lalthara. The official press communiqué from the Nagaland government informed that a security coordination meeting was held in the office of the Home Minister at 1 pm to review the law and order situation arising out of what it termed as “unfortunate incident” at Tizit. The official State communiqué identified the SS Major killed as one Ngachonmi Tangkhul. On the other incident at Mekokla village, the victim has been identified as Zaremo Lotha of Bhandari village belonging to the GPRN/NSCN.
According to the Nagaland Chief Secretary, the meeting resolved to appeal to all sections of society, including the underground groups as well as the police and CPMF, to exercise utmost restraint while dealing with each other “so as not to vitiate the present peaceful atmosphere in the State”. The meeting has also appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently call for a Ceasefire Supervisory Board and Ceasefire Monitoring Group meeting in the absence of its Chairman, Lt Gen Mandhata Singh, who is on leave. The CFMG/CFSB meeting is also suggested to be held under the chairmanship of a senior officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs ‘urgently’ so as to diffuse the situation and sort out all misunderstandings.

NSCN/GPRN condemns AR for ‘highhandedness’; IGAR clarifies

Dimapur, August 26 (MExN): The NSCN/GPRN has condemned in the strongest term of what it described as the “highhandedness of the 6th Assam Rifles (AR) who shamefully and irresponsibly attacked the NSCN camp at Namsa-Tizit, Mon district, in the morning of 26th August 2010 in which one Major of Naga Army was killed on the spot and 5 of them were abducted with their weapons and a laptop despite the ceasefire agreement between the government of India and the NSCN”. This was stated in a press note issued by the MIP NSCN/GPRN. Terming this “act of the AR” as “really provocative”, the MIP note stated that this had vitiated “the peaceful atmosphere in the area”. According to the NSCN/GPRN, the Assam Rifles at Tizit and Government of India will be fully responsible for “any fallouts of this ugly incident”.
The MIP note also informed that in Dimapur area also the AR had “tactically identified houses of some of the NSCN functionaries” by taking photos in the morning of 26th August 2010 besides “harassing the family members and their neighbours”. “The AR claims that they are the friends of the hill people but, actually AR are the real enemy of the hill people and as per their track records, AR are the most barbaric and savage Para military Forces in India”, the MIP press note stated. Terming them as “trouble makers wherever they may be”, the MIP note pointed out that “the people of Nagalim have scant regard for them”.
On its part the IGAR (N) has given its version of today’s incident. According to a press note it was informed that during a “routine patrol of Assam Rifles and 164Inf TA (NAGA)” in an area south of Namsa, it “noticed unauthorized concentration of NSCN (IM) cadres in well established camp”. According to the IGAR (N) press note, the patrol asked for additional reinforcements from the nearby AR camp and after the arrival of additional troops the AR personnel asked the cadres to surrender as the concentration was a gross violation of ceasefire ground rules.
“The cadres of NSCN (IM) instead of submitting to the request of the AR troops started running out of the camp. The cadres while running started firing towards the troops from their automatic weapons. The cadres were firing at close proximity to the troops. In self defense one of the jawans of 164 TA (NAGA) opened fire and in the firing one cadre was killed”, stated the press note. Five more cadres including one self styled Major and one self styled Captain have been apprehended along with a huge cache of arms, ammunition and war like stores, the press note stated. The body of the slain cadre and the apprehended cadres have been handed over to the Mon police station, it was informed.

A rejoinder to P. Chidambaram’s statement of August 19, 2010 Kaka D. Iralu
Before reacting to Chidambaram’s statement in the Lok Sabha, the following historical, political and legal facts must be first stated.
1. Like India and many other nations in Asia, Naga political leaders also declared their own country’s independence on 14th August 1947. This declaration of their independence was done on the basis of irrefutable historical and political facts and also in conformity to international legal norms. Prior to the declaration of their independence, up to six memorandums clearly highlighting these historical and political facts and the Naga political stand thereof were furnished to the departing British Government before the transfer of power took place in 1947. On top of this, up to ten memorandums highlighting the same facts were submitted to the incoming Indian Government before India was born on 15th August 1947. Copies of all these systematic documents are still available in the Naga national archives and also must be in India’s possession too.
2. After the declaration of their independence, a cable message was sent to the then Secretary General of the UN in the following words: “Benign Excellency, Kindly put on record that Nagas will be independent. Discussions with India are being carried on to that effect. Nagas DO NOT (Emphasis mine) accept Indian Constitution. The right of the people must prevail regardless of size.”
All these facts show that Nagas were not at all asking to be an integral part of India or were seeking to integrate any parts of Nagaland with India. Also when Nehru and the government of India ignored the written as well as acted wishes of the Nagas on the grounds that the declaration of Naga independence was done only by Phizo and a few Naga fanatics, a national Plebiscite was conducted in 1951 and a resounding 99% Naga people’s verdict for independence was shown to India and the whole world. From thenceforth, when 53000 Indian troops invaded Nagaland in Oct.1955, the whole of Nagaland, including Nagas later dissected into Manipur, Arunachal and Assam states as well as those dissected into Burma rose up as a nation to defend Nagalands integrated territory. That integrated Naga territory as defined in the Naga Yehzabo runs as follows: “The territory of Nagaland shall comprise of all the territories inhabited by the indigenous Naga tribes.” (The Naga Yehzabo, Art.1)
In the light of all these historical and political facts, Chidambaram’s implied statement in the Indian Lok Sabha that the pluralistic nature of the Indian states cannot be just wished away for Nagaland’s territorial integration sake, bears no relevance whatsoever with the Indo-Naga political issue or any Naga territorial issues with India. Nagas also know about the pluralistic nature of the Indian states and have no wish whatsoever to meddle in India’s internal demography or geo-political set up. Also, Nagas are not in any way trying to dissect India through some dubious integration scheme.
However, in this connection, it is also totally incongruous and stupid on the part of any Naga to be quarreling with India over India’s state boundary re-demarcation issues. Here, let every Naga citizen be clear with this fact that the Naga stand as a nation was never “Integration of Naga territories under the Constitution of India.” Naga ancestral lands were also never 16,579sq km only as demarcated by India in collaboration with some very short sighted Naga leaders when the Indian Nagaland state was created in 1960. However, the contrary Naga stand which was supported by an overwhelming 99% of the then Naga population was simply Urra Uvie. Urra Uvie means our lands belong to us. The honest Naga national leaders never harbored any secret plans to add some Assamese, Manipuri or Arunachali lands to make our land bigger than what it was in history. Our declared stand as stated in our Yehzabo however also meant that we were not going to surrender any of our lands to any neighbor states because the Indian Government had passed a bill in their Parliament to that effect.
From the very beginning of modern Indo Naga relationships, our Naga stand whether political or geographical, was very clearly made to Indian leaders. But it was a tragic day for India, when Nehru thundered that Nagas would never be given their independence even if all the rivers in India flowed red with blood. On that day Nehru sealed India’s fate which resulted in Indian blood flowing with Naga blood for the past six decades over a territory that had never belonged to India. Today it is for the likes of Chidambaram’s to redeem that legacy of blood with diplomacy and honesty to history.
As for all Nagas living today, let it be known to every true son of the soil that Naga territory far from being just16579 sq km is on the contrary, more then 100,000 sq km. This territory stretches from the plains of the Ahom kingdom to our west across the mountainous borders of China to our north and all across and beyond the Chindwin river of Burma to our east to finally end in the borders of the Kangleipak kingdom of Manipur to our north. These are ancestral Naga lands inhabited by the Naga people from the ancient BC era right up to the present moment. It is a territory which was never conquered by any Ahom, Chinese, Burmese or Meetei king from time immemorial. As far as our distant neighbor India is concerned, here we are not at all talking about Indian Territory because far from conquering us in the past, no Indian king or Prince had ever even set a foot in Naga territory prior to 1947.
As for any Naga territory invaded by India after 1947, not an inch of that territory is Indian Territory by Naga consent or surrender.
If however Chidambaram is talking with some Naga leaders about Indian interstate boundary disputes, it is none of Naga business. Such talks are all purely traitorous Naga talks with the Indian Government. This is so, in the light of all the above mentioned historical and political facts about Naga history or Indian history.

JOKE Morungexpress
• Souls of Naga politicians and Naga leaders are finally before Almighty God. God quietly tells them. “I have seen the cancerous corruption, the lies, the ages of blaming, your filthy self-righteousness, suppression of freedom of speech, the propaganda, the extortions and killings, kidnappings and deep, deep divisions of my people the Nagas. Do you know what that means?”
Long silence.
Finally a Naga leader speaks up: “Almighty God, it is the Government of India to blame for all those!” So God summons the GoI. The Indian Government blames the British Government leaders. The British Ambassador returns with the message saying “Most High-God, all the British rulers responsible for the state of affairs during those early eras are dead. Please contact them.”
So God sends his Mighty Archangels to find the dead Colonial British leaders to face judgment. They are all in Hell. God orders Satan to send the British rulers. Satan sends a message: “The Colonial British rulers are all damned because they waged wars, invaded kingdoms, annexed lands and divided peoples; they are damned and cannot leave Hell for any purpose.”
Hearing this, a Naga leader walks over to God and tells Him: “Your Majesty, Don’t believe Satan; He is probably an agent sent by the Indian Military and RAW Intelligence agencies to sabotage the ongoing Naga peace process and disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.”

Look-East policy has paid good dividends SENTINEL
AGARTALA, Aug 27: India’s Look-East Policy formulated to improve bilateral relations with East Asian countries has paid good dividends in terms of trade and political relations with neighbours, a former diplomat said.
“Our relations with the East Asian countries have improved a lot following formulation and implementation of Look-East policy which has started paying dividends. Trade and commerce with neighbours have enhanced and good prospects are waiting for the north eastern region of the country,” former ambassador Sudhir Davare said while delivering a lecture in Tripura University here on the look-East policy yesterday.
Davare said there was need to develop infrastructure in the North-East to enhance border trade with neighbouring countries and connectivity in terms roads, railways and ports should be built.
“Where the North-East ends, the South Asian countries begin. So without building infrastructure it is impossible to improve bilateral relations with the East and South-East Asian countries,” he said. (PTI)
More Indian State Firms Seek Entry into Burma Gas Field Irrawaddy News Weekly Business Roundup (August 28, 2010)
August 28, 2010: Two Indian state oil firms are seeking to invest in a third block of the big Shwe offshore gas field in the Bay of Bengal.
Two blocks in the Burmese field are already being developed to extract confirmed reserves of 200 billion cubic meters, most of which is being sold to China.
A third block, A-3, is under license to private Indian engineering company Essar Group—which disclosed this week it is now negotiating with the Indian Oil Corporation and Oil India to sell them 20 percent stakes each. Essar, a major engineering conglomerate, recently also won a contract to redevelop the old Burmese rice port of Sittwe, which is close to the Shwe field.
Essar approached the two Indian state enterprises to enlist their financial support and expertise in fully exploring the A-2 block, and possibly developing it, said India’s Economic Times. The A-2 block is believed to hold substantial gas reserves but has not been fully surveyed.
Two other Indian state firms, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and GAIL Limited, have substantial shares in two other Shwe blocks which are already under development under the license leadership of South Korea’s Daewoo International engineering group.
Than Shwe and deputy quit military in major reshuffle
Thomas Maung Shwe (Mizzima)

Chiang Mai– Burma’s junta leaders including Senior General Than Shwe, who holds the title of Commander in Chief of Defence Services, and his right-hand man, Deputy Senior General Maung Aye, resigned their military posts in a major reshuffle today.

Maung Aye and Than Shwe
Replacing them will be former Adjutant General Lieutenant General Thura Myint Aung and former Bureau of Special Operations (BSO) 3 chief Lieutenant General Ko Ko, who have become Commander in Chief of Defence Services and Deputy Commander in Chief of Defence Services respectively.

Former Bureau of Special Operations 2 chief General Min Aung Hlaing, has become the new No. 3 in command as the Joint Chief of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force. This powerful position was held until recently by General Thura Shwe Mann.

After Burma’s first nationwide elections in two decades arrive on November 7, the government will be formed by a civilian president chosen by the upper and lower houses following the nomination of three people. The two unsuccessful candidates become vice presidents.

The reshuffle means it is possible that the junta leader since 1992, Than Shwe, 77, can be president, while close allies Muang Aye, 72, and Thura Shwe Man, 62, vice presidents. If that happened, it would confirm the belief among internal and external Burma watchers that the polls represent a sham in which the ruling generals merely exchange uniforms for suits or longyis, and actually shore up their power further.

Around 27 military officials and government ministers including Prime Minister Thein Sein resigned from the military mid-year and formed the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), out of an often-violent social organisation known as the Union Solidarity and Development Association, proven to have been involved in physical attacks on pro-democracy activists, and sweet-heart business deals with the ruling junta. Stepping out of fatigues means the top leaders can contest the polls as USDP members.

Analysts said it was likely Than Shwe would remain head of state as leader of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) – the junta’s name for itself – until the president is selected after the election.

In the 1990 polls, Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi scored a massive poll win at the head of the National League for Democracy party, but the junta ignored the win, clung on to power, imprisoned thousands of NLD and other opposition party members, and flatly voided the result in March.
After this year’s polls, civilians will be lawmakers without the power to check military policy moves, as the armed forces are guaranteed 25 per cent of seats in all assemblies, and have reserved key ministerial posts.

The junta’s controversial 2008 constitution sets out how the vote will elect lawmakers for parliament, the senate and 14 regional assemblies, but not the executive branch of the government itself.

Naypyidaw sources said Thura Myint Aung will be responsible for filling the 25 per cent military quota, which will amount to hundreds of lawmakers in all three types of legislatures, as set out by the constitution. The charter was written after the junta held a widely condemned referendum days after Cyclone Nargis struck the Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008, killed at least 140,000 and left more than two million homeless.

Observers, rights groups, aid workers and foreign governments condemned the fact that the junta’ trucks carrying ballots throughout Burma could have been carrying much-needed water, food and shelter supplies to those stricken by the storm, which caused an estimated US$4 billion worth of damage.

General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, who vacated the position of quartermaster general in November, has been replaced by Major General Wei Lwin, former chief of the Naypyidaw Military Command.
At least 10 lieutenant generals have also resigned, to see their positions in the armed forces replaced by major generals including former military command chiefs.

It is predicted the officers will contest in the elections on November 7. Details of the latest reshuffling of Burma’s armed forces are still under investigation. Below are the names of other newly promoted senior officers and their ranks:
Current Post Former Post
Joint Chief of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force BSO 2 chief - Lieutenant General
Min Aung Hlaing
Quartermaster General Naypyidaw Command chief
Major General Wei Lwin
Adjutant General Coastal Command chief
Major General Khin Zaw Oo
Military Appointment General Rangoon Command chief
Major General Win Myint
Rangoon Command LID 77 chief Colonel Tun Than
Military Intelligence Headquarters Southwestern Command chief
Major General Kyaw Swe
Chief of Military Ordnance Deputy Defence Minister
Major General Thein Htay
BSO 1 - Kachin State, Mandalay Division, Chin State, Sagaing Division Northwestern Command chief
Major General Myint Soe
BSO 4 - Karen State, Mon State, Tenasserim Division Southeastern Command chief
Major General Thet Naing Win
BSO 2 - Shan State, Karenni State Northeastern Command chief
Major General Aung Than Htut
BSO 3 – Pegu Division, Irrawaddy Division Southern Command chief
Major General Hla Min
Kachin majority rejects regime’s order to disarm Phanida & Mizzima

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A majority of participants at a congress of ethnic Kachin groups has rejected disarming despite a Burmese military junta threat to end the ceasefire between the two sides, a spokesman said. Meanwhile, the main Kachin militia are gearing up for war, a soldier told Mizzima.

Women soldiers of the Kachin Independence Army parade in the ethnic group’s Sino-Burmese border stronghold of Laiza. The militia is gearing up for war with the Burmese Army as a junta-imposed deadline for it to disarm approaches next Wednesday, a KIA source said on Friday, August 27, 2010. Photo: Mizzima
The junta deadline for the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) to reply to its order for the group’s estimated 20,000 troops to disarm is September 1. The congress opened today in the Kachin stronghold of Laiza, a town near the Chinese border in Burma’s far north, and will end tomorrow (Saturday).

The 140 delegates from 18 districts who attended the congress all passed on their views that the KIO should retain its arms, one of the participants aid.

“The congress will continue tomorrow as we haven’t made a final decision. The aim of today’s meeting was just to collect the opinions from the delegates. From my point of view, we shouldn’t hand over our guns to the junta,” the KIO spokesman said.

Delegates from the KIO’s armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), were absent because they were preparing for war, a KIA soldier told Mizzima.

The deadline was delivered on Sunday at a meeting between the junta’s main negotiator with ethnic armed groups, Military Affairs Security chief Lieutenant General Ye Myint, and KIO delegates, at the Burmese Army’s Northern Command headquarters in Myitkyina, the state capital. He told the KIO that if the KIA failed to surrender its arms in the time allotted, the ceasefire would end.

Ye Myint went on to meet Zone Teet Yame from the junta’s Border Guard Force (BGF) and Lasang Aung Was from the people’s militia and told them to arrest former KIO staff from the beginning of next month, an officer from the militia, who attended the meeting, said on condition of anonymity.

The KIO had said it would neither contest nor disturb the forthcoming elections on November 7.

It held a meeting with Kachin leaders and Christian leaders to gain their input from August 14 to 16, views that will be taken into account while reaching the final decision at this weekend’s congress.

In the last month, Ye Myint has been touring the country, pressuring armed ethnic ceasefire groups to bring themselves under junta command within the Burmese Army’s BGF and imposed the same September 1 (next Wednesday) deadline on the New Mon State Party (NMSP).

Last Friday he told United Wa State Army leaders in Tangyang that the junta would send the army into four townships in Wa-controlled territory the same day as security for electoral commissioners. The Wa leaders said they would defy the move.