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09/07/2010: "‘Covenant of Reconciliation must be upheld at all cost’ Eastern Mirror"




‘Covenant of Reconciliation must be upheld at all cost’ Eastern Mirror
DIMAPUR, SEP 7 (EMN): The GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN have stated the belief that Nagas must hold on to the Covenant of Reconciliation ‘no matter how rugged or unforgiving the terrain of Naga Reconciliation Process may appear to pessimists and sceptics’.
In a joint statement issued today, the two organisations reminded that the Covenant of Reconciliation, signed by top Leaders of three Naga Political groups, is a symbolic acceptance of the fact that Naga political issue requires a common approach. Solution to all human problems demands commitment and integrity and Nagas must uphold the covenant despite the ‘clear subversive activities’ taking place frequently, it said.
The statement termed it as ‘extremely unfortunate’ to witness the too frequent anti-reconciliatory actions perpetrated by ‘Hebron campers’ even as Naga people under the aegis of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) are earnestly pursuing the Reconciliation of all Naga political groups. It pointed to the ‘attempt on the life of one Naga army cadre and injury of a schoolgirl at Namsa in Tizit a month ago in Konyak Region and the killing of Zaremo Odyuo at Mekokla on 26th Aug. 2010’. Moreover, it said the assault and injury caused to some national workers at Regury village near Meluri by the NSCN-IM group on the morning of 7th Sept 2010 ‘is an example of preaching Naga Reconciliation with a sharp knife in the pocket’.
Maintaining that there has clearly been a series of deliberate and wilful violation of the Covenant of Reconciliation by the NSCN-IM, the GPRN/NSCN and NNC/FGN also felt that it was ‘very unhealthy’ on the part of prominent NGOs and civil societies to ‘exhibit the art of staying silent at this crucial hour when common understanding among the Nagas is taken for a ride time and again’. Stating that the hour belongs to those who dare to show grit and courage in the face of threat and intimidation, it hoped that perhaps a day will come when Nagas will identify and ridicule the ‘so-called frontal civil societies and organisations who only stand and watch even as IM, out of desperation, attempts to enforce family feud once again in Nagaland’.
The discerning power of the Nagas must not be lost in the commotion of cowards, the statement said, while stressing that the Covenant of Naga Reconciliation is precious to Nagas and that none should regard it as ‘mere paper with ink ready to be torn into shreds’.
Naga Church harps on peace OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Sept. 6: The Naga National Council today reaffirmed its commitment for peace and normality in Nagaland.
Commemorating the 47th “ceasefire day” at Chedema peace camp, nearly 10km from here, the NNC iterated its commitment for non-violence and pledged to pursue a peaceful solution to the Naga political problem.
The pact with the Centre brought much relief to the people of Nagaland who were suffering at the hands of the army, the NNC said.
Director peace affairs, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), Rev. Kari Longchar, said in the absence of a cohesive social or political organisation and against the backdrop of political violence, the church council had become a more structured platform and a unified voice of the Nagas.
He was referring to how the Baptist church had played a major role to restore peace in Nagaland vis-à-vis signing of the ceasefire in 1964.
“The church council spoke for the suffering, fears and needs of the people,” he added.
He said notwithstanding its limitation, the church council accepted the responsibility that was thrust upon it to shepherd the Nagas during some of the darkest hours in Naga history between 1955 and 1975.
“It was a period in our people’s history when the military of India was considered absolute; outside observers, journalists and sympathisers of the Nagas’ suffering were monitored…by the government of India,” Rev. Longchar said.
On this day in 1964, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Centre and the NNC at Sakaraba village under Phek district, thanks to initiatives taken by the church council.
It was supported by a peace mission which included Rev. Michael Scott, a missionary from England, Jayaprakash Narayan and former Assam chief minister Bimala Prasad Chaliah.
Rev. Longchar said: “We remember how the Naga people rejoiced over the dawn of peace in our land. The Nagas must remain grateful to those who worked so hard for this historic day in time of need.”
Rev. Yankey Patton said the Nagas would continue to strive till their goal was achieved.
Former Lok Sabha MP, Rano M. Shaiza, said the Nagas were scattered everywhere because of various reasons.
She exhorted the Naga people to work collectively for a common cause and stressed the need for peace and unity.
A mass prayer was also held for peace in Nagaland, led by Rev. Longchar.
Commenting on the ongoing peace and reconciliation process among Naga groups, the vice-president of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), the underground government of NNC, I. Temjenba, said they would not be part of the current process.
“How can we be part of the reconciliation process when we had not committed any mistake?” he said.
Temjenba said reconciliation could take place only between the fighting groups, but the NNC had neither committed any mistake in the past nor would it in the future.
He said his organisation would uphold the principle of Naga nationalism unlike other Naga groups which he accused of betraying the Naga people for the lure of money.
High profile AFSPA meet at Delhi today Manipur Info Centre Sangai Express
New Delhi, Sept 7 : In-dian civil society organisa- tions, women activists from the Northeast and other parts of the country, scholars, parliamentarians and members of the armed forces are joining hands to assess the call to repeal the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) during a one day conference at India International Center in New Delhi.
“AFSPA has entered its 52 years of implementation. Government panels, United Nations and hundreds of civil society organisations across India have called for its repeal, but the issue continues to remain dead- locked,” says conference organiser Binalakshmi Nepram.
“Our meeting is intended to break this deadlock and to bring forward various views on the issue, so that we can consult and advise each other to the best viable solution.”
The conference is an initiative of the Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace (NEWIP), a network initiated by the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Control Arms Foundation of India, in collaboration with People’s Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), KRITI and others organisations.
Among the participants will be survivors of violence such as Ima Sinam Chand-ragini from Malom Village in Manipur, who lost two sons in the Malom Massacre of November 2000. There are also Hon’ble Members of Parliament such as Dr. Thokchom Meinya from Manipur, as well as security experts such as E. N. Rammohan, former Director General of the Border Security Force.
Enacted in 1958 as a short - term measure to allow deployment of the army ag- ainst an armed separatist movement in India’s northeastern Naga Hills, AFSPA has been invoked for more then five decades and since been used throughout Northeast India. A variant of the law was also used in Punjab during a separatist movement in the 1980s and 90s, and has been in force in Jammu Kashmir since 1990.
Officials have long sought to justify the use of the law by citing the need for the armed forces to have extraordinary powers to combat armed insurgents. However, human rights abuses facilitated by the AFSPA have fed public anger and disillusionment with the Indian state.
“Not only is AFSPA a draconian law that should not have remained in force for decades, it has now become an objective of hate. It has been abused directly by soldiers, and has also created a climate of impunity and abuse that has emboldened other police and paramilitary to commit human rights violations”, says Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director of Human Rights Watch.
AFSPA has allowed members of the armed forces to perpetrate abuses with impunity, because certain clauses in the law provide them with relative immunity from prosecution, adds Security Analyst, Ravinder Pal Singh: “The military feels protected by AFSPA. But this has negative outcomes for the military in its discipline and professionalism. It would be useful to examine a modifying legislation that discourages possible of acts of impunity by the security forces.”
Five facts about China-Myanmar relations Reuters News Indo Burma News
September 6, 2010: Myanmar's reclusive leader, General Than Shwe, arrives in China on Tuesday for a five-day state visit ahead of elections on Nov. 7, at which the ruling junta's civilian proxies are expected to score a resounding victory.
Here are five facts about the complex relationship between China and Myanmar:
*In 1949, Burma, as Myanmar was then known, was one of the first countries to recognise the People's Republic of China. But relations soured in the 1960s following anti-Chinese riots in Rangoon (now called Yangon).
* Following a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1988, the West imposed broad sanctions on Myanmar. China stepped into the void, providing aid and weapons and ramping up trade.
Beijing has continued to provide broad diplomatic support for Myanmar's military government, though the ruling generals remain wary of their powerful northern neighbour.
* China has pumped $8.17 billion into Myanmar in the current fiscal year, accounting for two-thirds of its total investment over the past two decades, Myanmar's state media reported last month. [ID: nSGE67F0BL]
Energy projects formed the bulk of the investment, with $5 billion in hydropower and $2.15 billion in the oil and gas sector of the resource-rich nation. However, analysts say official investment data for Myanmar is notoriously unreliable.
Bilateral trade grew by more than one-quarter in 2008 to about $2.63 billion, according to Chinese figures. Chinese firms are also heavily involved in logging in Myanmar.
* Myanmar gives China access to the Indian Ocean, not only for imports of oil and gas and exports from landlocked southwestern Chinese provinces, but also potentially for military bases or listening posts. Two Chinese warships made a port call in Myanmar last month, the Chinese navy's first visit to the country.
In October, China's state energy group CNPC started building a crude oil port in Myanmar, part of a pipeline project aimed at cutting out the long detour oil cargoes take through the congested and strategically vulnerable Malacca Strait. [ID: nTOE60D08W] [ID: nTOE67P06B]
* The relationship has had rocky patches of late. In August 2009, refugees flooded across into China following fighting on the Myanmar side of the border between rebels and government troops, angering Beijing. Myanmar has since promised to maintain stability on the border. [ID: nTOE65206V]
In 2007, China's Foreign Ministry published an unflattering account of Myanmar's new jungle capital Naypyitaw, expressing surprise that the poor country would consider such an expensive move without first telling its supposed Chinese friends.
NLD ‘step two’ seeks alliance with ethnic ceasefire groups Phanida (Mizzima)
Chiang Mai– After conducting campaign roadshows across Burma, the National League for Democracy will start trips to pass on Aung San Suu Kyi’s messages to minorities in regions controlled by ethnic ceasefire groups.

The plan in response to a directive from party general secretary Suu Kyi follows the party’s first step in which NLD leaders travelled widely to meet grass-roots members and the general public to discuss their problems and point our their electoral rights.

“We will explain Aung San Suu Kyi’s attitudes towards ethnic minorities and the youth [wing] to the ethnic minorities. The objective of our previous campaigns was to persuade the people. At this time, our objective is highly political,” NLD central executive committee member Ohn Kyaing told Mizzima.

“Our policy is to create a genuine union. We will explain Aung San Suu Kyi’s idea, which is to disseminate the policy to among the ethnic minorities. Whether they think the same way or not, at least we will understand each other after the trips,” he said.

On Suu Kyi’s request, NLD leaders will explain the 2008 constitution, voters’ rights and the people’s right to choose whether or not to vote in the elections.

Party central executive committee member, lawyer Nyan Win, said that when he was allowed to meet Suu Kyi last, she told him that the problems between the junta and the ethnic ceasefire groups could be solved with constructive political dialogue.

A total of about 15 delegates from the NLD central executive committee, central committee, women’s and youth wings conducted a meeting at the home of party vice-chairman Tin Oo on this next phase.

Suu Kyi’s opinions and attitude were impressive, Colonel Sin Wah, the joint secretary of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), told Mizzima.

“We don’t know whether Aung San Suu Kyi said it or not her attitude passed on by her lawyer is very positive for all of us,” he said.

Before the NLD decided on this second phase, many Irrawaddy Division residents and party members agreed to boycott the elections on November 7 during a four-day trip to the region by NLD leaders led by Tin Oo.

Since June 12, NLD leaders have visited a total of 200 townships in Rangoon, Mandalay, Pegu, Tenasserim and Magway divisions and Karen, Mon, Arakan and Shan states, over about 50 days.

“Our previous trips are to show that the NLD is united under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi”, Ohn Kyaing said.

NLD members of parliament who won seats in the 1990 election, on April 29 filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court seeking a writ against dissolution of the party and to declare that the MPs can still legally maintain their positions. Lawyer Nyan Win said that they will modify the arguments in the lawsuit and resubmit the lawsuit soon.




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