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01/13/2011: "Rally for separate state - ENPO seeks development of backward districts OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Rally for separate state - ENPO seeks development of backward districts OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph

Kohima, Thousands of people today participated in a rally to press for a separate state in the four backward districts of Nagaland — Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon and Longleng.
The rally was sponsored by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation.
Tongthan Khiamnungan, adviser to the organisation, said creation of a separate state for the backward tribes would be beneficial to Naga society.
He said the backward tribes received a step-motherly treatment by the state government in that they were discriminated against in development, education and job opportunities.
Now we are getting only one plate but if a separate state is created for us Nagas will get two plates Khiamnungan said.
He alleged step-motherly treatment to backward tribes by the state government.
The tribes from these backward districts say they are discriminated against in development, education and job opportunities.
In all the educational institutions, the state government had alloted reservation and relaxation for the students from backward districts.
While 25 per cent job is reserved for them in government jobs. The population in four districts is around nine lakh. There are 11 districts in Nagaland. Of the 60 MLAs 20 are from these four districts.
Khiamnungan said they would chalk out a further course of action and would continue to talk with the Union government.
He said the organisation was determined to pursue a separate state so that they could also progress ahead with the rest of the communities.
He also said Changland and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh would be included in the new state. “The people from these two districts are willing to join us,” he said.
The organisation is in constant touch with the Naga leaders of Changlang and Tirap. Our brothers and sisters are also in Changlang and Tirap, he said.
People of these two districts have been demanding a separate state for 7 years now. Khiamnungan said Naga people are also scattered in Burma and the efforts were being made to bring them together.
Asked whether their demand for a separate state would sabotage the ongoing Naga peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) or whether the NSCN supports the demand, Khiamnungan said so far the Naga outfit had not commented on this issue. “I think they morally support our demand,” he said.
The NSCN (I-M)’s demands include greater Nagalim, which will affect Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
The Congress has requested the Nagaland People’s Organisation to think over their demand.
The BJP has blamed the state government for failing to deliver justice to the backward communities.
BJP general secretary, Yambos Murry however pulled up the 20 legislators from four backward districts for not able to meet the needs of the people due to corruption. The democratic alliance of Nagaland government never heeds and stood balance distributions of developmental funds among the tribe is another reason he said. He held the 20 legislators for the demand for the separate state. The 20 legislators have so far remained silent over this issue so also the state government.
Northeastern states hail PAP withdrawal
Imphal/Aizawl, Jan 8 (IANS) The northeastern states have welcomed the centre's decision to do away with the Protected Area Permit (PAP), a mandatory permit for foreigners to visit the region.
The union government had recently excluded Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland from the PAP regime for a period of one year.
However, the regulation is in place for Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China.
'The decision is very positive. It will help foreign nationals, specially tourists, to visit here,' Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said in a statement in Aizawl Saturday.
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also welcomed the decision to withdraw the PAP from his state.
'A large number of tourists have been visiting Manipur every year with the PAP. The number will now increase,' Singh told reporters in Imphal Saturday.
'However, all foreigners visiting Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland will have to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the district they want to visit within 24 hours of their arrival,' a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release said.
According to a Mizoram official, the citizens of some specified countries, including Pakistan and China, will continue to require prior approval of the union Ministry of Home Affairs before their visit to the northeastern states.
Various NGOs have also hailed the decision.
On an average, 50,000 foreign tourists visit the eight north-eastern states every year.

NPF Minister plea to eastern Nagas not to separate morungexpress

Minister for Health & Family Welfare Azo Neinu (centre with shades) along with parliamentary secretaries R Tohanba and Torechu and others pose for lens with former Naga underground pioneers in front of the monolith in honour of surrendered UG pioneers, at Chessore village, on Wednesday.
Chessore (Tuensang) | January 12 : With echoes of the January 7 rally for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ still in the air, Nagaland Minister for Health & Family Welfare Kuzholuzo Neinu today made an impassioned plea to the Eastern Naga brethrens to reconsider their painful decision to part ways. “Since time immemorial, we Nagas were one in times war or peace. Nothing should separate us,” the minister said in his address at the inaugural function of the 45th general session Yimchungrü Akherü Arikaho-cum-golden jubilee celebration of Chessore Village Students’ Union, at Chessore village ground in Tuensang district, the heart of the Eastern Naga country.
“We love and care for you. So it is my sincere request to the ENPO not to part ways with us, but to strengthen the brotherhood bond between us. If at any point of time we have hurt your feelings or discriminated you, do forgive us,” Azo told the gathering.
This is perhaps the first bold public statement on “Frontier Nagaland” issue from the DAN Government side though Azo later said that his appeal was not made as a minister but as an individual concerned to keep the Naga house united.
The minister said that in a democratic society, everybody has the right to demand for their rights and voices but added that it would be too painful to see Nagas divided.
The minister also said that as per geographical position, even his own Phek district and the Chakhesang people can also be termed as Eastern Nagas. “But we will never be a part of breaking the Naga unity,” Azo spoke on behalf of his community.
Azo further said that he suspected the Government of India was playing hard to divide the Nagas just when the decades-old Naga political issue has reached a crucial stage and expectations were high.
He felt that that since the Centre did not want to give “status” to the Nagas, the game plan was “how to go back to square one” by dividing the Naga. “Suppose the demand of ENPO has been acceded, then our political struggle for so many decades will become meaningless,” Azo said and appealed the Eastern Nagas to reconsider their stand. He also appealed the Yimchungrüs, “the pioneers of NNC and Naga unity” to continue to maintain the spirit of Naga unity and oneness.
Parliamentary secretary for CAWD, Torechu, who was the guest of honour in his speech also said that since the Naga family is a small one, it would be wise for the members to stick together and have no further division in the family. The minister also inaugurated two monoliths: one in honour and remembrance of surrendered Naga underground pioneers in formation of the 1st NAP led by ‘Brig’ KM Gaming Yimchunger and, the CVSU golden jubilee monolith.
To an appeal of YAA for establishing a medical sub-centre in Chessore, one of the biggest village in Tuensang, the H&FW Welfare minister assured to do his best. Parliamentary secretary for I&PR, Economics & Statistics, R Tohanba, who
represents Shamator-Chessore assembly seat also attended the inaugural programme.
Commentary on Demand for Statehood by ENPO Dr. Piketo Achumi Morungexpress
For many people it is a surprise to note the ENPO’s move for statehood. The immediate reaction to this social upsurge maybe summed up as below:-
1 From the formation of the state of Nagaland the public and the leaders of the aforesaid districts have been equal partners in the policy making of the state. The twenty member legislators representing the districts are equally responsible leaders for the development of the state of Nagaland. The leaders know what is what? Sometimes political tilts as a matter of parties will never guarantee us to have equal representations in all ministry formations of the state. Even for that matter we have many veteran Naga political leaders from those districts. So giving explanations may not be proper here.
2 In any positive move of our people, it must be initiated with clear understanding among the leaders of the state and convince the government of India to examine the proposal. However it maybe stated here that even when the state of Nagaland was formed during early 1960’s it was Jawahar Lal Nehru a stalwart personality of the House whose political sagacity prevailed over the objections of Mps like Atal Bihari Vajpayee for creating the state of Nagaland the population of which was then less than the one of a district in other parts of the country. That way it could be a tough move for the Nagas to have another state.
3 We understand that the district and the Village Development funds are being distributed as per Government norms. In addition to those normal funds we have some financial packages for backward areas development. If funds are being used properly there can be no question of dissatisfaction. But it is always up to the leadership of the areas concerned to implement them for specific development purposes.
4 As for general development of the state even with our limited understanding we can foresee that in decades to come Nagaland will have more developments in various fields .Because we have not harnessed our natural resources properly. We still look forward for application of modern technologies in our land resources. We may have to go forward to reap the benefits of development one after another. We may not have enough baskets to hold the benefits of our resources from industries, Human resource developments, Agri sectors, Power sectors, Water resources, Health care etc. Nagaland can be transformed into a beautiful land with a lot of new technological applications. We only need to prepare ourselves as responsible citizens and not confining to our world of limitations.
5 Above all Nagaland requires breakthrough in road connectivity not only linking them to our district headquarters but to all sectors of the state and eastern parts of Nagaland. From general point of view we need three pronged road development links with the other side of Naga areas in Myanmar: 1) via Kiphire 2) via Tuensang and Noklak sector 3) via Mon districts. For such big development projects, we may expect the state Government to initiate for involvement of both the Governments of India and Myanmar. The Naga areas should have the touch of modern civilization with road connectivity as early as possible. Hopefully the government of India look east policy will go beyond Dimapur and reach eastern parts of Nagaland with road developments.
6 Lastly if the Nagas could have more states that will certainly benefit our people. But Nagas must not do anything in random like the Britishers who in the past divided us into various administrative units. If we are to make the quiz works who knows if Naga integration is not possible Nagas may be compelled to have more states. So let us watch and see.

Dr. Piketo Achumi, Rtd. Director
Asian college, Sovima, Dimapur
No comment on ENPO demand: CM Chang morungexpress
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 12 (MExN): Lok Sabha MP from Nagaland, CM Chang trod a cautious line today, when he was asked to comment on the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation’s (ENPO) demand for a separate state. “I cannot give any opinion…” at the moment, was the MP’s not so surprisingly guarded response. Chang was replying to queries during a brief interaction with mediapersons at the ‘Puanglüm’ festival celebration of the Chang community at Dimapur on Wednesday, January 12.
It was though added that he had a passing meeting with the ENPO representatives during their visit to Delhi in December, to submit their memorandum. Beyond that there has been no interaction with them that can be called worthwhile, Chang said. He recalled telling the delegation that he can neither tell them to go ahead nor stop them. So far, they (ENPO) have not approached me, Chang maintained. He did not rule out interactions with the ENPO, stating that it is welcome to do so.
Asked whether the demand is justified, a tightlipped Chang maintained that he has yet to see the contents of the memorandum submitted by a delegation of ENPO representatives to the Prime Minister in December last year. “What they’ve submitted, I’ve not seen.”
He said that he may belong to eastern Nagaland but in his capacity as an elected MP from the state, he represents Nagaland as a whole.
He then went on to heap praises on the present DAN government. He opined that the state government is doing everything within its means, in terms of allocation of development funds, to bring the six tribes inhabiting eastern Nagaland at par with the rest of the state. Development of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) programme has been one of the biggest achievement of the Dan government to bring up the areas tagged as ‘backward’ in Nagaland, he held. Chang nevertheless, agreed to the fact that the number of people from the six tribes, which come under ENPO, in the government departments as employees, is very less.