08/01/2011: "Naga Solution in the Making? morungexpress"

Naga Solution in the Making? morungexpress

After months and months of what would seem like quiet diplomacy, some hard bargaining and off course lots of patience and commitment, the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim are finally looking at “working out a settlement in the shortest possible time”. This was announced in a rare but welcome joint statement signed by RS Pandey, Interlocutor, Representative of the Government of India and Th. Muivah, Chief Negotiator and General Secretary of the NSCN. Although there has been no specifics mentioned by both the two entities yet, there is enough indication or hint to suggest that some form of political settlement is going to take place soon. Credit must go to both sides, for having had the courage of conviction, to pursue the way of dialogue in order to settle what is arguably, one of the longest running conflicts in the region. According to whatever little information was contained in the joint statement, “sustained negotiations over the past few months have led to a set of proposals for an honourable political settlement based on the uniqueness of Naga history and situation which was recognized by the GoI in 2002, as well as the contemporary realities and a future vision consistent with the imperatives of the 21st century”. It further went on to add that while the differences between the two parties have narrowed, some of the proposals would require further negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable solution. So while it is true that the political dialogue has now dragged on for almost fifteen years and endless round of talks, the latest joint statement is indeed a significant push to the decade long peace process. Not only is it long over due but in a way for Delhi, it makes sense to wrap up the Naga talks process given that it has now entered into similar processes with other armed groups particularly the ULFA and it will require effort and attention on its part. In fact before opening any serious dialogue with the ULFA, the talks with the NSCN should be brought to some form of conclusion.
Without going into the speculation part on the contours of the current negotiation between the GoI and NSCN, what we will try and do is to look into one significant point made in the joint statement which is that both the parties are confident in “working out a settlement in the shortest possible time by appreciating and respecting each other’s positions and difficulties”. While it was always a known fact that for a dialogue to be successful there would have to be a spirit of give and take, nevertheless this is possibly the first time that a timeframe has been given for a settlement to take place. The use of the phrase ‘shortest possible time’ indicates a high level of trust and confidence and that both sides have more or less decided to take the plunge and to agree on a set of proposals, although it is possible, especially for the NSCN, to seek some specific terms of agreement and even a third party guarantee. This is well advisable given the bitter experience of Nagas entering into agreement/s with several political dispensations in India in the past. No doubt a solution is long overdue however the other obvious concern is to ensure that this is acceptable to all sections. As done in the past, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim should consult the Naga people. It should also continue to work with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and find a way towards evolving an inclusive platform through political reconciliation and consensus with the other groups.
China and Burma ‘stoking’insurgency in the Northeast Asian Age Anil Bhat |

INDEPENDENCE DAY for many years has been on the attack timetable of many terrorist groups ranging from Pakistan/Pakistan-supported outfits spread all over India, to those of the Northeast, all actively supported by its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and since a couple of years, China also. This year being no exception, the police and security agencies are busy preparing to preempt or prevent terrorist attacks in many states, including those in the Northeast, which China is reported to be trying to “unite”.
Two features published in this daily in 2011, “Defang Ulfa to ensure peace talks’ success” (January 25, 2011) and “the Northeast terror groups’ red links” (March 07, 2011) elaborated on the continuing anti-Indian activities of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Nagalim – Issac-Muivah group (NSCN-IM) and some of the Manipur–based Meitei terrorist groups hiding and shuttling between China and Burma. Ever since the Awami League headed by Sheikh Hasina assumed charge in Bangladesh, all north-eastern terrorist groups’ elements camping there since many years were apprehended and handed over to India by Bangladeshi authorities, or caught by the Indian security forces, National Investigation Agency (NIA) or escaped to Burma and China.
Both the Ulfa’s anti-talks faction under Paresh Baruah and the NSCN (I-M) have been given sanctuary and substantial support by China to arm themselves and to supply arms to Naxal-Maoists operating in other Indian states, even as the Ulfa’s pro-talks faction and NSCN (I-M) continue talks with the Centre. The latest development of China uniting Meitei groups with Baruah’s faction should not at all come as a surprise. Whether the Chinese intelligence has taken over what the ISI was doing actively from Bangladesh for almost two decades during former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s tenure, or assisting its latent elements still operating there, Indian security forces need to be all the more guarded.
This newspaper’s Guwahati correspondent recently brought out some significant details about China’s latest attempts at beefing up Paresh Baruah’s 28 battalion with many Meitei groups for some fresh attacks in Assam.
Authoritative security sources disclosed that the Khaplang faction of NSCN and elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah are playing the key role from their hideouts at Taga in Burma and that at least eight terrorist groups of Manipur have already joined hands. These are the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its associate People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak), Prepak (Pro), the United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). For the Ulfa’s Martyr’s Day on July 27, security agencies in Assam found the presence of PLA rebels in Ulfa’s hit squad moving around out to strike in Upper Assam’s Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. Paresh Baruah succeeded in pushing a group of 17 heavily armed rebels, including eight hardcore cadres of PLA, to create mayhem in Assam. This is the first time that PLA rebels have been sent to help the Ulfa in Assam. The Ulfa and PLA rebels, armed with sophisticated weapons, have been assigned specific task of targeting the oil installations, gas pipelines, business establishments and security forces. Security sources also pointed out that PLA and Ulfa cadres are highly professional and capable of taking on security forces. Sources said that armed cadres were sent from Taga camp in Burma.
Many inputs about the Chinese connection came from Anthony Shimray of NSCN (I-M) and Rajkumar Meghen of the UNLF arrested by the NIA, both of who had participated in meetings with the Chinese intelligence agencies operatives following requests from both these groups for support including sophisticated weapons. For facilitating this unification move, the anti-talk faction of the Ulfa and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) made a lot of structural changes in the organisational set up of their outfits besides setting up a mobile military headquarters at Taga in Burma. Security sources pointed out that Maoists leaders who are also in touch with PLA and Ulfa are suspected to have been playing the role of catalyst in unifying the armed rebels of northeast, as jointly their strength would cross over to 10,000 cadres.
Regarding Burma, time and again commitments were made by it to India to deny its space and support but somehow never has it worked for too long. In 1995 a joint military operation by India and Burma codenamed “Golden Bird” launched against Northeast insurgent-terrorist groups was abandoned by the latter after Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nehru Peace Prize for International Understanding.
Burma resumed its military operation against insurgents from February 2000 to May 2001 mainly because of the construction of the 160-km-long Indo-Burma Friendship Road by the Indian Army’s Border Roads Organisation connecting Manipur’s border town of Moreh with Kalewa on the Chindwin river in Burma, completed in February 2001. Later in October 2004, during his visit to India, Burmese General Than Shwe assured cooperation by way of participation in joint operations, which were conducted in 2005 and 2006. Unfortunately, the operation proved ineffective for obvious lack of commitment on the part of Burma.
India’s further engagement in recent years of the military junta internationally isolated following economic sanctions by the western countries has meant fulfilling a long list of military weapons, equipment and even clothing. India has also leased a helicopter squadron and offered help in maintaining Russian military equipment of the Burmese Army.
Burma showing greater commitment to take on anti-Indian terrorists taking shelter in its territory has again amounted military assistance from India to start operations. During his April 2010 visit to Shillong to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for the Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) meet Burmese ambassador to India U. Kyi Thein said that Burma has requested India for requisite military assistance for coordinated action against the insurgents holed up in its areas, which India has agreed to provide, though he refused to elaborate the details.
According to GOC, 3 Corps, Lt. Gen. N.K. Singh, there are about 40 militant camps belonging to various north-eastern terrorist groups in Burma, which has 1,643 km of unfenced border with Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram. Paresh Baruah’s Ulfa group in Burma is according to some reports as much as 800 cadres armed with a sizeable arsenal of arms and explosives. He had organised a blast outside the Congress headquarters in Guwahati in the run-up to the Assembly election earlier this year.
Burma has its own share of insurgency problems. Rebel outfits like Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) are active in its upper region. Because of strong presence of these various rebel outfits, the political writ of Rangoon does not prevail in several parts of the upper Burma. The situation has been further complicated by widespread poverty, lack of education and connectivity. Unless all these problems are solved, it would be difficult for Rangoon to rein in the area. Now the connectivity over the Indo-Burmese friendship road will make it easier to tackle the militants who operate out of jungle bases in north-west Burma adjacent to Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
The Centre has alerted the Assam government of attempts by the Ulfa and PLA group to carry out terror strikes in the state in the run-up to Independence Day. Intelligence inputs have warned that with the Ulfa faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa planning formal talks with the government soon, Baruah may go for a big strike in the fortnight ahead of the Independence Day to send out the firm message about who is in control.
All the developments mentioned, yet again underscore the need to nab Paresh Baruah, which will result in a spin-off of a number of advantages in dealing with terrorism in the north-eastern region. Given the improved relations with and cooperation by Bangladesh, improved output of the NIA and some assertive negotiation with Burma, that should not be impossible.
Anil Bhat is a defence
and security analyst
based in New Delhi
Deterrent for encroachers - Plan for bamboo plantation in 2 Jorhat reserve forests WASIM RAHMAN The Telegraph
Jorhat, July 31: The forest department has come up with a plan to carry out bamboo plantation in two reserve forests along the Assam-Nagaland border under Jorhat forest division’s Mariani range.
Altogether 40 hectares of land in Dissoi Valley reserve forest and Dissoi reserve forest have been identified for bamboo plantation under National Bamboo Mission by involving join forest management committees of the areas.
The move also aims at preventing the long-standing problem of encroachment from across the border, with the decades-old border dispute between the two states yet to be resolved.
Data available with the Assam forest department reveals that the three reserve forests — Dissoi Valley, Dissoi and Tiru Hills — in Jorhat district have allegedly witnessed heavy encroachment in the last three decades and have been left with half or less than half of the area once covered.
The original area of Dissoi reserve forest was 2,797.148 hectares of which 1,532.34 hectares have been encroached upon and this includes a village. The original area of Dissoi Valley reserve forest was 16,381.446 hectares of which 13,322.14 hectares have been encroached upon. Fourteen villages have been set up in the encroached area. The original area of Tiru Hills was 5,858.552 hectares, of which 4,829.15 hectares have been encroached upon.
Forest sources said the department had carried out eviction of illegal settlements from time to time with the support of Jorhat district administration but had avoided a largescale drive as the issue was a sensitive one, involving two state governments and could blow up and trigger violence. The matter is now sub judice with the Supreme Court hearing the case.
In May this year, the forest department detected that people from across the border had adopted a unique method to stake claim on Assam forests. They inscribed the name of the neighbouring state on trees inside Dissoi Valley reserve forest. The matter came to light when a group of forest officials from Assam went deep inside the reserve forest. They found trees inscribed with NLM (for Nagalim) and AKM (for Aokum basti).
Divisional forest officer (Jorhat) N.K. Malakar told The Telegraph that a 15-hectare plot of land had been selected in Dissoi Valley reserve forest and 25 hectares had been selected in Dissoi reserve forest for bamboo plantation under the National Bamboo Mission.
He said the department would carry out the plantation very soon by involving three joint forest management committees of the area, which will cover about 10 villages.
The Mariani range officer will be the nodal officer for the project, which will be implemented in phases.
He said the plan was not only to expand green cover, but also to help prevent encroachment. With the local people as stakeholders in the project, a close watch on the forest areas is expected.
Malakar said MoUs would be signed with the joint forest management committees to hand them the responsibility of looking after the plantations and added that the plantations would need around five to six years to reach full growth.
He said members of the three committees would later get a share of the earnings from the sale of the produce.
ENSF appreciates govt but wants full-fledged State morungexpress

DIMAPUR, (MExN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has appreciated the State Cabinet (Government of Nagaland) proposal to recommend “Autonomous Status” to the Eastern Nagaland (as published in the Local Dailies) for approval to the Central Government pointing out that this has “boosted up our morale and spirit”. However, the Federation reiterated its firm stand and steadfast demand for a full-fledged State ie. Frontier Nagaland and nothing short of it will do, informed a press note from Hawang T. Wangsha, President and Changsang Soted, General Secretary.
The ENSF stated that it was “strongly committed to the Statehood demand of ENPO, as reaffirmed during the Steering Committee Meeting of ENPO on 15th of May 2011 at Longleng Town”. In this connection, the Federation informed that any individual/group(s)/organization(s) or agencies, writing or commenting in any form, either in print/mass media, pertaining to the ENPO’s demand of Statehood i.e Frontier Nagaland should not be “misinterpreted or misconstrued since ENPO and ENSF are strong in pursuing the Statehood demand laid down to the Government of India under any circumstances, as it has been mandated by the General Public of Eastern Nagaland for its Statehood”.
Meanwhile the ENSF in good faith urged the Department of Social Welfare to implement the relaxation policy issued by the Government through P& AR Department vide Order No. AR-3/Gen-174/2007 (PT), Dated Kohima the 8th of June 2010, wherein the six (6) tribes of Eastern Nagaland viz. Konyak, Sangtam, Phom, Khiamniungan, Yimchunger and Chang are exempted from possessing Diploma in Computer Application (subject to availing the same qualification within two (2) years after appointment) while accepting forms in the on-going drive to recruit 7 (seven) LDA’s Posts under your kind Department.
The Federation anticipated that the Department will re-accept the rejected forms of the six (6) tribes of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng as per the above mentioned Notification/Guidelines of the Government.
Tradition: A subterfuge! PATRICIA MUKHIM The Telegraph

Singular role
When it comes to creating space for women in politics, there is bound to be stiff resistance from those who have been wielding that power uncontested. Tradition has come as a big alibi to prevent women from finding even a toehold in politics.
Nowhere is this more visibly demonstrated than in Nagaland where women wish to participate in the municipal elections but are being told that seats cannot be reserved for them because tradition does not allow it.
To circumvent tradition, the government of Nagaland is ostensibly planning to nominate some women to the municipalities. We all know the politics of nomination. Only women who are closely affiliated to political bosses or are political party acolytes will be hand-picked because they will toe the party line or the appointer’s diktat.
Power ruse
This is no empowerment at all. It is another form of enslavement because the women who will be nominated will not be serving the people but guarding the interests of the government in power. Some time ago, the Action Committee on Women’s Reservation in Nagaland (ACWRN) was formed with representatives from the Naga Mothers’ Association, Eastern Naga Women Organisation, Watsu Mongdang and the Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur to ensure that women get their due share of space in politics through the implementation of the Nagaland Municipal First Amendment Act, 2006 and holding of elections for towns and municipalities.
A one-month deadline had been served to the state government of Nagaland to hold the elections, ensuring reservation for women.
But the government refused to act. This compelled the women to move court. A writ petition on behalf of Naga women was filed at Gauhati High Court, Kohima, by two members of the Action Committee by the president and adviser of the NMA. The writ petition was admitted on June 24, 2011 following which a notice was served to the state government and the state election commission returnable in two weeks.
The court order states that “considering the nature of grievance raised, endeavour shall be made to dispose of the matter at the stage of admission hearing”.
Over a hundred women leaders from the NMA, including the Angamimiapfu Krotho, Kyong Eloe Hoho, Sumi Totimi Hoho, Rengma Mothers’ Association, Pochury Mothers’ Association, Chakhesang Mothers’ Association, Zeliangrong Mepui Organisation, Watsu Mongdang, Kuki Women Organisation, Naga Women Hoho, Dimapur, Tenyimia Women Organisation and the Eastern Naga Women Organisation attended the High Court hearing in Kohima.
The hearing on this writ petition was fixed for July 15, 2011. To the credit of Naga women, they were able to rope in noted Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves who is also the director, Human Rights Law Network, to pursue their case. Gonsalves is assisted by two other lawyers from the Supreme Court and advocate A. Azho and three lady lawyers from Nagaland. Finding itself on the wrong foot, the Nagaland government’s counsel sought time to reply to the writ petition up to September.
Rubber stamp
Clearly the government was buying time to amend the municipal act and to bring in the much touted customary laws and tradition that debars women from holding public office, particularly those closest to the people, such as the municipality. But the judge presiding over the case was not amused. In the last hearing it was learnt that he took exception to the delaying tactics of the government.
The judge remarked that the government’s action was, on the face of it, unconstitutional. The government counsel has been asked to file their affidavit and that the case would be disposed of by August 10. Now it appears that the government plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming Assembly session where they will amend the municipal act to allow the government to nominate women councillors. The Naga women see this as a clever attempt by the government to deprive them of the right to contest the municipal elections. It is also a ploy to turn the municipality into another institution that will be packed by camp followers of political parties without a mind of their own.
Basically, they will be rubber stamps of the Neiphiu Rio government! There are several arguments advanced against allowing 33 per cent reservation for women in municipalities.
Many have asked why women want 33 per cent seats in the municipality and why they should not be satisfied with 20 per cent only. The ACWRN have said that their demand is non-negotiable.
Each time, of course, the women were reminded that politics is not their domain according to customary law. But women in Nagaland are not to be cowed down. They have time and again seized the moment to show the male members of their society that they will not take any more rubbish. Over a month ago, a retired registrar of cooperative societies, government of Nagaland, Imtila Jamir, was shot at by her former aide. It appears that the man had joined the NSCN (I-M) and had nursed some grudge against his former employer. He shot at her with an AK-47 but either he was badly trained or was too shaken so the bullets only hit her arm instead.
A 10-member delegation of Naga women recently went to Delhi to meet the NSCN (I-M) leadership. They apprised Isak Swu and T.H. Muivah of their trigger-happy cadres and gave a deadline of one month to find the culprit and hand him over to the women so that they can in turn hand him over to the police. The women delegation was implicit in their demand that the culprit should be dealt with according to the law of the land and not by a kangaroo court.
A meeting to review this was scheduled to be held on Saturday. It is also heartening to note that the Naga women’s delegation have told the NSCN (I-M) leaders that the issue should not be tribalised or communalised. In a state with over 26 tribes, it is easy to turn every conflict into an inter-tribal rivalry. But this time the women have shown maturity and have decided not to let the issue get obfuscated by bringing in tribal differences. They see this attempted murder of a woman as part of the larger atrocity that women in Nagaland face on a daily basis.
Women unsafe
On July 29, the State Commission for Women held a state-level seminar on atrocities against women where Justice H.K. Sema delivered the keynote address. Justice Sema has been the most enlightened Naga who has for innumerable times questioned why Naga society continues to live in the dark ages as far as devolving powers to women is concerned.
At the risk of being called an NSCN baiter or a Naga basher, as some antagonistic readers have called me, I cannot but help join issues with the Naga women in this case. They have raised several pertinent questions, one of which is whether any armed cadre can enter the living room of common citizens and inflict injury or kill a person whose face they do not like. Even the government of Nagaland had recently stated that it would withdraw the official security of the NSCN leaders because the outfit had violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The government claims that extortion is still carrying on unabated, despite the ceasefire contract. Also armed cadres who should be moving only within the camps are vitiating the public space. It is ironic that the ceasefire monitoring committee has allowed the NSCN to run riot and to continue with their illegal activities, including collection of money/taxes from all trucks passing through Nagaland and entering Manipur. This is an issue that bothers the women of Nagaland above many others. Lawlessness is intimidating and when there is no rule of law the casualty are women and children. Hence the specific concerns! And we would all agree that the women’s concerns are indeed genuine and need to be addressed at the political level. But where is the political space for them? Time for Naga women to seize the moment!
Couple shot dead at Lungpha village, Ukl
Ukl/Imp Jul 25: A young couple was killed by some unidentified armed persons who came in full battle fatigues last night at Lungpha village, 53 kms away from Ukhrul police station.

Sources in Ukhrul police station informed that the incident occurred at around 10 pm.

The husband and the wife were sleeping along with their three children when four armed persons in full military fatigues broke into the house and opened fire randomly.

The two victims have been identified as Varei-ngam Mahonao Shimray, (36) s/o M Wungkhui Shimray and his wife Ngaherla Shimray (33), both from Lungpha Ato village, Ukhrul district.

Police source further reports that the two victims were cultivators having three children, the eldest being an 8 year old boy with two younger siblings, one girl and a boy just 6 and 4 years old.

Vareingam Mahonao Shimray was a church clerk of Lungpha Village and also member of Village Authority (VA) at the time of his death.

He used to deal with the village MGNREGS works. He (victim) was also serving as a school teacher at Litan private school last year, the sources add.

After post mortem the corpse of the two victims were brought to their village the police added.

When the unidentified armed persons, suspected to be NSCN-IM cadres knocked at the door of Vareingam Mahonao Shim-ray, the couple hid inside their room without opening the door.

But the assailants broke down the door and opened fire indiscriminately.

While Vareingam Maho-nao Shimray was shot dead beside his bed, his wife Ngaherla Shimray who attempted to keep the door closed against constant barging was killed at the door-step.

Both the victims bore several fatal bullet marks on different parts of their bodies including heads.

The armed assailants also opened fire at the house of Ngaherla Shimray’s younger sister LC Rose (26) which is located just 50 metres away from the victims’ house. But no one was injured in the firing. Police recovered seven spent bullets of AK rifle and three cartridges of 9 mm pistol.

Meanwhile, the Lung-pha Village Authority has condemned the killing of the couple in the strongest term.

In a statement, the village authority asked the identity of the killers and the reason, if there is any, for the bestial crime.

A powerful bomb blast at the ADC office in Ukhrul had shattered the fragile peace some days back.

Nagalim.NL News

08/01/2011: "Naga Solution in the Making? morungexpress"