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09/26/2011: "14 years on, Naga issue inching towards a solution Sanjib Kr Baruah, Hindustan Times,"

14 years on, Naga issue inching towards a solution Sanjib Kr Baruah, Hindustan Times,

New Delhi Protracted negotiations between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak Muivah) for the last 14 years to resolve one of the world’s longest running insurgencies are finally assuming the contours of a solution. “A distinct emerging possibility is the setting up of
two autonomous councils with adequate powers in Naga-majority areas of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh as part of the settlement,” sources told Hindustan Times.
“More autonomy is also envisaged for Nagaland by transferring more items to the state list from the central and concurrent lists.” Nagaland enjoys more powers than most other Indian states under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, both sides remained tight-lipped on the developments. “There has been progress although some of the issues are yet to be sorted out. It would be difficult to give any dates,” said RS Pandey, interlocutor for the Naga talks.
Admitting that some headway has been made, V S Atem, convener of the NSCN (IM)'s steering committee, said,”There have been developments but it is too early to comment.”
The expectation is that the NSCN will not insist on absolute sovereignty provided they have an honourable solution and resolution of the issue of integration of Naga-dominated areas.
Most of the 31-points brought up by the NSCN have already been resolved and now the focus of the talks has boiled down to the degree of autonomy that will be conferred to Nagaland and the other envisaged administrative entities.
There has been vehement opposition from Manipur on the redrawing of state boundaries and hence the need for an imaginative solution towards a resolution of the vexed Naga issue.
Interestingly, a demand for a separate state by the Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Chang, Khiamniungan and Yimchunger tribes in four districts in eastern Nagaland has been gaining ground. The Nephiu Rio-led government has already recommended an autonomous council for this area to the Centre.
NSCN-IM has been on a ceasefire mode since 1997 with about 65 rounds of parleys taking place both in India and abroad since then. Negotiations have acquired more traction after NSCN (IM) leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Swu stationing themselves in India for more than a year now.
Cong lambaste DAN on corruption, favouritism Correspondent, (NPN)

As part of its mass contact tour to revive the party, Congress tore into the NPF-led DAN government over issues of corruption, favouritism, nepotism and tribalism. This was the tone and tenor when NPCC office bearers and MLAs addressed a meeting held in Mon town on Saturday.

The Congress team, led by NPCC president S.I.Jamir accused the ruling DAN under chief minister Neiphiu Rio of spreading tentacles of tribalism through dominance by one particular tribe in various segments of society even in matters of allotment of contract works. Congress MLAs from Eastern Nagaland, on the other hand, accused the DAN government of providing lip service to the four districts of Eastern Nagaland(Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire).They said all the claims and achievements were impressive on paper but regretted that there was no evidence on the ground.

NPCC vice president and former minister Sedem Khaming accused DAN ministers from Eastern Nagaland of not being responsive to the needs of the Eastern Nagas.
Instead, he said, chief minister Neiphiu Rio was giving more attention to Southern Nagas as in the affiliation issue and allowing students from Naga districts of Manipur to appear in the NBSE examination. He alleged, on the other hand, Rio did not accord as much concern for the Eastern Nagas. Sedem claimed that under special provision 50% of the budget supposed to be provided for erstwhile Tuensang Area was not being implemented.

Congress MLA Konngam accused the DAN government of denying the rights of the Eastern Nagas by “offering” Autonomous Council status to the four districts of Eastern Nagaland. He said the status of the four districts under erstwhile Tuensang area was above the status of Autonomous Council. Konngam also cited a biblical verse where it stated that no parent would give stone when a child asked for bread or give snake when the child asked for fish.
He said the DAN government was doing the opposite by offering Autonomous Council status.

H. Chuba Chang MLA claimed that Congress members were not merely politicians but “workers of the nation” and urged party workers to work for the welfare of the general public at their respective village, area, district and state levels. He encouraged party workers to work harder during the one and half year before elections as the DAN government, like an over ripe fruit, was going to fall.

S.I Jamir, announced a three-point agenda for the party which it would implement as soon as it returned to power.

These included:
1. Youth Employment: a transparent system where all youths would get equal opportunities and where no consideration would be given to recommendations from VIPs for backdoor selection. Special projects for youths of Nagaland, so that they can be gainfully employed by starting new industries
2. All Centrally Sponsored Schemes will be implemented at the grassroots level and party functionaries will be made responsible to supervise implementation;
3. The Congress will ask for a special economic packages from the centre for the development of the underdeveloped areas of the State.
Others who also spoke in the meeting included- Tarie Zeliang MLA, Lanpha MLA, Mughato general secretary NPCC, Vaprumu Demo general secretary NPCC and Bendang general secretary NPCC. The programme was chaired byTakyong, president DCC Mon, Invocation prayer by Rev. Tenwang, District Chaplain and welcome address by Mrs. Ngunlem president District Mahila Congress and vote of thanks by Shangkem.

Through Fields of Fire Prasanta Mazumdar Source: DNA
Two Nagaland villages are faced with catastrophic environmental consequences in the wake of a two decade-old oil spillage from oil fields left abandoned by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC). Villagers now claim the oil seepage has reached alarming proportions, polluting water and damaging land fertility besides causing serious health hazards.
The oil spill is both over-ground and underground. It has turned vast swathes of land into oily mud. Sometimes, smoke is seen billowing out of some of the abandoned wells. The entire environment is contaminated.
The first thing that bore the brunt of the oil spills is the local economy. Nagas living in rural areas rely on traditional jhum cultivation which involves burning of vegetation on hill slopes. But with the oil spills around, the people living in Changpang-Tissori belt are afraid of burning vegetation for fears of wildfire.
“We are devastated. We don’t know how long we can make both ends meet,” says a farmer of Changpang. With no respite from the oil seepage, some people are looking for alternative means to earn a livelihood.
But the area being remote, there is little they can do to earn a living.
It all began in 1994 after the ONGC was asked to suspend its operations in Changpang and Tissori villages of Wokha district by the Nagaland government.
The oil major operated there for 21 years mining hydrocarbon products since striking a deal with the state government in 1973.
The initial years were hunky-dory. Soon though, some local pressure groups as well as insurgents began questioning the agreement. They said the stakeholders were not consulted before drilling as mandated by customary Naga land rights. Eventually, the state government bowed to widespread public protests and asked the ONGC to pack off. But by then, the government had earned a royalty of Rs.33.3 crore, only a fraction of which - Rs 67 lakh — was paid to the landowners.
The ONGC abandoned 29 drilled wells and two gas points spreading over an area of 12 sq km. The oil seepage was noticed only a few months after the ONGC’s withdrawal. Initially, there was hardly any fuss among villagers over the matter. But when the oil spill started reaching alarming proportions, the villagers, precisely the Changpang Landowners’ Union, petitioned the state government, not once but on several occasions, seeking urgent measures for cleaning up the mess and preventing its adverse effect on the environment and ecology. Finally in August last year, the state’s geology and mining department reported “heavy spillage” after inspecting the sites.
MY Ngullie, president of Changpang Landowners’ Union, says the indigenous plants have been swamped by at least seven species of thorny plants (lantana, mimosa etc). “According to ecologists, this is just the beginning of desertification,” he says. He adds the people often complain of renal problems (kidney stones etc) unheard of earlier.
Back and forth

The ONGC estimates suggest the Changpang-Tissori belt has a geological reserve of 110 million barrels of oil with a recoverable reserve of approximately 1,600 barrels per day. Green Foundation, a Nagaland based NGO, blames the ONGC for the mess.
“The ONGC hurriedly abandoned the wells without following the international legislation guiding proper abandonments, decommissioning, remediation, reclamation and consolidation protocols thereby committing a crime against innocent Naga people and the environment,” says N Janbemo Humtsoe, Director of the Foundation.
The ONGC has rubbished the charges claiming it adopted all precautionary safety measures while suspending operations. “All the oil wells were subdued and sealed before withdrawal. However, prolonged period of non-maintenance and probable tampering with the high-tech production equipment by miscreants might have resulted in the reported leakages at the well sites,” says an official of ONGC.
Last year, on being persuaded by the state government and assured of security, the ONGC agreed to clean up the oil spill areas and take other necessary remedial measures. Subsequently, both sides constituted separate teams for a joint survey of the affected area. However, the survey has not taken place as yet.
“I feel the ONGC is dragging their feet. I am not entirely sure though,” says Nagaland additional chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir. The ONGC says it does not mind conducting a survey.
“We are ready for it. However, we haven’t got the go-ahead as yet from Nagaland government,” says an ONGC official. He adds: “The Nagaland government told us the survey is not feasible now. We don’t know the reason”. He attributed the oil spills to lack of maintenance of infrastructure. “Infrastructure needs to be maintained. We don’t have any problem in Assam and Gujarat,” he adds.

Court issues notice to ONGC, others
The Gauhati High Court on September 12 issued notices to ONGC, Union petroleum and environment ministries, Nagaland government and others after hearing a PIL, filed by a Kohima-based NGO, seeking Rs 1,000-cr compensation for the plight of those affected.
Dice Foundation, the NGO, took up the fight on behalf of the villagers.
“We have sought a compensation of Rs 1,000-cr for the villagers whose economy has been ravaged by the oil spills. Now that the matter has reached court, we hope they will get justice in the long run,” says Mmhonlumo Kikon of the Foundation.
Kikon claims earlier they did a study and found 102 villagers being affected by the oil spill. “Earlier, few locals in the two villages had any eyesight problem. But now, the disease is very common among children aged below 13 years. Changpang along has reported around 30 cases of renal problem unheard of earlier,” he adds.
That the court gave utmost importance to the case was evident from the fact that it was heard by the Chief Justice himself. The court of Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice K Meruno asked Gunedhor Moirangthem, the petitioners’ counsel, to issue notices to ONGC and others involved in the case. Moirangthem said a reply has been sought from the respondents by November 14.
“It is really sad that no action was taken to stop the oil spillage all these years,” he adds.

The human cost
Last year, C. Lotha, a farmer and father of four, cultivated a banana plantation on a piece of land measuring 5 hectares. He invested close to Rs 2.5 lakh after borrowing the money from a friend. To his utter dismay, he now finds the leaves withering. “The leaves are fast getting dried up and withering. I am at a loss for I fear I won’t get even half of what I had invested,” he laments.
Opvuo Odyuo, former chairman of Changpang village, says these days the harvest is poor and it is always full of pests.
Mhabemo Lotha, a medical practitioner based in Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur, says the oil spill is a threat to human existence. “I don’t know if the water in the area is contaminated. Research can only reveal the health hazards, if any, caused to villagers,” he says. “However, not just the aquatic animals, contaminated water can threaten the existence of human beings as well,” he sums up.
Myingthungo N Kithan, the village chieftain, says they will be happy if Changpang is struck out of the map of Nagaland. “Everything has a limit. Our patience is running out and we can’t wait for an indefinite period.” He adds: “Fire engulfed the oil spill areas twice. With the kind of oil seepage around, we cannot sleep. We count every night as the last night of our life”.


‘Tourism is the only industry in Nagaland’ Emilo Khuvung
Kohima | September 26 : Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has been observing World Tourism Day on September 27 and likewise Nagaland State joins the world in observing the occasion under the theme “Tourism-Linking Cultures”, in Tuensang on Tuesday.
“Tourism is the only industry we see in the state, and to promote tourism in the state, people need to know what Tourism is all about, and the activities surrounding tourism, unless the people know and have knowledge tourism and its activities, it is difficult to really come up in a big way”, said Parliamentary secretary Tourism Law & Justice Yitachu as he prepares to leave for the big day.
State readies for World Tourism Day in Tuensang
In an exclusively interview with The Morung Express at his official residence on Sunday, Yitachu said tourism activities has to be ‘picked’ to some extent and yet many people don’t know how to make a living out of tourism activities. ‘It’s a distant dream for them”, said Yitachu when queried over the selection of district for the event. . The Tourism department is roping in Nagaland Tourism Association which will also involve hotels.
To facilitate development, Yitachu said, the landowners need to “relax their ownership,” instead of ‘preserving their ownership’ so people can make a living out of the sector.
Trying to reach out to the needy in the state and across the boundaries those in dire need of education and sustenance, Yiachu said cultural tourism is ‘readymade’ and ‘readily available in the state.’ Besides, there are many eco-tourism activities that can take place, even ‘healing tourism.’
“Tourism is not confined to one agenda, it involves everything, and the problem is that people do not understand the value of accommodation, which is needed to be located in the centrally populated places where all kinds of activities are surrounded with interesting things.” Tourism activities have to be within the vicinity of ‘human habitation,’ he added.
He expressed hope that the occasion would give an opportunity to tourist guides and tour operators to project Tuensang as an attractive destination within the state or highlight the real life of Nagas, their living conditions and what kind of transformation has taken place over the years and so on.

Women recount horrors of the Indo-Naga conflict
By Subir Ghosh Asian Correspondent
They had three sons. They were not rich, but “were quite contented”. In the mid-1950s, her husband responded to the Naga movement and joined the Naga army. He rose through the ranks to become an important officer. His wife and children stayed behind in the village to fend for themselves by labouring in their fields. The Indian army kept constant surveillance and often raided the house hoping to capture him. She lived through constant fear and harassment.
After several years in the Naga army, the husband surrendered and came ‘overground’ but found it difficult to live in the village. There was local hostility to him since, while in the Naga army, he had carried out “some harsh measures” on his own village, apparently on the orders of senior officers. He left the village and settled down near the Assam-Nagaland border where he married again. One day, he came back to claim his sons. His first wife was shocked and unable to make him change his mind, despite reminding him of the hardship she had undergone for his sake and that of the family. She walked a long distance pleading with him to change his mind, as he left with the sons — but to no avail.

All women victims had suffered a deterioration in their health, lived through starvation, suffered humiliation, physical assault, even rape. But they were concerned about the education of their children and stated that they did not wish the coming generations to undergo the kind of horrific experiences they did. Photo: C-NES / Kausiki Sarma
After that day, she withdrew into herself, stopped meeting people or speaking to anyone. Then some months later she became very loud and noisy. The villagers shut her out and she started living away from the village in a shack. Fearing that she may become a danger to herself, the village sent her to the Wokha district sub-jail where she was kept under the Indian Lunacy Act of 1912 as a noncriminal lunatic. From here, she was later transferred to the Kohima Mental Hospital in 1990. Several months of treatment led to some improvement; her doctor managed to locate two of her sons and brought them to meet her, hoping this might help her recovery. But the bonds had dissipated and they behaved like strangers.
The sons went back home leaving their mother in the mental hospital where she died.
The story of this woman is tell-tale, and has been revealed in a heart-wrenching report ‘Bearing Witness: The Impact of Conflict on Women in Nagaland and Assam’, recently released by the Centre for Northeast Studies and Policy Research (C-NES). The report comes in the backdrop of ongoing peace talks between the Indian government and the Naga insurgents.
The woman here has not been identified, and neither has the village. But as the C-NES study team found: “Most women face a decline in social legitimacy and find themselves relegated to the fringes of society with no one to care for them or to speak on their behalf.”
There was a common hurdle that the researchers came across while talking to women, who have been victims of the Indo-Naga conflict. While victims were willing to recount their painful experiences, a number of them were reluctant to speak on-camera or even be recorded and photographed for the documentary film that was being shot simultaneously. Some of those who spoke, insisted for reasons of security, social standing or just personal wishes, not to be identified by name and, in a few cases, were not willing to have their villages named. The scars remain, as does a deeply-entrenched fear.
It has been 14 years since the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM) entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government (with the lesser Khaplang faction following some time later), but fear and trauma among women still endures. As the report remarked: “The stories of these women interviewed, like women elsewhere, need to be told since their contribution to the sustenance of their communities is crucial.”
The C-NES team had to work with an individual-focused model of trauma which did not always fit in with an indigenous tribal and community-based society. In Naga society, even the identity of the victim is strongly rooted in clan and community and is regarded as a collective rather than an individual identity. Trauma resonated, therefore, at the level of the whole village community (even if they were on opposing sides) and this was transmitted across the spectrum because according to them, the entire village had suffered the same way. For this reason, people were reluctant to talk about individual trauma and suffering. This is also a valuable coping mechanism, however, because here everyone carried a collective ‘burden’.
Uppermost in the minds of the women interviewed for this study was what will happen in the future. Everyone wanted an early and peaceful settlement of the Naga political issue so that future generations would get a chance to plan and live their lives different to the violent past and the volatile present. Nearly half of the women interviewed, along with other stakeholder groups, agreed that because of the prolonged and entrenched conflict situation, standards in society had deteriorated.
So, what about the future? A glimmer of hope may be found in the story of Ms Y. She is now all of 75, and lives in Pathso village under Noklak subdivision of Tuensang village.
54 years ago, as a young woman of 21, she was, as usual, on her way to the paddy field in the morning as agriculture was the family’s main means of livelihood. On the way, she came across an Indian army patrol. They caught her and pushed her down to the ground. They stripped her naked and then gang-raped her, one after another. She did not remember how many of them were there as she had lost consciousness. When she recovered, she discovered”marks” on her face and throat. She was also bleeding profusely.
She has since suffered health problems. She also felt “morally degraded” and has suffered great psychological trauma. The fact of her being gang-raped by Indian soldiers became common knowledge in the village and her prospects of getting married were completely destroyed as no one was willing to marry her. She remained a spinster her entire life. There was no one to help her, but as she was single her needs were few and she managed to support herself.
Y knows that many family members of people who suffered like her had joined the underground movement to take revenge on the Indian army as they considered that their family honour had to be restored through such means.
In her time, Y said harassments and humiliation were quite common including rape and torture in front of an “assembly of villagers”. But most women keep their nightmarish experiences hidden if possible and suffer alone silently. She felt that the time had come for women to fight for justice and would like women’s organisations to be set up in villages to help victims.
Y is still deeply hurt when she remembers the “physical and mental torture” of the 1956 incident that literally cut her off her from family and social life of the community. She is happy that in recent times there have been less reports of such incidents. She also wants the Naga political problem to be settled since she believes armed conflict has affected all aspects of the lives of the people and also destroyed their culture and values.
As the Naga cause moves towards reconciliation and solution, the voices of these women need to be heard, and counted too.
[Disclosure: The writer is an Advisory Council member of C-NES.]