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10/15/2011: "PM, Pandey sincere to solve Naga issue: Dr Shurhozelie"

PM, Pandey sincere to solve Naga issue: Dr Shurhozelie
Oken Jeet Sandham (NEPS) *
Kohima Nagaland Urban Development Minister Dr Shurhozelie said he sincerely believed that the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was "sincere" to solve the longstanding Naga political problem.

Talking to NEPS here today, the senior DAN Minister, who is also President of the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF), said the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was sincere to find solution to the protracted Naga political issue.

"The Center's interlocutor to the political negotiations, RS Pandey, is also sincere to solve the problem," the Minister said.

Dr Shurhozelie also made it very clear that in order to translate their "sincerities" into a "reality," New Delhi should have to oversee works of her "intelligent agencies" here with extraordinary efforts.

"I am saying this that many Nagas, not all, are susceptible to flattery and of course, they have other weaknesses also," the Minister pointed out.

"As such once her intelligent agencies are properly checked, their sincerities will clearly emerge unhindered" .

Dr Shurhuzelie believed that the role of her "intelligent agencies" here were not to break process but to report "actual facts" to New Delhi.

"I stand for one and am saying that they (intelligent agencies) are not doing it," he stated.

And as long as they continued working in the same fashion, situation would be fluid as ever before, the Minister cautioned urging New Delhi to oversee these areas so as to translate their "sincerities" into a "reality" .

Informing that he was still not aware of the contents of the ongoing talks, Dr Shurhozelie disclosed that they had also not asked the parties concerned for the contents either.

"Because we are not interfering in the process as our role is a facilitator," he added.

"We want to be sincere but unfortunately, the people fail to understand our sincerity and taking our sincerity as our weakness," the Minister explained.

"If they don't want us to interfere, we have not comment," Dr Shurhozelie said.

"But if they ask our comment, we are ready." He also said looking at the current stage of the political negotiations between the conflicting parties; it showed that "They are also not clear in their mind how to go" .

"It appears that New Delhi is also finding difficulty now," he stated.
Rajkhowa visits Merapani, to raise border issue in talks TNN
GUWAHATI: Weeks before the first round of discussions between pro-talks Ulfa leaders and the Centre over the outfitas charter of demands, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa on Wednesday visited Merapani, which is at the centre of ongoing border tension between the state and Nagaland.
Rajkhowa, who went alone to the troubled area, was refused entry by the CRPF into the disputed a˜seed farma of the Nagaland government, which is a patch of corridor that runs into the state territory. Following instructions from the Supreme Court, this seed farm is under the supervision of the neural force, CRPF.
As I was denied free movement on my own land. I was asked by the CRPF men to get written permission from the Nagaland magistrate to enter the seed farm. It is unfortunate that the people of Assam are treated this way on their own land,a? Rajkhowa said.
The Ulfa leader then addressed a gathering of the local people and ensured them that he would raise this border issue in New Delhi when the outfit sits for talks with the government.
Rajkhowa also strongly criticized the NSCN(IM) for its demand for a greater Nagaland from areas carved out of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. asWe are not opposed to the NSCN(IM)as Nagalim concept but we will not allow them to create it with Assamas land,a? he assured the people at Merpani.
The spokesman of the Rajkhowa-led Ulfa faction, Mrinal Hazarika, told TOI, asThe chairman spent the day at Merapani today and he discussed the border problem with the local people. This is important since the solution to the border disputes is one our demands.a?
Rajkhowa will be leading the pro-talk delegation in the first round of talks in New Delhi on October 23 with the Centre and the state government after the outfit submitted its charter of demands on August 5. One of the key demands highlighted in the charter is asethnic issues and problems and constitutional restructuring, including settlement of border disputes and removal of encroachment.a? Ulfa vice-chairman and a member of the Ulfa pro-talks faction, Pradeep Gogoi, too is likely to visit Merpani on Thursday and hold discussions with the people.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ongoing border tension at Merapani has been brought to the notice of the Centre and it has taken a serious note of the tension. He urged the people living in the border areas to maintain peace and harmony, the CMas office said.
ULFA to address Assam-Nagaland border conflict with centre Times of Assam

The chairman of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has declared that the outfit would strongly put up the matter of the border conflict between Assam and Nagaland in its next round of talks with the Union Government of India. The next rounds of lateral talks are going to start from November 5. He stated that the ongoing issue at Merapani at Assam-Nagaland border is a serious threat due to encroachers from Nagas into Assam soil and that they would take up the matter with the Government of India strongly, for a quick resolution.
The ULFA chairman, currently on bail to facilitate the lateral talks between the outfit and the centre stated that they would do “anything to protect the identity of the indigenous people of Assam’ and even threatened to resort to take up arms once again, if the situation demands. However he also stated that the state governments have to show good interest to solve the issue, which is currently not done.
Mentionable that Arabinda Rajkhowa had visited the sensitive Assam-Nagaland boundary on October 12 and interacted with local people, taking stock of the situation in the area. He had also revealed that he had been to the area several times earlier and recounted the days when he and his cadres had come to extend protection to the people during the 1985 June attack in the same location by Naga forces which killed over 100 policemen and civilians.
The visit and statements of the ULFA chairman is seen symbolic and holds importance as the pro-talk ULFA leaders had met the leadership of NSCN (IM) last month in the NSCN headquarters to foster better ties between Assam and Nagaland. The NSCN (IM) is being often accused to have collaborated with the Naga Stated Armed Forces in encroaching land in Assam. It would be interesting for the people to watch how ULFA leaders, who were trained by the NSCN themselves takes up the matter with the Naga rebels in solving the long dispute.
GPRN/NSCN appeals for restraint Nagaland Post

GPRN/NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) has called on both NSCN (I-M) and Zeliangrong Tiger Force (ZTF) to exercise maturity and restraint in the greater interest of the Nagas. In a press statement, GPRN/NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) said that clashes “will not serve the purpose of the Naga people” and it is time for the general “Naga public in Tamenglong district to be proactive and encourage warring groups to avoid escalation of violence.”

The statement said that report of the ambush and killing of NSCN (I-M) members by ZTF Friday came as a rude shock to all peace loving Nagas. “GPRN/NSCN had hoped that Nagas everywhere had come to some sort of understanding owing to peace initiatives at different levels,” it further added.

According to GPRN/NSCN (Khole-Kitovi), the recent reconciliation process among the Nagas is not confined to a particular region nor does it imply or empower non-signatories to indulge in acts of violence. It advised that all Nagas in the region should respect the reconciliation process as it is the only road to political salvation.

“Emotional integration among the Nagas precedes physical integration and such violent activities only devalue the hope of a better future,” the press note said.
End of journey? - Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial

Tribute to (Late) MLA of Phungyar Assembly Constituency Wungnaoshang Keishing on 09 October 2011 :: Pix by Bullu Raj - Poknapham
Initially starting his career as a social worker, Wungaoshing Keishing headed various civil society organizations but seemed to have found his real calling in politics.

A cursory glance at Wungaoshing's political career spanning more than three decades reveals that he started from the ranks gradually inching his way up.

Joining the Indian National Congress in 1978, he became a member of the Phungyar Block Development Committee in 1986 and remained so till 1989.

He rapidly rose in the Congress hierarchy going on to become the Vice President of the Manipur Congress Youth Congress Committee from 1995, a post which he continued to hold till 1998. In the same year Wungaoshing Keishing became the General Secretary of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee till 2002.

Wungaoshing Keishing entered electoral politics with a bang, contesting on a Manipur State Congress Party ticket, he defeated, much against the grain, one of the most seasoned politician and former chief minister Rishang Keishing.

He went to hold various ministerial posts and also headed the Committee on Public Grievances/petition during his first term as a member of the State Legislative Assembly. He also returned successfully to the 9th Manipur State Assembly, this time as an Independent candidate supported by the United Naga Council.

Though Wungaoshing Keishing subscribed to the ideology of integration of the Nagas and was even a part of the Nagas under one administrative unit campaign as well as the severance of ties with the Manipur government move initiated by the UNC, his ties with the apex Naga body soured beyond repair shortly afterwards.

This happened when he raised the issue raising the Phungyar sub division into a full-fledged district. To the Naga bodies like the UNC and also to NSCN-IM, this is nothing less then treason.

They saw in this campaign of Wungaoshing Keishing a ploy to weaken the Naga movement for integration and consolidation under one administrative unit.

This narrative of Nagas people being divided artificially by arbitrary administrative boundaries of various states under the Indian Constitution is pitted against the narrative of territorial integrity of Manipur dating back 2000 years.

In such a contestation, both the parties would not like to present any chink to the other side and Wungnaoshing was doing just that. Though Wungnaoshing Keishing justified his demand for a full fledged district of Phungyar on the ground of bringing about development of that area which has borne the brunt of neglect over the years for various reason, including the remoteness and lack of connectivity of the region.

Many persons from Phungyar assembly constituency, as he put it, had died without getting a glimpse of Ukhrul headquarters.

But this did not cut any ice with the Naga bodies, and the NSCN-IM charged Wunaoshing Keishing of being a tool of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh's anti-Naga political game, of compromising the "rights of the Naga people and supporting the Kukis and the Meiteis who are attempting to divide Naga homeland by creating Sadar Hills District".

It took the 'transgressions' of Wunaoshing Keishing so gravely that it made an abortive attempt on his life on April 15 of this year while he was returning to Imphal after attending a HIV/AIDS awareness convention at Riha village.

Even on the day of his death, a press statement issued by the NSCN-IM warned that Wungnaoshing's mortal remains will not be allowed to be buried in 'Nagalim'.

It eventually revoked this decision following appeals from various Naga organizations as also admission of mistakes by the family of Wungnaoshing as per a statement made available to the press.

With it, the curtain came down on the short but eventful life of Wungnaoshing Keishing.

But is this the end of the story or will the campaign for a separate district of Phungyar initiated by Wungnaoshing Keishing rear its head again some time in future or will it get subsumed under the greater Naga narrative?

We will have to wait and see.
The story behind apple revolution in Nagaland PTI
KOHIMA: Three apple saplings gifted to a Naga village guard in the Saramati mountain range in Nagaland by an Assam Rifles soldier back in 1980 have triggered an apple revolution in the area bordering Myanmar.
Hundreds of Naga villagers are now engaged in the cultivation of the fruit on a mass scale, although they are yet to reap commercial gains from the produce in the absence of transportation.
The story began in the late 70s when armed conflicts between Naga insurgents and security forces were at their peak, prompting the Assam Rifles to erect a check post at Thanamir village nestled in the Saramati range.
During this time a government-appointed village guard from Thanamir had befriended a Nepali soldier belonging to the Assam Rifles posted at the check post.
The soldier gifted him the saplings in 1980 which the villager planted in the backyard of his house.
The village guard taught himself to multiply the apple plants through root cutting and distributed them to his fellow villagers.
As the fruits grew in most of the households of the village, the Thalami apples started to spread to other villages around the Saramati range due to its suitable climate where average temperature ranges between two to 20 degrees celsius.
Visiting government officials found the first sapling to be still standing there at Thanamir village - a full grown tree now.
Aasu to launch stir against Naga encroachment TNN
JORHAT: The All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) on Saturday said it has decided to launch a massive agitation in Golaghat in protest against the government's inaction to prevent unabated encroachment by Nagas in the Merapani area of the district.
Aasu's district unit adviser and central executive member Manuara Hussain said, "We have decided to start a massive agitation in Golaghat to protest against the district administration, as well as the state government's failure, to check illegal encroachment by the Nagas along the border. Despite repeated demands from various organizations and people living in the border areas to ensure security to lives and property of people, the government is yet to take any step so far."
He added that the government even failed to protect the territory of the state over the past few decades even after witnessing encroachment by the Nagas. "This has happened only because of the government's indifference towards the issue. As a result, law and order has deteriorated over the years," he said.
Pointing out absence of border magistrates, the Aasu leader said this was a glaring example of the government's apathy towards the issue. "Three out of four posts of border magistrates in Golaghat district are vacant for the last several years. The only person who has been engaged to carry out the job has not been appointed on a permanent basis. We fail to understand as to why the government was not filling up the posts, especially at a time when border disputes between Assam and Nagaland are taking a serious turn," he added.
The Aasu leader also criticized the role of Nagaland government on the issue.
"It is very unfortunate that the Nagaland government has been backing the encroachers to occupy Assam land and patronized to set up police camps and taxi stand on our land by taking advantage of our government's indifference," he said.
The Nagaland government has allegedly set up police camps and a taxi stand at Merapani in the past few days to occupy more land along the border. The district administration of Golaghat has asked the Assam home department, Nagaland government and the neutral force to initiate necessary steps.