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04/16/2012: "Public rally for Shimray’s release in Ukhrul town Nagaland Post Pamreiso Shimray"

Public rally for Shimray’s release in Ukhrul town Nagaland Post Pamreiso Shimray

UKHRUL The public campaign for unconditional release of Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, head of NSCN (IM)’s foreign affairs, is gaining momentum with a peaceful mass rally held today in Ukhrul town with high turnout of people including school children.

On Monday the streets in Ukhrul town witnessed thousands of rallyists marching from both ends of the town and converged at Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) ground, where a public meeting was convened and a memorandum to be submitted to the India’s Prime Minister was read out to the audience.

The peace rally, which was organised by the Committee for Release of Ningkhan Shimray (CRNS) and participated by 14 other villages, kick started at 11am from Pakshi ground and the other from Nuyainao’s Kharasoom junction simultaneously.

Will the mass rally held today be another just a whisper in the air? The Naga civil societies have been launching a series of campaign ever since the Naga Women Union, Manipur initiated the movement last year. There has been no response from the Government of India (GoI) so far. This statement was clearly substantiated by the CRNS.

Leaders of various Tangkhul frontal organisations addressed the gathering and delivered expletives against the GoI. In every speech the GoI was blamed for pursuing “double standard” and adopting “evil design” in handling the Naga issue. “Indian government should not betray us...must release Anthony Shimray,” said Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long president A.S. Vaomi.

Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) vice president K. Shimtharla termed the “long detention” of Anthony as “unjustified” and called for unconditional release of the Naga leader.

In his expletive speech, the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) president Yangmi Khapai hurled accusations that “the GoI is not sincere at all” and vowed to protest against its “evil design.”

TKS president questioned “How can the GoI levies charges against peace talks member?”
He further challenged that if the GoI continue with the “detention ... we better break the ceasefire and declared was against India.”

Tangkhul Youth Council (TYC) president Ningkhan Shangh vowed to take the ‘Free Anthony Campaign’ to the limit and threatened that the Naga organisational leaders will take a march to Delhi.

“We will march through the mainland of India and hold a sit-in protest at India’s House of Parliament,” he asserted.

Today’s memo to India’s PM was endorsed by Tangkhul civil societies and signed by chiefs of 14 villages including Tushar—the birthplace of Ningkhan Shimray. “...with confidence and conviction, we believe your honourable office will understand our point and definitely act for safe and unconditional release of Ningkhan Shimray in the interest of peace with Naga people...” read the representation addressed to India’s PM Dr. Manmahon Singh.

In a symbolic show of protest, the Tangkhul womenfolk were all clad in black-coloured kashan (phanek) and turned out in greater number than men folk. All along the streets, the rallyists shout slogans like—we want peace; we demand uncoditional release of Ningkhan Anthony Shimray; we stand for Naga integrity; restore humna rights; is Tihar jail for peace talk member?

The government offices and business establishments remained downed their shutters for over three hours, while educational institutes remained opened on Monday
Nagalim: NSCN (I-M) Presses Center To Resolve Naga Issue Nagaland Post

NSCN (I-M) leaders has been praised for progress on the peace talks with the central government.
NSCN (I-M) leadership is believed to have conveyed the state Congress leaders to press the central government for expediting the ongoing talks over the long protracted “Indo-Naga political issue.”
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) members led by its president S.I Jamir met NSCN (I-M) chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Th. Muivah Wednesday in New Delhi and deliberated on the progress of talks between the Centre and NSCN (I-M).
Speaking to this correspondent, S.I Jamir said that the NSCN (I-M) leadership conveyed to the Congress leaders that the ongoing talks were being held at a positive note and efforts were on by both the entities to resolve the issue at the earliest.
According to Jamir, the team met NSCN (I-M) leadership before meeting Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and was appraised by the leaders on the progress of talks.
Later, when the delegation met the Prime Minister, the Congress leaders conveyed the issues briefed upon by the NSCN (I-M) leaders to the PM, who in turn told the NPCC delegation that the UPA government is sincere and resolute towards addressing the Naga issue.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Tokheho Yepthomi, who was also part of the delegation, informed this correspondent that the Prime Minister told them that “things are moving well” and that his government was “committed” towards resolving the Naga issue at the earliest.
Tokheho further informed that the Prime Minister assured the team that he will ensure that the core-committee continues to examine and monitor the progress of talks so that an early settlement is arrived at. NPCC delegation also met home minister P. Chidambaram and discussed issues pertaining to law and order in Nagaland.
Jamir said the state government was always in the habit of shying away from any law and order problem created out of factional clashes saying it (state government) is not a party to the Centre-Naga underground parleys.
However, Chidambaram is understood to have conveyed to the NPCC delegation that the state government is equally responsible for any breakdown in law and order in any state.
CLP leader Tokheho said that Chidambaram placed the onus on the state government for rampant extortions, kidnappings and killings stating that these issues are a “State subject.”
On the socio-economic front, the prime minister is learnt to have told the delegation that enough money is being accorded to the state and there should be development in all the spheres. The delegation however told the prime minister that mere submission of “utilization certificates” by various departments under the state government was just a “cover-up” of misutilization.
Therefore the Congress leaders urged the prime minister to send proper investigation bodies and agencies to the State to oversee the functioning of various departments in Nagaland, Tokheho added.
NPCC delegation also met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister A.K Antony.
Both Jamir and Tokheho admitted that their visit to New Delhi also touched on the matters relating to party affairs ahead of the Assembly election schedule next year.
Sikhs laud Jang Group’s peace efforts NANKANA SAHIB City News
Say ‘Aman Ki Asha’ brings Indo-Pak people close together: Sikh yatrees praised the Jang Group for launching peace efforts between Pakistan and India and said “Aman Ki Asha” is a strong bridge to bring both nations close together.
Talking to The News at Gurdwara Janamasthan here on Sunday, World Muslim-Sikh Federation chairman Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa said the US was the biggest terrorist of the world and spreading terror across the world.
“India should give freedom to Nagaland, Manipur, Asam, Khokhaland, Khalistan and Kashmir and then it should claim to be the biggest democratic country of the world. America and India are falsely levelling charges on Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
Khalistan Movement is still alive and it will continue till freedom. Sikh will take revenge from India for massacring Sikhs and violating sanctity of Golden Temple,” the Sikh leader said.
He said India should cancel death sentence for Balvint Singh Rajuana as he had already served jail punishment for more than seventeen years. Talking to The News, president of Sri Guru Singh Saba Sardar Swarn Singh Gill lauded peace efforts of Jang Group of Pakistan and said “Aman Ki Asha” was an initiative for peace.
He demanded that ten thousand yatrees should be allowed to visit their worship places in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Indian Sikh Yatrees visited Gurdwara Sacha Soda Farooqabad on Sunday.
They performed their religious rituals including ‘Matha Taki’. A heavy contingent of police was along with them to avoid any untoward incident.
Nagas decry hydel project OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, April 15: Naga organisations have expressed concern over the construction of a hydel project on the Chindwin, which they fear will affect thousands of Nagas in Myanmar.
Naga Hoho, the apex organisation of the Nagas, apprehends violation of human rights as construction of the project would force Nagas out of their lands at Tamanthi village in Sagaing region of the Naga self-administered autonomous region of Mynamar. The dam is about 35km from the Naga-inhabited Homalin town in Myanmar.
The dam is being constructed by NHPC, under an agreement signed between Myanmar and India in 2004 during the visit of senior general Than Shwe to New Delhi.
The feasibility report for the project was prepared by Colenco Power Engineering Ltd of Switzerland and the hydel project is expected to generate 1200MW power, of which 80 per cent will be sent to Delhi and the remaining used in Monywa copper mine in Sagaing division.
According to the Environmental Impact Assessment report, the dam’s height would be 80 metres and cover more than 3,000 square km, displacing over 1,00,000 people.
Hoho general secretary Chuba Ozukum said the project would affect 67 villages and displace over 1,00,000 Nagas.
“We will discuss the issue in detail in our federal assembly to be held at Kohima next week. As an apex body, it is our duty to safeguard the interest of our people,” he said.
Several Naga organisations in Myanmar have sought support from their Indian counterparts like the Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights and Naga Mothers’ Association to stop the construction of the dam.
According to the Nagas in Myanmar, the construction which began in 2007 has been kept in abeyance and since then 2,400 people from Tazone and Laywayyan villages have been displaced without proper compensation.
The Naga organisations fear the project would create health, education, unemployment, environmental and social problems. They allege that this was a deliberate human rights’ violation as the agreement between the two countries was signed without their consent.
They alleged that Nagas are still being used as porters and bonded labourers by the junta-backed government.
Naga Hoho is likely to ask India and Myanmar for adequate compensation to the affected people and respect for their rights in its meeting next week.
Assam concerned over Maoists' presence, illegal coal trading PTI

New Delhi | Expressing concern over Maoists' presence in his state, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that illegal coal trading in border areas of a number of northeastern states is fast becoming a major source of funding for terror outfits.
Gogoi, speaking at a conference of Chief Ministers on internal security, cautioned that Maoists' presence in Assam has the potential to grow into a major threat in the state where militancy related incidents have come down drastically last year.
The chief minister attributed change in Bangladesh's policy of not allowing sanctuary to militants from the region and better coordination between central and state security forces for the drop in militant violence.
However, he said funds coming from illegal coal trading have found their way to militant outfits and favoured better policing in the region to contain militancy.
"The illegal coal trade originating in bordering area of neighbouring states transits through Assam and is fast becoming a major source of funding for different militant outfits," he said, adding Dimapur in Nagaland is particular emerging as a centre for illegal arms trade and shelter for criminals and militants.
Identifying various challenges of internal security in Assam, he said inflow of fake currency into the state was a matter of concern which needes to be tackled with better border policing.
"The fake currency is being pushed into the country through the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Nepal borders. Hence, special focus is kept on districts along these international borders," he said, adding 514 cases relating to fake currency have been registered in the state in the last six years.
Gogoi said most of these fake notes are of a "very high quality" which cannot be detected by the common man and sometimes even by the banks.
The chief minister also highlighted the problem of proliferation of dubious Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) which have "misappropriated huge sums of money raised from the public.
"In last one year, 107 cases involving 62 companies have been detected leading to arrest of 99 persons, recovery of Rs 65 lakh in cash, attachment of immovable properties worth Rs16 crores and freezing of 70 bank accounts both within and outside state," Gogoi said.
Holding that better vigil on international border will result in improvement in security situation in the state, he said significant work on border fencing was nearing completion but sought floodlighting work to be completed speedily.
He said riverine areas of international border with Bangladesh are still a cause for concern as the proposal to have floating Border Outposts (BOP) could not be made operational. Assam has a 267-km border with Bangladesh and 269 km with Bhutan. In the past, both these countries have been used as sanctuaries by militant outfits.
Noting that public mood has been in favor of peace and development in Assam, Gogoi also complemented the Centre for helping the state in enhancing its capabilities to counter the militants. He said Assam Police is now second to none in counter-militancy skills.
"The central government has played a crucial role in helping to modernise police forces. In the past 10 years 85 per cent of funds allotted have been utilised to construct police stations, achieve better mobility, acquire modern weaponry and ensure effective communication," Gogoi said. Seeking extension of the MPF (Modernisation of Police Force) scheme to the entire 12th plan period, Gogoi said time has come to stress on 'policing with a human face'.
Gogoi also favoured increased recruitment of youths from the state in central security Forces so that militant outfits cannot lure the unemployed young people. For improving internal security, Gogoi also sought separating law-and-order from investigation wing of police, adding a major expansion in terms of manpower for police was needed.
Stating that better intelligence was key for effective policing, he proposed setting up of a Regional Training Centre for Intelligence and Security in Assam to cater to needs of the region.

India setting up missile bases in North East: ULFA (AGENCIES) GUWAHATI,

In a startling revelation, the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has claimed that the Government of Indian was secretly setting up nuclear missile bases in North East India, especially in Assam “in lieu of its growing conflict with China”.

According to a Times of Assam report Monday ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah stated that the Government of India has already completed surveys for setting up bases for BRAHMOS cruise missile (Indo-Russian Technology) in Nagaland and Nuclear missile AKASH in Assam respectively.

In a press release sent to Times of Assam, the ULFA chief stated that Assam was sandwiched between the Sino-India conflicts and maintained that Assam has never had any conflict with China over the centuries.

Reminding that China had walked back without hurting Assam in the Sino-India war of 1962 after the Indian Army had fled, the elusive ULFA commander stated that this time it was unlikely for Assam to be saved if a war happens. Naturally the Chinese targets would be the nuclear bases in Assam due to which the state would be completely destroyed, Paresh Baruah stated.

He also said that though India-China conflict was over Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian authorities did not set up bases in Arunachal but in Assam for which millions of innocent people might have to pay the price.

It may be mentioned that ULFA had earlier appealed to the people to protest against the Indian Air Forces taking over huge areas of lands to set up Air bases in the state.

Abductions, extortions in NE worry PM Kalyan Barooah Assam tribune
NEW DELHI Admitting that the situation in some of the North Eastern States continues to remain complex, Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh red flagging ‘pilferage of development funds’ by the militants, observed that much remains to be done to eliminate extortions and kidnappings.
In what should come as a warning to the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States for adopting a complacent attitude towards curbing illegal acts like extortions and kidnappings, the Prime Minister left none of the attending Chief Ministers of the region in doubt that he was unhappy with the state of affairs. “The situation in some of our North Eastern States has, however, remained complex. There was some improvement in terms of incidents of violence, but there is no question that much remains to be done to restore calm and eliminate extortion, kidnapping and other crimes by militant or extremist groups on the pretext of ethnic identity,” Dr Singh said.
“The pilferage of development funds by militant groups is hurting our efforts to improve the lives of the people of the region. Inter-factional clashes, such as those in Tirap and Changlang, are another source of insecurity,” the Prime Minister cautioned.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the States of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and even Arunachal Pradesh have gained notoriety for forcible collection of funds and abductions by militant and even ex-militant groups.
“The answers to these problems lie in strengthening the law and order capabilities of the States concerned and in reasserting and rebuilding normal democratic political and development processes. More proactive state police forces, reducing reliance on central armed police forces would be a useful step forward, the Prime Minister suggested.
“The Centre will continue to work with the States of the region to make this possible. I would hope that the implementation of infrastructure projects in the North-East would create conditions for the return of normalcy.
Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram said Assam has emerged as the new theatre of Maoist activity. There are also inputs about the links of CPI (Maoist) with insurgent groups in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The decline in the overall number of casualties among civilians and security forces in Left Wing Extremists (LWE)-affected districts may give a false sense of assurance, but that is not the true picture. Two States are very badly affected, four States are affected and three States are within the arc of influence of the CPI (Maoist).
Referring to the situation in Assam he said that political processes of negotiation and dialogue are underway with several insurgent and ethnic separatist groups in the North-East. These dialogues, which are being undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs in close consultation with the states concerned, are making steady headway.
“In the North Eastern States, nearly all major groups are in talks with the Government. I am, therefore, confident that 2012 will see further advancement in bringing peace and development to these States, Chidambaram said.
NE crucial in India-Myanmar relations Imphal Free Press By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI, A brainstorming session on Indo-Myanmar economic relationships was held Thursday at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi.
The session was organized with an objective to chart out India’s plan of action in the light of the recent political and policy developments in Myanmar by Delhi based Research and Information System of the Developing Countries, a think-tank of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India.
The seventeen member group included among others economist Amar Yumnam of Manipur University.
Others who deliberated extensively on the issue included Shyam Saran, former Ambassador to Myanmar, V. S. Sheshadri, present Ambassador, Biswajit Dhar, Director General of RIS, chief functionaries of Indian corporate houses now undertaking projects in Myanmar and ministry officials. The two Ambassadors spoke on connectivity, involvement of the Indian corporate sector and the huge interest being taken by different countries from all over the world in the wake of the recent policy and political changes in the resource rich country.
Economist Amar Yumnam stressed the need for the great potential of Myanmar for picking up the speed of growth sooner than later to levels of the Asian tigers.
He also spoke of the ASEAN strategies and the need for appreciating the new character of global economic relationships going much beyond merchandise and involving even cultural components.
He also spoke of a more comprehensive approach than just exports and imports. He emphasised the imperatives of attending to the scenario of North East and Bangladesh while designing policies for dovetailing to the larger scenario of Asia.
This view was also supported by later speakers from the corporate houses and Commerce ministry. The representatives of the corporate houses spoke of the need and urgency of the Government of India to be more pro-active and integrated in her approach.
The meeting emphasised further interactions between government and corporate houses and need for integrated approach by both the sides.
Burma getting ready to boom: ADB Mizzima News
(Mizzima) – With the imminent lifting of major sanctions on Burma, its economy is poised for rapid growth, the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.

However, the challenges remain “tremendous” in one of the poorest economies in the world, Craig Steffensen, the bank’s director for Myanmar and Thailand, told The Associated Press on Thursday. “We’re trying to unwind a knotted ball of yarn if you will, and it’s going to take a long time to untangle.”

Even so, he said the capability for private sector growth is such that “we haven’t seen anywhere else for a long time.”

ADB figures indicate the economy has already been significantly bolstered by a 26 percent jump in tourist arrivals and a 15 percent rise in gas exports that alone are worth $3 billion in annual revenue, he said.

The bank said it forecasts GDP growth in the country will rise from 5.5 percent in 2011 to 6 percent in 2012, and at least 6.3 percent the following year.

Steffensen said those estimates may prove conservative and could rise “substantially” if sanctions are eased and the government continues on its path of reform.