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05/27/2012: "Highest level delegations’ arrive in Chiang Mai Nagalim Times"

Highest level delegations’ arrive in Chiang Mai Nagalim Times

A highest level delegations from GPRN/NSCN led by chairman “Gen. (Retd.)” Khole Konyak and “ato kilonser” N. Kitovi Zhimomi, and the FGN/NNC led by president “Brig. (Retd.)” Singnya and vice president Zhopra Vero, have arrived in Chiang Mai for the 14th meeting of the Journey of Common Hope, Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) informed Friday.

In a statement, FNR said representatives joined members of the forum opening devotions on May 25 as a prelude to several days of talks.

“Gen. Khole and Brig. Singnya enquired of the FNR Convener, Dr Wati Aier, when their old comrades, Isak Swu and Th. Muivah, would be arriving. They wait in hope,” said the FNR.

Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) reaffirms resolution Nagalim times

Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) Tuensang held a meeting on May 23 to re-affirm the December 18, 2007 resolution at ENPO headquarters, Tuensang.

The meeting was attended by all tribal presidents, federating unit president; central executive members from ENPO while Naga national political groups of Eastern Nagaland was represented be ENNWA, NSCN/GPRN (K) ENNWA, GPRN/NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) ENNWU, NSCN/GPRN (I-M), NNC (FGN) of the six tribes of Eastern Nagaland and NNC (Non-accordist) of the six regions of ENPO jurisdiction.

Reiterating the resolution taken on December 18, 2007, the house resolved to support unification of all Nagas regardless of territorial demarcation, that there should be no bloodshed, threat, intimidation or any form of violence within ENPO jurisdiction inclusive of Naga territories of Myanmar.

The house also resolved that there would be further consultative meeting among the groups i.e, ENPO, ENNWA, ENNWU and NNC/FGN (Non- accordist) under ENPO jurisdiction in regard to Naga unification and other issues. Further, ENPO expressed gratitude to Eastern Naga national political groups within the ENPO jurisdiction for extending cooperation and showing restrain.

ENPO president P. Pongom and general secretary N.T Thamlong Phom said it would continue to seek cooperation for all concern in the interest of peace and unity. It may be mentioned that ENPO earlier on November 13, 2009 held the first re-affirmation meeting at Kiphire. NPN

24 hours hill dists bandh called today Nagalim Times

IMPHAL, May 25: The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Students’ Union, Regional Campus Manipur has announced a bandh in all the hill districts of the State including the National Highways with effect from 5am of May 26 to 5 pm of May 27.

According to a statement issued by the assistant information secretary of IGNTUSU, Mahaishang Shimray, the bandh has been called as IGNTU, Amarkantak authority has failed to respond positively to the demand for cancellation of the ongoing recruitment drive for various posts for IGNTU, RCM and interview for which is scheduled for May 27.

The students’ union pointed out that the recruitment drive of the University’s authority is against the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the University authority and the students’ body on October 24, 2011. According to the MoU, it has been agreed that no recruitment would be done for the RCM of the university unless the reservation policy is settled.

Stating that it would stick by the MoU, the statement maintained that it would never accept any staff recruited by the authority before settling the reservation issue.

Pledging that the bandh would be enforced strictly, the students’ union also appealed to all concerned districts student bodies, individuals, intellects, and all communities to extend full cooperation to the bandh for the larger interest of the tribal community in the State while adding that IGNTU, Amarkantak would be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the bandh.

Meanwhile, the Manipur University Tribal Union (MUTSU) has endorsed the bandh called by the IGNTUSU, RCM while conveying that MUTSU would fully support and take part in any form of agitations launched by the IGNTUSU-RCM till rightful demands of the tribal students are met in this matter.

Endorsing the bandh called by the IGNTUSU, the Thadou Students’ Association, Chandel district has informed the public to observe the bandh in the interest of the tribal students, according to a statement issued by the students’ body. TSE

UN HRC could recommend India to repeal AFSPA’ Nagalim Times

IMPHAL, May 25: “The 13th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council, HRC examined India's human rights record in the afternoon on May 24”, a press statement of the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN said.

“According to reliable information from the United Nations HQ in Geneva, the repeal of AFSPA 1958 has been put forward as one of the recommendations of the session by Slovakia, with Switzerland and France raising the issue of AFSPA and also making similar recommendations”.

“The Swiss recommendation is also to review AFSPA as per the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (lCCPR)”, it continued.

Further according to the statement, the final report for India will be adopted on May 30 and the preliminary report is to be made available on May 29.

According to the CSCHR delegation presently attending the session in Geneva, the recommendation for repeal of AFSPA is likely to be retained in the final recommendation, it continued.

Other recommendations, which were raised during the review, included call for ratification of the Convention Against Torture (UN CAT), the Convention on Enforced Disappearances (UNCED), protection of Human Rights Defenders, implementation of the recommendations of UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders in her visit to India (2011), Ratification of ILO 169 on Indigenous Peoples (made by Iraq), ratification of the Optional Protocol UNCRC, UNCEDA W, ICCPR, etc. Permanent Representatives of many countries attending the session in Geneva took serious note of the trend of impunity to human rights violations and recommended to take prompt and effective measures to prosecute those involved in such violations (Spain, UK, US), the statement said.

The 19-member high-powered Indian delegation led by Attorney General of India, Goolam E VAHANVATI with Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Women and Children, Planning, etc. made statements in response to the questions from member states, it further continued.

In total, 80 States participated in the discussion: 31 HRC members and 49 observers, the statement concluded. IFP

Forum for Naga Reconciliation to Stop If Groups Remain Uncommitted FNR TME | Northeast Today
The Forum for Naga reconciliation is disheartened that the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) group has decided to abstain from the reconciliation meeting scheduled to be held during the last week of May in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A wearied Forum for Naga Reconciliation today issued a declaration today that if at all the Naga groups are not committed to hammering out their differences then there is no need for the forum to continue but “go back to the Naga people.”
A visibly drained Forum for Naga Reconciliation issued a statement today referring to the refusal of the NSCN (IM) to attend the meeting and reminded that such differences and misunderstandings exactly the reasons why the groups need to stay in relationship through face to face meetings and discussions.
“It was most disheartening to hear only through the media that the NSCN/GPRN (Isak and Muivah) has decided to abstain from attending this meeting. While recognizing the difficulties that have prompted them to take such a step, it is pertinent for FNR to remind all Naga national political groups that it is precisely because of such differences and misunderstandings that they need to stay in relationship through face to face meetings and discussions with each other.” It, the forum declared, has therefore become necessary for the Forum for Naga Reconciliation to publicly state: “If the Naga national political groups are not committed to hammering out their differences on the basis of the resolutions adopted by the Naga people on February 29, 2012 and to finding a lasting peace, the FNR has a moral basis but no practical basis to persist, and the FNR has no option but to go back to the Naga people.” Three weeks after the Naga Reconciliation meeting of February 29, 2012, in Dimapur, the forum said, “Chiang Mai XIII” was held from March 19 to 22, 2012. The NSCN/GPRN (IM), NNC/FGN, and GPRN/NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) agreed that a “highest level meeting of the Naga Leaders be held at the earliest.”
The proposed meeting was to ‘hammer out our (Naga) political differences’ the statement said. “Accordingly, the participants agreed that the venue would be in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the Forum for Naga Reconciliation was requested to prepare all logistical arrangements. For that reason, the meeting was scheduled for the last week of May 2012,” the forum said in its statement. The forum has appealed to all the Naga “political groups” to honor the assurance of their leaders at the highest levels to meet by taking this opportunity to hammer out all differences for the common interest and good of all Naga people. “The FNR assures that this meeting will create the space to constructively address all recent misunderstandings that have been expressed through the media. Making statements from a distance will only widen the gulf, creating more confusion and heightening tensions.” “We are still in Chiang Mai waiting for you. Do not disappoint the Naga people”, the FNR stated.
The journey continues, says FNR Nagalim Times

DIMAPUR, MAY 26 (EMN): Against the backdrop of the absence of the highest leaders of the NSCN/GPRN-IM at the ongoing Chiang Mai 14, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) held a meeting ‘in good spirits’ with the highest leaders of the GPRN/NSCN led by Chairman Gen (Retd) Khole Konyak and General Secretary Kitovi Zhimomi and the NNC/FGN led by President Brig (Retd) Singnya and Vice President Zhopra Vero Saturday, May 26. According to a statement issued by FNR, the leaders of the two political groups present expressed, in no uncertain terms, their regrets over the inability of Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th. Muivah of the NSCN/GPRN to participate in the much awaited moment. However, they are reported to have said, “We missed their presence but we are not discouraged.”

They also ascertained that it will not be, in the words of Kitovi Zhimomi and endorsed by Zhopra Vero, “appropriate in the absence of the NSCN/GPRN to take any decisions affecting the future of the Nagas, which must be deeply rooted in the historical and political rights of the Nagas, as established by the pioneering leaders of the Naga Political movements”. Brig. Singnya reiterated that they “stand by their commitment to reconcile and unite”.

Gen Khole admitted that “we talk big in meetings but when we go home we wash our hands.”
The leaders of the two political groups are also jointly of the view that another meeting of the highest level leaders must be convened. “Another meeting of the highest level leaders must be convened at a mutually convenient location for all the leaders to meet at the earliest possible time,” they are quoted as saying.

FNR said both the governments agreed that “our differences need to be sorted out face to face... without it, all our talks will not bear fruit.” Brig Singnya further stated that “we need to harvest together,” while Kitovi Zhimomi asked, “Reconciliation has been achieved, but where is our (Naga) political will?”

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation, on its part, expressed deep appreciation for the wisdom of the leaders of the two political groups and their understanding of the ground realities. It especially acknowledged Gen Khole and Brig Singnya, who have travelled so far with sheer determination despite their advanced years and frail health.

The FNR statement said all present agreed that if there were no problems or difficulties, there would be no need for reconciliatory initiatives. They expressed that “since we are faced with numerous problems, we are trying to resolve them through collective understanding, for which we have been undertaking this ‘Journey of Common Hope’.” EMN

Govt keen to resolve NE problems in Delhi Nagalim Times

New Delhi , May 26: Union Minister of Human Re- source Development Ka-pil Sibal held a meeting on Tuesday at 4.30 pm in his office chamber with the Commissioner of Delhi Police BK Gupta and other senior officers of Delhi Police along with representa- tives from the North Eastern states regarding the problems being faced by stu- dents and employees from North-Eastern region of India studying/working in Delhi.

The meeting decided to take up various measures to resolve the problems being faced by communities of North Eastern states in Delhi.

The Commissioner of Delhi Police or a senior officer nominated by him, would meet the members of NE community once every quarter.

Delhi Police would appoint nodal officers consis- ting of senior police officials, who have worked in the NE and are sensitive to their culture, to interact with NE students and employees, whose problems have not been solved through the normal course. Contact numbers of such officers will be made available to the members of NE community.

The representatives of NE States would form a formal or an informal body and convey the names, address-es and telephone numbers of such members for interaction with the Delhi Po- lice.

The Commissioner of Delhi Police assured that junior police officers pos-ted in localities having a sizeable NE population would undergo a special sensitization programme with the help of members from NE community as resource persons.

Ministry of Human Resource Development would write to all the universities located in Delhi requesting them to streng-then their student counsel- ling or welfare cells keeping in mind the cultural sensibilities of the North Eastern people.

The Special Secretary of MHRD Ashok Thakur also wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Delhi Police on Friday to take necessary action at the earliest on the decisions taken during the meeting and to forward an action taken report on the same for perusal by the Union Minister of Human Resource Development. TSE
CM proposes air link to Bangkok

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has proposed to the visiting Planning Commission Member Saumitra Choudhury to upgrade Tulihal Airport to international standard and introduce international flights between Imphal, Mandalay, Yangon and Bangkok. Nagalim Times

The Chief Minister and the Planning Commission Member held a meeting this afternoon.

Saumitra Choudhury arrived at Imphal yesterday to make a field inspection of the Imphal-Moreh highway which would constitute an important part of the proposed trans-Asian highway.

The Chief Minister drew attention of the Planning Commissioner Member by highlighting the importance of upgrading Tulihal Airport to international standard and ensure more air connectivity through Imphal so that Manipur can become an important gateway to South East Asia which would ultimately go a long way in realising the objectives of India’s Look East Policy.

Choudhury assured that he would recommend development/repairing of Myanmar’s Kalemyo-Kalewa highway with assistance from the Government of India.

During his proposed visit to Myanmar, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would officially declare introduction of the Imphal-Mandalay bus service as well as the Government of India’s readiness to build/repair 71 bridges that constitute vital links along the Kalemyo-Kalewa highway.

The Planning Commission Member was reportedly satisfied with the improvement of Imphal-Moreh road which he visited by road yesterday.TSE