Muivah warns Delhi on Khaplang - It could be China or Myanmar using rival group next, feels NSCN leader NISHIT DHOLABHAI
Muivah warns Delhi on Khaplang - It could be China or Myanmar using rival group next, feels NSCN leader NISHIT DHOLABHAI The telegraph
Muivah: Alerting Delhi
New Delhi, Oct. 30: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has warned the Centre that helping its rival group would mean that it is playing with fire in a region which is closer to Southeast Asia than India.In an interview to The Telegraph, NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said if the NSCN (Khaplang) can be used by Indian intelligence agencies, it could very well be used by China, the US or Myanmar. NSCN (K)’s elusive leader S.S. Khaplang resides in Myanmar. Intelligence agencies have been helping NSCN (K) not only with arms and ammunition but also giving them money through the state government, Muivah said.
The NSCN, formed in 1980 after the failure of the Shillong Accord of 1975, split into the Khaplang and Isak-Muivah groups in 1988. Since then, the two factions have been fighting continuously. This infighting is going on only because Indian intelligence is helping one particular section, Muivah alleged. The septuagenarian rebel leader, who steered clear of the media ever since he arrived in India last December, harped on how geopolitics of the Northeast makes it closer to China and Southeast Asia and that is precisely why the government should be careful. Significantly, the utterances come when the Centre is hardselling its Look East policy in the region’s eight states. Muivah said during his talks with the Centre last month, he reminded them of a conference in Colombo during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister where every nation was against India. “Everyone was with China.”
Following a public outburst against the NSCN (K) in August 2003 when its leaders had to escape Mokokchung town in Nagaland, the outfit had allegedly lost a lot of cash. The Centre even “compensated” Khaplang, Muivah claimed, saying he had evidence of this. “That money was compensated through Nagaland by the government of India. How many crores, we do not know, but the transaction was done in Calcutta.”
This is the first time that the outfit has directly indicted the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government for helping the rival group. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio usually sides with the NSCN (I-M). Asked about the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled to be held sometime in February, Muivah said his group would help those who support him.
Assam caught in pact trap - Nagaland ‘stalls’ border outpost A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, Oct. 30: A reminder from Nagaland about an agreement they signed three-and-a-half decades ago seems to have given Assam cold feet about setting up an extra police outpost along the disputed inter-state boundary in Sivasagar district.
The Tarun Gogoi’s decision to set up the border outpost and shift the one at Singibill to a “more strategic location” was taken in the heat of the moment — after two persons died and several were wounded during an attack by a Naga mob in Geleki on July 5.
The Singibill outpost was to have been relocated to Fishingpani and Sonapur was chosen as the site for the new one. Although residents of Geleki and its nearby villages had long been demanding an additional border police outpost in the area, the police and the political establishment decided to set up one only after the July incident.
But with the Nagaland government now pointing out that an additional outpost along the disputed border would be a violation of the 1972 agreement to maintain status quo, Geleki could well remain vulnerable to more incursions from across the boundary.
Sources said Nagaland also told Assam that sanctioning any new establishment in the disputed zone would be tantamount to contempt of court. The Supreme Court has set up a boundary commission to demarcate the boundary between the states.
An official of the department for development of border areas, however, said there was no basis in Nagaland’s contention. He said Geleki was not part of the “disputed belt” and Assam was not obliged to inform its neighbour about any decision taken to protect its territory.
“Only sectors A, B, C and D in Golaghat district are in the disputed belt and manned by a neutral force, the CRPF. Sectors E and F are outside the disputed area and the Assam government has every right to create a new outpost there,” the official added. He criticised the Gogoi government’s response to Nagaland’s warning not to set up an outpost at Sonapur. “Instead of making a case for standing by its decision, the government put its plan to set up another border outpost and shift one in cold storage.”
The official said an additional outpost was essential to maintain law and order in the area. There are 49 border police outposts along the boundary with Nagaland at present. Apart from shelving its plan to strengthen security along the trouble-prone boundary, the Gogoi government has also been delaying the implementation of a border area development plan, announced after the incident in Geleki earlier in the year. The government had even earmarked Rs 11 crore for the project. Each border outpost was to have received Rs 2 lakh from this corpus and four motorcycles. The rest of the money was meant for the development of roads and other infrastructure. A team of activists from Assam and Nagaland conducted a “confidence-building exercise” involving residents of villages on either side of the border at Merapani, the flashpoint of the dispute between the neighbours, last week. Located in Golaghat district, Merapani came into focus when nearly 100 people died in police firing from either side in 1985.
Naga cease-fire in crisis: Muivah The Morung Express
New Delhi, October 29 (ANI): National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (IM) General Secreatry,Thuingaleng Muivah, has accepted for the first time, that ten years of Indo-Naga peace talks are in crisis. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Muivah said the Central Government should not have any “miscalculation about our patience”, and added that if it can’t maintain “sincerity” in talks, it’s no use “talking”.
To a specific question whether the peace talks are at a precarious stage, he replied “I think you are right…it’s not easy to expect better chances, it's better to try”. He said in the eventuality of a breakdown in talks, the NSCN (IM) cadres would be forced to go back into the jungles. Blaming the government for testing the patience of the Naga people, the veteran insurgent leader questioned the "guts" of the Indian leadership to solve the six-decade-old problem.
“We have given our commitment, and for the last ten years, we have been talking and talking, how are they behaving. They are giving arms and ammunition to the K group and K is fighting with us. Where is the sincerity and where is the standard…you can’t ask us to behave with the kind of policy. We will be compelled .We won’t accept any imposition on us. Naturally, we will have to decide what is best for us. If the jungle is better, we have to go. You can’t afford to be seen to be bearing with the Indian insult. We have had enough patience…cease-fire is in crisis,” said an agitated Muivah.
Muivah justified the sudden disappearance of NSCN (IM) Chairman Isac Chisi Swu from India on the ground of the Naga leader’s frustration with the pace and progress of talks. “We have to know that when the Government of India is not respecting at all. They are just holding talks in name to buy time, you can’t be expected to be happy with that kind of policy. If the Indian Government does not care about any one, Chairman Isac Chisi Swu should not be expected to care for India,” Muivah said.
He also revealed his plan to go to Europe if there is no progress in the talks. Yes, if nothing positive happens, I need to go off for sometime, and whenever necessary, we can come back,” the Naga leader reasoned. Narrating the “bold steps” taken and the flexibility shown by the NSCN(IM) in the last ten years since the beginning of the cease-fire to solve the Naga problem, Muivah said the Nagas don’t want to be a threat to India .
He talked about a “federation which will bind India and Nagaland in such a way that neither side is a detriment to the interest of the other.
"That means almost becoming one,” he added.
According to Muivah, among the bold steps taken by his outfit to solve the vexed problems were giving India the right to defend Nagalim, complete right of the central government to determine foreign policy vis-a-vis Nagalim, the Nagas’ willingness to accept Indian currency, the Nagas right to preserve their identity and the Nagas acceptance of dual citizenship-citizen of India and Nagalim both.
“The relationship should be of a special type - a federation of India and Nagalim to be bound. So, problems of India’s apprehensions are all solved. This is what we want and what we can do. But instead of appreciating us, they ( Government) have their own calculations that the Nagas would come around…that would be a terrible mistake in their calculations”, warned Muivah.
During the hour-long interview, Muivah appeared quite bitter with the Indian Government's response on Nagalim or what is more popularly known as “Greater Nagaland”.
He said that by dividing Naga contiguous areas into different states, the government has heaped insult on the peace loving people of Nagaland.
This is for the first time NSCN(IM) leader has spoken so openly on the status of the Naga talks.
The two sides recently concluded talks on the ninth of this month. A glimmer of hope, however, seems to be there with both parties deciding to form committees to discuss core issues. The discussion in the committees will decide the contour of the next round of talks.
When the ceasefire was extended for the indefinite period on July 31, it was hailed as a landmark development.In the previous round of talks held abroad and in New Delhi, the NSCN-IM had submitted a charter of demands to the Government that included the creation of a separate Constitution for Nagaland, a "new and unique" relationship with New Delhi and unification of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
But these three states have rejected the demand. In the Bangkok talks held last year, both sides had agreed on a broad framework to define a relationship that could end Naga insurgency.
There was, however, confusion over the parameters of the broad framework.
Muivah arrived in India in December last year, while Swu came to the country in the first week of January. Since then, they have been in Nagaland for discussions with NSCN-IM cadres and civil society and political leaders on the group's key demands.
2 NSCN (K) ‘officials’ joins rival The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 30 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) United Sangtam Region today welcomed the NSCN (K) officials from United Sangtam Region who defected from the faction and joined the rival recently. A press note issued by the CAO of the NSCN (IM) United Sangtam Region, AS Jinger, informed that the two NSCN (K) defectors, namely Moses Sangtam, PRO NSCN (K) and Tsipikyü Sangtam, Rajupeyu, were welcomed by the USR, NSCN (IM) as ‘authourised by the reconciliation team, GPRN of the Eastern Nagalim’.
Jinger claimed that the two NSCN (K) officials have come forward and joined the NSCN (IM), after responding to “the call of reconciliation and unification initiated by the reconciliation team, GPRN of the Eastern Region”. The statement disclosed that the two defectors brought with them one .22 pistol with live ammunition and a hard top Maruti Gypsy.
In this regard, Jinger said that the United Sangtam Region lauds the two former NSCN (K) officials for joining the ‘mainstream’ and at the same time encouraged the people of the region to come forward ‘for the truth’. The USR later forwarded the defectors to the NSCN (IM) higher authourity for further approval, the release added.
Naga organizations affirm UN declaration The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 29 (MExN): The Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) along with several Naga frontal organisations organised an intensive two-day consultation in the backdrop of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on 27-28 October. The gathering reaffirmed the stand taken by the Nagas in 1993 on the occasion of the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. “We have been part of the painful struggle of the indigenous peoples and the declaration is indeed a victory for the indigenous peoples across the globe. We thank all those who have contributed selflessly in crafting the declaration”, informed a press note issued by Phamhring Sengul Convenor, NPMHR (South). As enshrined in the declaration, the Naga bodies identified the most crucial issues that are confronting the Nagas today.
The gathering took serious note of the anti-people development projects such as mega dams and other packages that are in the pipeline as part of the ‘look east policy’.
On the Look East Policy, it pointed out that this was only part of GoI’s game-plan compromising its democratic stand on the issue of restoration of democracy in Myanmar/Burma as well as to use it as a tool to suppress the democratic aspirations of the peoples of the North-east. Secondly, such policies have serious repercussions on environment and economic sustainability of the region, the press note stated The consultation also took serious note of the problem of land alienation and loss of resources, and other issues such as Joint Forest Management (JFM) and the new proposed definition of forest that is against the principle of free, prior and informed consent of the concerned people. Hence, the consultation has mooted to form a committee on development alternatives to look into these issues at the earliest possible date. The NPMHR South reiterated its firm position to support the Affiliation of School to NBSE, which is the aspiration of the people to decide their own future. It further shared the same perspective with the ANSAM, which is for a “Common syllabus for unified vision”.
Hope: A Decisive Element Editorial The Morung Express
Some have said that Hope is what threatens power; Hope is what drives the revolution forward. If hope is a decisive element that defines the line between status quo and transformation, between oppression and justice, then surely hope is what the powers that be would like to erase. But hope is what the voices of change should nurture and strengthen. The anti-thesis of hope is fear. There is a constant battle between hope and fear, and eventually, the one that succeed defines the existential fate of how a nation conducts its affairs. Just as it is the struggle between memory and forgetting, it is the struggle between hope and fear. While hope is life-giving, fear paralyzes life. Hope is abstract and dwells on the bigger picture, while Fear is immediate and very concrete, it is very real and has the capacity to rip families apart, destroy resources and obstruct the growth of a nation. It is the intent of the powers that be to ebb away any form of hope and create conditions that instill fear in people’s minds. Often it seeks to create fear that leads to hate and creation of the image of an enemy, and its dehumanization.
Nagas are at a time when they have to search deep within themselves and collectively decide what to choose – hope or fear. There is no doubt that fear as gripped the Naga heart and mind which has done more damage than good. It has further fragmented the society, sown seeds of suspicion and division, replaced critical thinking with complacency and most of all; it has induced a situation where people are no longer living. Consequently, people are becoming indifferent to the question of the common good, and have increasingly accepted the status quo as the norm.
For Nagas to grow as a nation, they require leaders that can bring out the spirit of hope and confidence. The common Naga person needs to be assured of hope and to know that any form of change that comes should represent hope and life. It requires a vision, a vision that embraces a dignified future, a vision that represents hope. The Naga youths are looking and yearning for a direction that will enable an understanding in which hope overcomes fear and assumes a critical position of determination. The future stands on soft and precarious ground. Nagas cannot wait for hope to come to them, they must choose hope and commit themselves to attaining it through their actions. A starting point is saying NO to fear and YES to hope. The steps toward hope must be an active, energetic and organized process. Hope is the most basic need for Nagas to be transformative. For too long, Nagas have continuously lived in the past and it has reached a point of saturation. To move forward the present generation is dependent on hope, a hope that is transformative and visionary. Naga youths of today must not be the generation that breaks faith with life. It must take responsibility of building upon an understanding of the shared humanity and passing on hope to the next generation. Never before has the peril of Naga survival been put to such test. An open-ended process of critically engaging in constructive sharing is required. Nagas must choose hope if they are to survive, flourish and realize their full potential as dignified human beings. Hope is the decisive element. Hopefully, Nagas will choose Hope!
Many Peoples – One Struggle Gam A. Shimray Perspective the Morung Express
The 13th of September 2007 will be remembered as one of the most historic day for the indigenous peoples as well as for all those who believe in justice and democratic values, especially those who have suffered and walked the painful path along with the indigenous peoples. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is indeed a remarkable achievement and a victory for those who have struggled inspiringly and worked selflessly in crafting the declaration. This is a major victory for the Nagas as well for we have been a part of this process. There are many among the Nagas who have worked uncompromisingly and this goes back much before the Nagas celebrated the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People in 1993. It was during this occasion that the Naga public declared themselves as one of the indigenous peoples of the world. It is these processes that have brought about this historic declaration. It is the fruits of the efforts our elders and others that we have come this far. And I believe that if we continue the struggle with the same commitment and perseverance, the Declaration will materialize into reality.
However, what prompts me to write is not just about these words of celebration. What I think is more important is to go back to the roots or basics if we have become confused or doubtful of what we have once embarked upon. With the people that I have interacted with and what I have read in the papers tells me that we are unsure of whether we should take ownership of the Declaration or not. It is in this context that I would like to address few issues that relate to the current confusion. The primary question that has arisen is whether Nagas are indigenous peoples or not (within some quarters). Hence, who are the indigenous peoples? Secondly, what do we mean by self-determination and what does the declaration imply? These are basic and fundamental questions that one is required to be sufficiently clear of to be able to take an informed decision. This is the basis on which one can continue to walk the path of a common struggle with a common vision for a dignified existence. In this article, I shall address the question of who the indigenous peoples are.
To begin with, the UN does not have an official definition on indigenous peoples. What exist now are all working definitions. Within the UN system, the debate on indigenous peoples began with the realization of their unique situation and condition. In 1971, the UN commissioned a study and Dr. Jose R Marinez Cobo came up with the following definition:
Indigenous peoples are composed of the existing descendants of the peoples who inhabited the present territory of the country, wholly or partially, at the time when persons of a different culture arrived there from some other means, more in conformity with their particular social, economic and cultural customs and traditions than with the institutions of the country of which now they form apart, under a state structure which incorporates mainly the national, social and cultural characteristics of other segments of the population which are predominant” [UN Document No.E/CN4/Sub/2/L566, June 29, 1972]. This definition covered mainly the indigenous peoples of North America, South America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand but left out other regions, especially Asia as the study was not comprehensive enough. This definition implied that indigenous peoples were subjugated through conquest or colonization and continues to be ruled even today by nation states. It was in this light that the indigenous peoples of Asia joined hands with other struggling indigenous peoples of the world in the 80s. Ever since, the scope and the process have become as wide and as inclusive. Subsequently, Erica-Irene Daes, Chairperson of the UN working Group on Indigenous Populations suggested a number of variations, designating certain peoples as indigenous peoples. According to her:
although they have not suffered conquest or colonization, isolated or marginal groups existing in the country should also be regarded as covered by the notion of indigenous populations for the following reasons:
• they are descendants of groups which were in the territory at the time when other groups of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived there;
• precisely because of their isolation from other segments of the country’s population they have almost preserved intact the customs and traditions of their ancestors which are similar to those characterized as indigenous;
• they are, even if only formally, placed under a state structure which incorporates national, social and cultural characteristics alien to them”. [UN Document No.E/CN4/Sub.2/1983/21 Add 8, para 379] Dr. Martinez Cobo himself added new elements to his earlier working definition as part of the process of drafting the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples. He wrote in his report in 1986: Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those, which having historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They now form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems”.
These later working definitions eventually covered the historical reality, circumstances and situation of the indigenous peoples in Asia, including that of the Nagas. The key features and significance of these definitions are as follows:
• it does not seek to define the history of suffering and situation of the indigenous peoples as being uniform in nature;
• it neither implies that indigenous peoples are the same. Rather, indigenous peoples means ‘diversity of peoples within a group as a whole’;
• the definition does not imply that indigenous peoples are only those who have suffered conquest or cololisation. This is not a qualification but could be a factor among many others;
• in general terms, indigenous peoples are the politically disavantaged inhabitants or are those in a politically non-dominant position of a present day country (with or without their consent) who have lived in the area before it became a nation-state. Their problems occur not only from the process of conquest or colonization but also from state formation arising from decolonization;
• it clearly implies that it can be resolved only through multiplicities of political solutions basing on the uniqueness, merit and the ground reality of each peoples.
The other important document to look at is the International Labour Organisation Convention 169 (commnonly refered to as ILO 169). In essence, their definition echoes a similar understanding and meaning of the above definitions. But the Convention inserted a qualification to the concept of self-determination.
Whether the indigenous peoples are numerical minority (as could be the case in some parts of India or other countries) or majority (such as the Nagas) is not only insignificant but it is neither a criteria for defining the indigenous peoples. Also, a numerical minority does not necessarily occupy a non-dominant position (politically). Indigenous peoples have always maintained that it is their basic right to define themselves, and hence, self-identification is the most important criteria [here, self-identification does not refer to individuals or organisations but as a group/community/people]. Secondly, it has been made very clear that indigenous peoples’ issues has to be dealt with as ‘peoples’ issue’ and not as a ‘minority issue’. The declaration is the result of this assertion that indigenous peoples are peoples and not populations or people or a minority. The debate over these terminologies and concepts were considered to be very crucial during the development of the declaration, however, I do not have the space to get into those arguments here. But it may be important to keep in mind that there is a separate UN Declaration on Minorities. Also in more than 50 years, the UN has never agreed on a definition of what constitutes a minority. Further, the argument that ‘original inhabitants’ are indigenous peoples is not sufficient. It is only one of the criteria among several others. It is for this reason that all nationalities do not qualify to be called ‘indigenous’. The Kashmiries for instance does not come under the category of ‘indigenous peoples’ nor do the Burmans (who are fighting for restoration of democracy in Myanmar/Burma) even though the Karens, Kachins, Chins, etc. do. The above definitions, variations and criteria are all important in understanding the issue and question of who the indigenous peoples are, even though they are not conclusive. However, what is more important for us to keep in mind is the political nature of the issue. In this sense, indigenous peoples are those who share a common vision in their struggle (in a broad sense) based on their worldviews. This is what makes their struggle unique. It has the potential of redefining the world history. The recent UN declaration, I believe, is part of that process. But it has to be by the people and only by the people. Hence, it is necessary for us to understand Gam A. Shimray is the Indigenous Advisor (Asia Region) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Research Fellow at Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Holy Ghost College, Dublin, Ireland.
Governor urges govt systems to deal with corrupt practices Nagaland Page
Dimapur, October 30: Governor of Nagaland K Sankaranarayanan urged government system to create mechanisms and systems to deal with the corrupt and their corrupt practices more effectively.
On the occasion of Vigilance Awareness Week from October 31 to November 4, the Governor said that corruption can be checked by timely and effective action of the State Vigilance Commission with active support from all government departments.
Stating that corruption has been identified to be one of the basic impediments to growth and development, he said community and society should also play a proactive role in giving due recognition to the honest and condemnation for those following corrupt practices.
"It should be realized that all acts of corruption other than the most common monetary forms, whether they include favouritism, nepotism or any other isms must be shunned and condemned," he state in a message on the occasion. He further stated that Legislations like Right to Information can help government servants to resist undue pressures from all corners, besides members of the civil society can use the Right to Information Act more effectively so that corrupt practices are curtailed. In this regard, he said media also has a very important role to play.
On the occasion of Vigilance Awareness Week, he called upon all to ensure that the basic ethics and values are inculcated in our day to day working and all are together able to create a better system of working and contribute to a better society.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the State Vigilance Commission has been acting as the conscience of the people through their relentless fight against corruption.
He said their successes in combating various forms of corruption have created positive awareness in the mind of the public that crime does not pay in the long run. I
He expressed confidence that the Vigilance Week would create adequate awareness among the public and public servants about the degenerative effects of corrupt practices and the cost it entails to society.
"There is a need to deal with the problem in all seriousness so that the benefits of development are enjoyed by all citizens in a fair and just manner," he stated. (Page News Service)
KRA frees PHED officials By Our Staff Reporter The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 30: Cautioning all Governmment Departments to pay equal attention to both the hill and the valley at the time of taking up developmental works, the information and publicity in-charge of the proscribed outfit KRA TH Misao has assured that the outfit would not hold captive any Government officials in future. Talking to mediapersons somewhere in Sadar Hills area just before releasing the three abducted officials of the Public Health Engineering Department after many days in the custody of the outfit last night, TH Misao clarified that the three officials were taken into custody and held captives not for ransom. During the course of interrogating the officials, it has been confirmed that the officials of PHED had not only transacted lakhs of rupees illegally in connivance with former finance secretary Imphal and National Highway-39 division of KRA DT Haokip, but there is also no balanced development, Misao claimed. Appealing to the people not to be misled about the outfit in connection with the abducting of the three officials, Misao said it was only to teach a lesson for proper development and transaction of money in future.
Informing that the officials were being released since the investigation instituted against them has been over, Misao said the officials have been treated properly and their needs taken care of while in their custody. ‘It is a happy occasion to free them safe and sound. Since we have stayed together for so long, they have even taught us their language’, Misao quipped. Expressing hope that the Government officials would not neglect their duties any more, Misao assured that KRA would not take hostage any officials in future. However, in accordance to the directives given by the higher authorities, the outfit would continue to monitor the functioning of the Government Departments in connection with implementation of developmental programmes, he added.
Many UGs arrested from all over the State Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 30: Troops of 57 Mountain Division located at Moirang Sub-Division of Bishnupur district apprehended one PLA and two PREPAK cadres during an operation in the intervening nights of October 29 and 30.
According to a statement issued by PRO PIB Defence Wing, Imphal based on specific intelligence, the troops of 6 JAT located at Gothel immediately swung into action at around 11 pm of October 29.
Self-styled corporal Vik-ram Singh (22) s/o Hiran Singh of Thamnapkpi of PLA was apprehended first at around midnight. Subsequent questioning, how- ever, led to apprehension of the self styled corporal Iro-ng Bangte (21) s/o Nimai Singh of Oksanbungte village and self-styled major Moltung Basanta (37) of Khulepi village of PREPAK between 1 am and 2 am of October 30, the PRO said, adding all the three UGs have been handed over to Moirang PS today.
On the other hand, PRO IGAR (S) informed that troops of 18 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) established mobile vehicle checking post in general area of Chamol in Chandel district and apprehended one KYKL cadre yesterday.
The apprehended individual has been identified as SS Pvt Karam Abung alias Philips (No. 3082) s/o Karam Megha of Phoijing Nambol, Bishnupur district. The individual has been handed over to Imphal West Police station today, the PRO said in a statement.
Meanwhile, SP of Imphal East District L Kailun , in a statement, informed that a team of Commandos of Imphal East conducted cordon and search operation at Sawombung Thongkhong and arrested one UNLF activist later identified as Senjam Kanta Meetei alias Semsen (32) s/o S Tomba of Keibi Mayai Leikai but presently staying at Sawombu- ng, from the house of his wife identified as Thok-chom Ganga Devi of Saw- ombung Thongkhong at about 6.30 pm yesterday. In the follow up action, one more UNLF activist identified as Salam Ibohal Meetei alias Rocky (40) s/o late S Ibotombi of Phukhao Litanpokpi was arrested from his own house at the instance of Senjam Kanta Meetei alias Semsen at abo-ut 8.30 pm of the same day. In another statement, SP of Thoubal District Th Radheshyam informed that Commandos of Thoubal district arrested two cadres of the proscribed undergro-und organisation PREPAK from Thoubal Ningombam Luxmi Bazar at around 7 am on October 28. Identifying the arrested cadres as Ningthoujam Yai-skul Singh (49) s/o N Mani Singh of Thoubal Achouba and Leimapokpam Dilip Singh (30) s/o L Kulla Singh of Thoubal Ningombam, the SP further informed that the two arrested persons disclosed that they were working under SS Lt Shidaba, organisation secretary PREPAK under the command of Rockey Singh, SS district commander of Thoubal. During the course of interrogation, Ningthoujam Yaiskul further disclosed that he was working as collector of the outfit in Thou- bal District. He also disclos-ed that with the assistance of Leimapokpam Dilip, he had collected money from the employees of ZEO, Thoubal regularly and he had also collected 30 bags of rice every month from the mid-day meal scheme for the said organisation. Yaiskul is a Govt employee and working as head master in-charge of Nepra Company Jr High School, Thoubal, the SP added.
Gambari to arrive in Burma Saturday, AFP says Mizzima News
October 31, 2007 – Sources say United Nations Special Adviser to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is set to arrive in Burma on Saturday, November 3rd. According to AFP, diplomats have reported that the Secretary General's Envoy will be in Burma until the 8th of the month, visiting the senior leadership of the military junta in Naypyidaw on Sunday.
The reports are thus far unconfirmed by the United Nations. Gambari is currently in Singapore, having completed a tour of regional capitals and promoting the Secretary General's approach to Burma, which is centered on engaging all relevant parties in an ongoing dialogue.
Recently, Gambari has made public statements to the effect that it is important to offer incentives for change to the military junta, and not merely for the international community to pursue punitive measures. He last made a visit to Burma on September 30th.
Frans on 10.31.07 @ 06:25 PM CST [link]