The Nagas and their Nation By: Dr. Neivetso Venuh,Secretary General, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights,
The Nagas and their Nation
By: Dr. Neivetso Venuh,
Secretary General, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights,
Dated London: 10th December 2007.
The Nagas are indigenous peoples, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman stock with an approximate 4 million in population and live along the tri-junction of Burma (Myanmar), China, and India. From time immemorial, they inhabit the land lying approximately between 92.5 E and 97.5 E longitudes and 23.5 N and 28.5 N latitudes, measuring about 1,20,000 sq. kilometers.
In 1832, Captains Francis Jenkins and R.B. Pemberton entered the Naga country and led numerous “punitive” expeditions against the Nagas for their resistance which led to open confrontation till 1879 when a large area of the then Naga country was occupied and controlled by the then British-India. When the British left India in 1947, the tendered case of the Nagas to be left to them as an independent nation as hitherto enjoyed, was unattended, despite the fact that as early as 1929, the Naga Club submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission stating and requesting that they be excluded from the proposed ‘political reforms’ of British India, which arbitrarily generalized the Nagas as under India. The Naga representation clearly stated that “we should not be thrust to the mercy of the people who could not subjugate us. Leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times when Britishers first found us” was the expressed will of the Nagas.
By 1946, the Naga Resistance movement evolved into the “Naga National Council,” which, therein, federalized all the various Naga tribes. Under this “Council,” the Nagas declared their independence on 14th August, 1947, and a “Plebiscite” was conducted on May 16, 1951, reaffirming our inherent rights as a people in which 99.9 percent voted for an independent Nagalim. The nascent Indian nation responded by proclaiming the Assam Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous Districts) Act, of 1953 upon the Naga country. This was followed by the imposition of the Disturbed Areas Act in 1955. In 1956, India dispatched two Brigades of her military and the Naga country is ever since then under their martial clutch. Later in 1958, the Government of India imposed The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, under which any Non-Commissioned Officer and above are empowered with full legal immunity to “shoot and kill” any Naga on mere suspicion. In the wake of the imposition of these “draconian laws” and murderous homicidal mechanisms, the Nagas have been since then experiencing a “black and senseless period,” to echo the then Prime Minister of India Nehru’s own confession or per se. Under such circumstances, “Nagas were left with no other option but to defend themselves with arms.”
Similarly, the arbitrary geo-political division of Naga homeland into India and Burma draws attention to an instance wherein even the house of the ‘Angh” (Chief) of the Konyak Naga community was divided between India and Burma into two halves. Using colonial policies of divide and rule, the Naga country was further divided into the present states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. In 1964, the Government of India was compelled to enter into a ceasefire agreement with the leaders of the Naga National Council only for India to unilaterally abrogate it in 1972. Later in 1975, the Government of India orchestrated an accord with a few handpicked pro-Indian Nagas and made them sign the infamous Shillong Accord that envisaged enforced mass surrender and acceptance of Indian suzerainty over the Nagas. The post 1975 saw a more resolute and resurgent spirit in the assertion for resistance and defence of the Naga Nation.
Given the nature and the intermittent continuance of the conflict between India and the Nagas for so many years and the various appeasement politics or policies that were rejected by the Nagas, a pragmatic initiative with the view of re-negotiating the fragile and political contentions was mooted as early as the late 1980’s through diplomatic innovations. In 1995 the then Prime Minister of India, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao, met leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Mr. Isaac Chishi Swu and Mr. Th. Muivah in Paris, which, consequently, led to the announcement of a formal political negotiation and facilitation of peace process between the two nations by the succeeding Prime Minister of India, which was informed to the Indian Parliament on 4th March 1995. On 25th July 1997, the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim jointly announced a three months’ cease-fire which come into effect from 1st August 1997 under the following agreed principles:
1. That the talks would be unconditional;
2.. That the talks would be at the highest level, i.e. at the Prime Ministerial level;
3. That the talks would be held in a third neutral country.
Here it may be worth mentioning, that although there has been no definite arrangement from the Indo-Naga political negotiation so far, yet a remarkable departure since the 1997-second Indo-Naga cease-fire is the writ of hope and anticipation amongst the Naga peoples after decades of war. The Nagas have taken the initiative of reaching out to the larger Indian public through a peoples’-to-peoples’ dialogue, wherein in the year 2000, a group of Nagas led by Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), visited New Delhi to share their stories of the struggles with the Indian civil society under the theme “Journey of conscience.” This journey continues both within India and the surrounding neighbours and also within the Naga country in reflection and retrospection. In response to this initiative, a group of Indian civil society consisting of former Parliamentarians, Jurists, Academicians, Writers and Journalists and mass-based social workers visited the Nagas and their land for the first time in the 55 years old Indo-Naga conflict, wherein they themselves admitted that Nagas are not Indians.
In the same spirit, during one of the Indo-Naga Peace talks which was held in Amsterdam at the Netherlands on 11th July 2002, the Government of India in writing – “acknowledged and recognized the unique history and situation of the Nagas.”
Encouraged by this changed attitude and perception of India, the Collective Leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim accepted the invitation of the Government of India to visit New Delhi.. Wide-ranging talks were held, not only with the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Defence Minister, but also with the leaders of all political parties during their visit from 9th January to 24th January 2003.
However till now, after more than 10 years of Ceasefire and political negotiations, and the resoluteness of the Naga leaders to work out a peaceful solution to the more than 60 years of political conflict, the Government of India continues to drag its feet for obvious reasons. It is in this context, that we are appealing the international community and more importantly, today the British Government through distinguished personalities like you present here, to positively live up to the expectations of the Naga people in general, who, even after all these years of sufferings, still look up to Great Britain to have its say to the problem – which; “India apparently claim only to have inherited from the Britishers”.
KUKNALIM
Frans on 12.21.07 @ 01:49 PM CST [link]
Scars of a devastation, revisited Documentary - CHANDAN SARMAH The Telegraph
Scars of a devastation, revisited Documentary - CHANDAN SARMAH The Telegraph
A still from the documentary, Distant Rumblings
It was 1939. A funny-moustachioed general in Germany invaded Poland and triggered the deadliest war the world had known till then. It took another four years for the rumbling of that aggression to reach India’s Northeast.
Thousands of miles from Europe, the hills and vales that had seen bows and arrows suddenly became the storehouse of powerful bombs and the drone of warplanes became commonplace.
Sixty years after the great catastrophe, it is difficult to gauge why director Bani Prakash Das suddenly got interested in rummaging through the remnants of World War II in the Northeast. But his newest interest has given the war archives one of the finest documentary attempts on the effects of the war in the region — Distant Rumblings.
Hidden in the documentary’s name is the crux of the story — an attempt to catch the reverberations that hold the key to a ghastly past. Produced by Rongsenkala and co-produced by Gopendu Sarma under the banner of Aka Communication, the film not only delves into the past but also uncannily reminds one of the necessity of peace in the strife-torn region.
Distant Rumblings happens to be one of the five films from the region to earn the honour of being selected for the Mumbai International Film Festival, 2008.
The film begins with idyllic shots of Nagaland and Manipur and then jolts the viewer by swiftly moving to Kohima as the final battlefield. The editing of World War II footage is matchless. The “action” is followed by a haunting search for war wreckage lying in the jungles of Kohima, Tuensung, Chingmei, Noklak, Pongsha in Nagaland and Imphal, Ukhrul, Shanshek, Moirang, Bishenpur, Moreh and Tiddim Road in Manipur.
For researchers on World War wreckage in the Northeast, Distant Rumblings can easily be recommended as a ready reckoner. But what stays with the viewer long after the credits begin to roll is an acute sense of melancholy. Emotional recall of war horror by elderly local residents and brief interviews of European tourists visiting the war memorial in Kohima ensure a gut-wrenching effect. The film is all of 22 minutes, but is easily one of the most powerful documentations of blood-stained history.
Director Das, known for his From the Dawn-Lit Mountains — the Nishis, has done the research for Distant Rumblings himself. Filmmaker Pradeep Gogoi’s thought-provoking script and articulate background narration by Swapnanil Barua add to the piquant melancholy. But the documentary would not have come even close to its brilliance had it not been for the innovative camerawork by Pradip Sengupta and Sachin Das and the flawless editing by Manas Adhikary.
The background music by National Award-winning music director Sher Choudhury is haunting, as is the sound design by Akash Barman.
BJP’s charge against Congress in Nagaland Special Correspondent The Hindu
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has charged the Congress with playing the toppling game in Nagaland just months before the Assembly polls.
In a statement here on Thursday, party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy accused the Congress of masterminding defections and desertions from the ruling coalition, of which the BJP is a part.
He charged the Congress with trying to do this just a couple of months before elections were due as it had a “sinister design” to misuse the government machinery. The Congress had “defied the floor test” and the “proven majority” of the State government. If the design was to somehow create instability and impose President’s Rule, the BJP would strongly oppose it and would use all avenues open to it under the Constitution to prevent it, Mr. Rudy said.
KIN lauds unification move- Nagaland Post
Since the historic declaration of unification between the NSCN (K) and NSCN (IM) at Hovishe village under Niuland sub division on November 23, 2007, the issue never missed front-page coverage in local dailies since then, yet there was negligence response from any quarter fro sometime. In fact, many organizations and civil societies opted silence over the issue. Slowly, diverse opinions had now flooded which is all worth- reading.
The short, yet significant declaration contains a line "with a view to end bloodshed and fratricidal killings" is most opt and impressive. The Kuki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) lauded the bold and timely initiative undertaken by the Western Sumi Hoho and Sumi Hoho for such a venture to end bloodshed and killings among brethrens in different camps who were in the service of Naga cause. Let’s take it as a steping stone not a stopping stone. The follow-up initiative under the aegis of ‘All Nagaland GBs and DBs join forum of the December 7’ 07, bringing different factions in a round table, resulting in the signing of "cease fire agreement" for six months, is equally laudable and most appreciable. Instead of finding the loopholes and pointing criticisms, the time has come that we all should join hands together, ponder over the issues being confronted by us and bury the past hatched for our better tomorrow.
Asat Doungel President Kuki Inpi Nagaland
Unification process ‘inclusive of all Nagas’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, December 20 (MExN): The NSCN (unification) has clarified to all Nagas that the ongoing unification process was not “exclusive but inclusive of all Nagas irrespective of arbitrary geographical boundaries” and that the unification process was not “intended to undermine the ongoing Indo-Naga political talks but to accelerate the pace and to strengthen the process”. “The present unification move aims to unify all the Nagas under one platform since disunity and disintegration of the Nagas has all along been a major stumbling block to the settlement of Naga political issue”, the NSCN (U) stated.
In a clarification issued by its Publicity Cell, the ‘unified’ NSCN stated that the “views and statements conveyed by the NSCN (K), NSCN (IM) or NNC/FGN did not reflect the views or policies of the unification team/camp and its process” and that its efforts at unification was being pursued with utmost transparency and sincerity encompassing all sections of the Nagas. It further stated that the unification initiative was being undertaken following the desire and clarion call of the NGOs, civil societies, Churches etc and “in the interest of the common welfare, peace, reconciliation and integration of the Nagas, so that solution to the protracted Naga political issue could be brought about”.
People want democratic government not PR: Rio Morung Express News
Kohima | Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who met several central leaders campaigning to save his government, besides, attending the NEC and NDC meeting, returned home with his morale boosted and said that people are not looking for President Rule or army rule but a democratic government. “Only selfish people are demanding for PR”, Rio said, expressing hope that the Central government or AICC will not take a decision which will antagonize the people at this juncture.
“What we did is right, I am sure the authority in Delhi will understand our position”, Rio said adding that the Congress-led UPA government should not take a wrong political decision. It is unfortunate that the Congress tried to take power through the backdoor, Rio said, asserting that the newly formed NPA was an illegal alliance because it included even NPF MLAs and independents.
Although Rio did not disclose details of his discussion with the central leaders including the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, and the response he received from the latter, Rio claimed that the action of the Speaker during December 13 no-confidence motion was correct. Rio declared that DAN was still intact, in spite of the newly formed NPA claiming that his government had been reduced to a minority. “All the paper has been send to the Union Home Minister. What we did is 100% in regard to legality and anti-defection law”, Rio said. Rio on his part after getting to the state capital went straight to Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor K Sankaranarayanan. “I went to pay my respect to the Governor. He is a man of experience and integrity”, Rio said. The chief minister also thanked the people of Kohima and NPF workers for their solidarity and warm welcome accorded to him.
Rio also clarified that he actually went to Delhi to attend the NEC and NDC meeting, but since the Congress led NPA were meeting various central leaders to campaign for President’s Rule, he himself met central leaders including Home Minister and apprised them of the DAN government’s position.
Besides, Rio also met several legal luminaries, who in turn spoke and wrote to the President of India, AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister supporting the DAN government. Meanwhile, the 31 NPA members who also went to Delhi to appraise the central leaders of the political development are still campaigning in Delhi. They are likely to return home by December 22-23.
BJP cautions UPA against PR Dimapur, December 20 (MExN): With the Union Cabinet expected to meet soon over the recent political development in Nagaland, the Central BJP today issued a caution pointing out that as part of the coalition government in Nagaland, it will leave no stone unturned to oppose any unconstitutional attempt by the UPA government to impose President’s Rule and claimed that the people of Nagaland who have been watching these developments are all set to give a befitting reply “to the battered Congress in the ensuing election”.
BJP Spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy in a press statement described the recent move of the Congress in Nagaland as “an abortive and clandestine attempt” to dislodge the DAN coalition by “usurping all democratic norms and principles”. Rudy also alleged that defections and resignations are being mustered by the local Congress leadership at the behest of the UPA government at the Centre and reminded that even after “burning their fingers in Bihar and Jharkhand and the resultant harsh indictment by the highest court”, the Congress stood undeterred in indulging in the usual “government toppling game”.
The BJP Spokesperson claimed that the DAN government had successfully completed its term and with ensuing elections in February 2008 and that choosing to destabilize the DAN government on the eve of elections only reflected the sinister design to take over and misuse the official machinery “for purported electoral gains”.
“The contemptuous ganging up of Congressmen defying the floor test where the majority has been proven and thereafter rushing to Delhi is clearly proof of their insatiable desire to grab power”, the BJP stated.
The BJP also charged that the policy of the UPA government has already put the entire Northeast in “virtual political and social turmoil” including the Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh, spate of ULFA killings in Assam, rampant infiltration on the borders, strained ceasefire dialogues in Nagaland and now “striking the roots of democracy by attempting to dislodge the Rio led DAN government”.
Process on to disqualify 2 MLAs Kohima, December 20 (MExN): The two NPF MLAs, Tokheho and T Tali, who voted against the DAN government during the December 13 no confidence motion, are both likely to face disqualification under anti-defection law. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that the process and has been initiated against the duo. “Process is on. Notice has been served to them”, Rio added.
Rio warns against central rule Nagarealm.com
Guwahati, DEC20 [TI] : Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio today warned that any attempt to impose central rule in the state would derail the ongoing Naga peace process. “Any attempt to dislodge a democratically-elected government will have serious ramifications on the ongoing peace process,” he told reporters here this morning on his way to Kohima from Delhi.
Rio said in the event of imposition of central rule, the Nagas would seriously doubt the integrity of the Centre in upholding constitutional principles. Any abuse of Article 356, he added, would be struck down by the courts and also bring disrepute to the office of the President and the governor. The warning assumes significance against the backdrop of the fluid political situation in the state. There has been a spate of resignations from the ruling coalition and the Congress had moved a no-trust motion on December 13. Rio alleged that the defectors did not have the courage to face polls and wanted to capture power through manipulation. He challenged the Opposition to seek people’s mandate instead of gaining power through the backdoor. He also urged Assam to firmly tackle the illegal immigrants problems
NSCN-IM concerned over AIDS epidemic Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Dec 20: Expressing deep resentment against the State Government for its failure to utilize the fund released by the Union Government for control of AIDS epidemic fairly and properly till date, the GPRN/NSCN (IM) Zeliangrong Region has accused the State Government of robbing the backward people of Tamenglong district.
The outfit also took serious note of the alleged misuse of fund meant for various development programmes and non-implementation of welfare schemes in Zeliangrong region.
A statement issued by the NSCN (IM) asserted that out of Rs 10-15 crores released by the Union Government to combat AIDS epidemic in the State, only Rs 6,30,000 was allocated for Tamenglong district.
Stating that the GPRN Zeliangrong Region will not remain a silent spectator any more as far as the welfare and development of the people is concerned, it warned all concerned not to misuse public fund in future but to utilise it properly for the welfare of the people.
Detailing various cases of fund misuse and swindling, the outfit has asked the concerned authority not to release the balance amount of Rs 2.25 crores out of the total amount sanctioned for construction of Tamei-Kunphung road.
Stating that the relevant work is far from complete, the NSCN (IM) Zeliangrong Region warned that the balance should not be released until and unless the work is completed satisfactorily. Defying the warning will result in stern action, it added.
As the fund (Rs 9 crores) for construction of Tousem-Kaiphundai and Tamenglong-Tamei road under SPA/ACA will be reportedly released shortly, the NSCN (IM) appealed to all concerned authorities to implement it in letter and spirit so that the long cherished dreams of the people of the areas are realised.
The outfit further alleged that the rightful people of the Zeliangrong region are not getting their due share with regard to the PMGSY (Bharat Nirman) schemes.
To avoid any fund diversion and misappropriation under any circumstances, the VIth and VIIth phases of this programme will be under strict vigilance of the GPRN Zeliangrong Region, it conveyed.
Maintaining that the two bridges over the Barak river along the Tousem-Tamenglong road and the Tamei-Tening road should be constructed within this season for these two roads are the only lines which connect Tamenglong district with rest of he other North Eastern States, the GPRN observed that any delaying tactics over these works will be a great loss to every one concerned.
It further appealed to all the right thinking people to stand united and fight for development in the service of the nation.PNSD Marks International Human Rights Day at Westminster
Ranjit Singh Srai, Parliamentarians for National Self determination The Panthic Weekly
London, UK - At a packed venue in the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, the cross party group 'Parliamentarians for National Self-Determination' (PNSD) marked International Human Rights Day 2007 by calling for the international community to put human rights at the heart of policy making and to adopt self determination as a key driver to resolve conflicts in a democratic and peaceful manner, in accordance with international law.
The ex-Prime Minister of Kosovo informed the gathering that Kosovo was on an irreversible course to secure independence in the very near future following the failure to agree a settlement with Serbia by the UN's deadline of 10 December 2007. He was given a warm welcome by all and Lord Ahmed, Chair of PNSD wished him and his people well in their dedicated and peaceful struggle for self-determination, adding that he hoped the next time he visited the UK he would be representing a fully independent sovereign state recognised by the international community.
The resolutions passed at the event stressed that respect for human rights is critical to achieving security, dignity and prosperity for all the nations and peoples of the world. Human rights defenders were praised for their courageous efforts and a call was made for the effective punishment of those who have carried out massive violations as a matter of state policy. Speakers presenting the perspective of Kosovo, the Kurds of Turkey, the Nagas, Kashmiris and the Sikhs set out how their peoples have suffered gross violations and been denied fundamental freedoms enshrined in international law and why they now sought international support for a peaceful resolution of those conflicts. Alex Salmond MSP and MP, First Minister of Scotland, in a message to the organisers wished the event success. Given the progress of the Scottish National Party, the successful independence of Montenogro and the imminent creation of an independent Kosovo, it is obvious that the right of self-determination has a key role to play in international affairs in the years ahead and PNSD shall continue to promote that right as a collective human right which offers a unique means of enhancing democratic values.
Bajram Rexhepi, former prime minister of Kosovo, Member of Kosovo's Parliament and Mayor of Mitrovica recalled the barbaric assault on his people by the Yugoslav armed forces which led to NATO's intervention and his own decision to join the Kosovo Liberation Army as a medical doctor. He said that such an open assault on his people had led to Serbia forfeiting any sovereign claim on the territory as the people would never accept that outcome. Independence was, for the Kosovars, an expression of their right of self - determination as well as a natural and lawful outcome which the vast majority of the international community had already come to acknowledge. He said the Kosovo Government would work with those who wanted an orderly transition to independence and, in response to a question, said all necessary measures would be taken to fully protect and enfranchise Serb and other minorities within Kosovo. He thanked the organisers for giving his cause a platform at Westminster from where he hoped the UK Government would not hesitate to recognise the new state his people were about to establish.
Sebahat Tuncel, a recently elected Kurdish Member of the Turkish Parliament from Istanbul spoke of the plight of the Kurds in that country and appealed for international pressure to be put on the Turkish Government to establish a meaningful dialogue with the Kurds, rather than to adopt a military approach which could never solve the Kurdish issue. She pointed out how the Kurds were subjected to gross violations as well as being prevented from using their language, restricted from promoting their culture, disenfranchised by the banning of their political parties and the artificial barriers aimed at stopping their leaders being elected to represent them. As a matter of human rights these violations should themselves be enough for the UK and the EU to intervene but the risk of regional instability raised by continued threats by Turkey to invade northern Iraq to attack Kurdish militant should certainly prompt international action if a humanitarian catastrophe is to be avoided. She emphasised that dialogue was the only lawful and effective means of securing peace. It was pointed out that the Kurds of Turkey have sought self-determination within the current borders of Turkey - self determination may be achieved in many forms provided the will of the people determine the form. PNSD urges both sides to use exclusively peaceful means in taking forward a process to resolve the conflict and urges the international community press home that message. A paper produced by PNSD's Kurdish Advisory Panel entitled ' "The EU, Turkey and the Kurdish Question" was officially launched at the event which sets out the back ground to the conflict, suggests an appropriate EU response and reiterates the call for genuine dialogue.
A Sikh perspective on the conflict between the Sikhs and India was presented by Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon, Managing Editor of the International Journal of Sikh Affairs. He contextualised the Sikh Nation's continuing struggle to secure freedom as the sovereign right of a proud nation based on the right of self determination. The territory of the erstwhile Sikh state had been unlawfully annexed by the British in 1849, unlawfully transferred to India in 1947 and the Sikhs had never accepted the loss of their statehood. Equally, their elected representatives had rejected the Indian constitution which, somewhat incredibly, continues to class the Sikhs as "Hindus" under its notorious Article 25. Punjab's vital water resources continue to be illegally appropriated by adjoining Indian states. The attack on collective Sikh political, religious and cultural rights and the theft of their territory and resources was compounded by the devastating abuses of their individual human rights, especially since 1984 which has left Indian controlled Punjab traumatised. The international community he said must itself punish those who have carried out those abuses as India, whilst claiming to be the biggest democracy the world has known, openly grants immunity to perpetrators of crimes against humanity. Dr Sekhon warned of Indian efforts to re-write history and malign the Sikhs by branding them as the aggressors.
The Naga delegation, which had travelled from the Naga homeland, included a cultural troupe whose superb rendition of freedom songs was warmly received. The cultural distinctiveness and "unique history" of the Naga Nation has been recognised by India itself but the Indo-Naga conflict is no nearer settlement despite ceasefires and formal talks which have continued for some ten years. Mr Rh. Raising of the NSCN referred to the refusal of his people to join the Indian Union or indeed the Union of Burma. His people have resisted unlawful de facto annexation and terrible oppression; they seek peace and an honourable settlement but this has been frustrated by "false promises and assurances" from the Indian establishment whose approach to peace talks appears to amount to no more than a ploy "to buy time in order to bury the peace process under the wrap of time". He called for the UK and the wider international community to step forward and assist the Nagas, who had contributed so valiantly for the cause of freedom in the Allied war efforts in both World Wars. Dr Neivetso, Secretary General of the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights mapped out the history of the Indo-Naga conflict and echoed the call for the international community and especially the UK to "live up to expectations" and intervene to facilitate a just and peaceful outcome. The PNSD Naga Advisory Panel's position paper entitled 'Nagalim' was also officially launched at the event; it will be distributed within the UK parliament and beyond to apprise policy makers of the historic Naga struggle and its current status.
Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur of Tehreek-e-Kashmir made an impassioned plea for the restoration of human rights in Kashmir where his people have been subjected to terrible and sustained abuses by India in order to crush a legitimate struggle for self-determination which the UN itself has endorsed by demanding a plebiscite to determine the will of the people. He demanded that perpetrators of mass violations in Kashmir be held accountable by the civilised powers of the world; if men like Milosovich and Saddam Hussein could be dealt with, why should not the people who carry out the violations in Kashmir? On World Human Rights Day, we must he said ask ourselves these questions. The right to life, not to be subject to torture, raped, imprisoned without charge …..the right of freedom itself - all of these have been denied in Kashmir by a state that seeks to portray itself as a democracy and has aspirations for a permanent UN Security Council seat. He said the people of Kashmir would continue their lawful struggle for self determination and said that they would work with the Sikhs, Nagas and others who had been targeted by similar oppressive tactics in a bid to deny them freedom.
Amrik Singh Sahota, OBE, President of the Council of Khalistan endorsed those sentiments and said that oppressed nations should work shoulder to shoulder to their mutual benefit in the cause of human rights and justice.
Lord Ahmed thanked those who had contributed so constructively to an important reminder - on World Human Rights Day 2007 - of the centrality of human rights in making the world a better place. He pledged that PNSD would continue to promote this core message to the UK Government and beyond.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT PNSD CELEBRATION OF
WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2007
1. PNSD recognises the historic steps taken by the UN and the international community in adopting not only the Universal Declaration of Human Rights back on this day in 1948 but also the subsequent body of international humanitarian law, including the 1966 Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic and Social Rights, both of which put the right of self determination at the forefront of human rights. The primacy of the collective human right of self determination - upon which the protection of all individual human rights ultimately depends has been recognised by the UN itself. International Law offers hope and legitimacy to those nations, many of which are represented here today, who seek peacefully and democratically to determine their own destiny within the community of nations.
2. PNSD calls upon the UK Government and the wider international community to make human rights the centre piece of policy and decision making so that the security, dignity and prosperity of all the nations and peoples of the world is protected and so that civilised values can be translated in to real peace and progress for all of humanity. In particular, aid and trade programmes should be designed to promote those who comply with international humanitarian standards and to isolate those who do not.
3. PNSD congratulates the efforts of human rights defenders across the world whose courage who, often in the face of open threats to their very lives, aim to protect the weak and vulnerable against wanton repression; we salute those who have given their lives in the cause of human rights and justice. We further congratulate Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other NGOs which continue to put human rights at the top of the international agenda.
4. We urge the international community, in the interests of future generations as well the current victims of human rights abuses, to take action to end the immunity offered by various states to those who have carried out massive violations as a matter of state policy. We condemn those violations and see them as an unacceptable threat to international peace and security. If necessary, where the relevant states refuse to act, the international community should take direct action to punish the guilty in accordance with international law.
5. PNSD urges the UN as well as individual states and regional blocks such as the EU to adopt self determination as a key driver to resolve conflicts in a peaceful and democratic manner, in accordance with international law. Current conflicts and disputed territories such as those in Kosovo, Kurdistan, Kashmir, Nagalim, Punjab as well as many others cannot be resolved without the consent of the governed being freely determined and respected. Self determination represents perhaps the only orderly, lawful, peaceful and democratic means of resolving these long standing conflicts and it is incumbent upon the international community to take effective steps to implement that right as a matter of international law. The so called 'war on terror' is not and has never been an excuse to sideline those peoples who have a lawful claims to their national rights under international law and we call on all concerned to look at the underlying causes of conflict in order to take forward a collective desire for peaceful resolution.
Rebel crisis continues in Manipur The Morung Express
Imphal, December 20 (Agencies): Separatist rebel armies continue to keep Manipur under siege, leading to a sense of hopelessness among large sections of the State's 2.3 million people.
Manipur, bordering Myanmar, is the only state in India's restive northeast where none of the frontline separatist groups has entered into a ceasefire with the government as a prelude to the beginning of peace talks.
''People's frustration over continued violence in the State is increasingly getting reflected through plays and literature where the underlying theme is against violence and the quest for peace,'' said Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of Imphal Free Press, a local English daily.
Analysts attribute several reasons for the growth and sustenance of insurgency in Manipur. ''An ineffective civil society initiative towards brokering peace, the locational advantage that the rebels have by way of the area's proximity to Myanmar, and a nexus between the insurgents and politicians are some of the reasons why insurgency is thriving in Manipur,'' said Wasbir Hussain, director of the Guwahati-based Centre for Development and Peace Studies.
Militant groups seem to be involved in violent activities with impunity. On Monday, a day after a landmine blew up a packed passenger bus near Imphal, killing seven passengers and injuring 25 others, a rebel group simply regretted the incident while admitting its fighters had planted the explosive on the road.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement the bomb was planted two days before Sunday's incident to target security personnel. Lily Leima, a spokesman of the rebel group, said 'enemies' picked up two of its cadres who had planted the bomb but did not remove the explosive deliberately to defame the group.
Statements or reasoning like these are what the rebel groups make to justify their violent acts. The bus bombing was the biggest incident in Manipur involving civilians in recent years.
Major groups like the PLA, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) continue to be belligerent, showing no signs of entering a peace mode as some rebel groups did in adjoining Nagaland or Assam states.
The only success the government has achieved is bringing eight Kuki outfits under a cessation of hostility agreement in October 2005. This agreement has been subsequently renewed. However, the Kuki groups are rag-tag formations, if anything, and their entering a truce with the government has not really brought down the level of insurgency-related violence in the state.
The sustained counter-insurgency operations have at best been a deterrent to a more vigorous armed campaign or acts of violence by the rebels. It is time New Delhi came up with a strategy that works in a State where the stringent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been in force for more than two decades now with hardly any visible impact on the rebellions.
Hornbill Fest out without Hornbill
Christmas Festival in with Liquor and Meat Jagdamba Mall The Morung Express
The people of Nagaland have witnessed the humble beginning of Hornbill Festival in 2001 in Kohima Local ground, the venue of which has been changed to Kisama now. The festival has been named after Hornbill bird (Dhanesh Chiriya) which is abundantly referred to in Naga customs and traditions. But this bird which signifies the Naga identity is almost extinct due to mindless killing and due to lack of thick forest-their breeding place. The Naga cultural troupes today use paper feathers and wooden Hornbill in cultural festivals since there is no living Hornbill easily traceable in Nagaland. If a Hornbill sanctuary is developed in the outskirts of Kisama along with all other colorful chirping birds found in Nagaland it will be an added charm to the festival. There are rare beautiful flowers-wild and domestic-found in Nagaland. Again, there are rare and precious medicinal plants still abundantly found in Nagaland. Refer the book – Medicinal Plants in Nagaland, written by S.C. Deorani, Principal Secretary to Govt. of Nagaland, Forest Dept. Kohima. Deorani has done a commendable job by writing this book. But due to rapid deforestation and resultant climate change these rare and precious herbs and shrubs with high medicinal value are slowly and gradually getting extinct forever. The whole world is now reverting back to traditional way of healing and Ayurvedic medicines because of the side effect syndrome of Allopathy. Baba Ramdev Maharaj of Patanjali Yog Mandir (Trust) of Hardwar, Uttarakhand has enlightened the world about the significance of Ayurvedic medicines, traditional healing systems and Yog for healing ailments and to strengthen the immune system, reduce stress and improve balance and posture. Again, the forest of Nagaland is rich in wildlife with variety of animals. I have seen a rodent – very beautiful and lovely, rolled itself like a small ball, sometimes like small wheel with blackish-brown hair at the body, being sold in Naga Bazar, Kohima for 40-50 rupees only.
It would hardly offer 200-250 grams of meat but this rare mammal is killed mercilessly without giving a mind to preserving wildlife in Nagaland. Though hunting of hornbills is banned in Nagaland but villagers kill this extincting bird also and sell it to VIPs for 500-1000 rupees to decorate their drawing rooms. If (i) a well-managed bird-sanctuary attached with a zoological garden for wildlife (ii) a botanical garden for rare and available medicinal plants (iii) flower garden with power-generated fountain show with focus of multi-colour beam of light on fountains are established in Kisama, these will attract the tourists and traders beyond imagination.
The Vrindavan Garden – a flower garden with colourful fountains with music near Banglore (Karnataka) is revenue-earning and tourist-alluring famous spot in Karnataka State. Kisama can also be developed in that way. Lucknow Zoo with its crocodile-rearing project is a tourist attraction of international significance. Why can’t Kisama have something of that kind? Rather, Kisama’s will be more charming because of beauty of hills and greenery with pollution free atmosphere. The indigenous crafts from Nagaland and NE region displayed in sale counters and indigenous fine arts created by local talents presented in befitting manner in Kisama Mela will focus on the indigenous talents from Naga society which will bring more money and find more markets outside the states. The valleys surrounding Ghashpani (Medziphema) can be developed into a lake by constructing dams and canals on the line of Barapani Lake near Shillong. It will serve as fishery, water reservoir for drinking, irrigation and breeding ground for lily and lotus flower. It will also attract seasonal migratory birds. Treking at Saramati Mountain in Tuensang and of Dzuku Valley near Kosama is of great tourist significance. Once explored, it will be seen that there are many more avenues and scope to develop tourism industry in Nagaland.
Hornbill festival is aimed at showcasing of rich cultural heritage of Naga society. This has moral and ethical bearing on the cultural aspects on contemporary society. It is not only fun and frolic but the meaning and significance behind these festivals, the mother of all festivals (Hornbill festivals), has to address. The young generation of Naga society needs to synergise contemporary life-styles with their cultural moorings and perhaps this would be the best way to achieve the objective of showcasing the Naga’s cultural heritage as well as to guide the young generation towards building a moral and ethical society as rightly pointed out in the editorial column in Nagaland Post dated 9/12/2007. If these steps are taken it is not necessary for Naga girls to bare their bodies and show their thigh-muscles in the name of beauty pageants and rock music to attract national and foreign tourists. Naga ladies have, unlike westerners, the chastity and sanctity of their personality. They are not household commodity for the use of men. The beautiful Naga girls are not a decorative material to give a charming look to the drawing rooms. But in white-men’s culture and Islamic culture-women are reduced to the level of the household commodity for the entertainment and service of men-folk. In Naga society, women and men are equal partners and supplement to each other in the family and society. This must be upheld. The spice-girls’ culture must be prevented from penetrating into Naga culture and heritage.
It is our experience in the tourist places like Jaipur, Udaipur, Varanasi, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Vrindavan (Mathura), Haridwar, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Goa and dozens of other pilgrim places, the foreign tourists specially white men and women bring many bad traditions in our country. Their undisciplined life and spurious relation of men and women are very disgusting, stinking and injurious to just society. The Government of Nagaland and the Naga society are, therefore, required to move very cautiously on the path being opened for white tourists. Otherwise, the Government may earn revenue but Naga society will loose its precious culture as is now being felt in the case of change of religion which has caused rapid westernization and corresponding rapid degeneration of indigenous culture.
I was recently in Rajkot for attending a Seminar organized by Saurashtra University. That was the time of Navaratri Puja (Garva festival) which lasts for nine days. During this Garva festival men and women-assemble in the night and celebrate the festival by organizing Dandia dance upto late night. On having noticed the involvement of some boys and girls in immoral acts the Modi government of Gujrat banned this dance beyond twelve in midnight. Similarly, in Nagaland too, precautions should be taken now itself not very far from the beginning of Hornbill festival to check such negative developments. In Kumbh Melas, lakhs of Hindus assemble to have a holy dip in Ganga exhibiting pure heritage of the country. Thousands of Americans, Britons and other white men from every nook and corner of world visit Kumbh Melas not only to witness but to have holy dip in Ganga Mata. Similarly, Hornbill festival must present Naga heritage in unpolluted form and it should not deviate from the path leading to reach the goal.
There can be drama shows by local talents the theme being drawn from folk stories of Naga community. The Northeast Zone Cultural Council (NEZCC) Dimapur can play a significant role in breeding and bringing up Naga talents in collaboration with its counter-parts in other States. The Northeast region is very rich in variety of culture and people are very simple in thought and behaviour. The Hornbill festival can present the panorama of unexplored rich cultural heritage of Naga society and whole of the northeast region as well. For bringing an added charm Rasleela party from Vrindavan (UP), Ramleela party from Ayodhya (UP) and Kathakali from Kerala, Ravindra Nritya from Kolkata and several more cultural artists can be invited turn-by-turn. This will broaden the sphere of significance of Hornbill festival. Hornbill festival is out and Christmas festival is in. The fun and frolic started during Hornbill festival will uninterruptly continue till new years celebrations via Christmas revelry. Thousands of cows, buffalos, mithuns, pigs and birds will be killed for Christmas feasts. The varieties of wines have started flowing in dry-State of Nagaland. The freedom of mixing of boys and girls in late night liquor parties give rise to many social evils. The parents appear to have lost their control over their children. Slowly and gradually the Hornbill festival followed by Christmas and New Year celebrations are being transformed into breeding and mating season. The spiritual aspect of Christmas festival is nowhere to be seen. This is not a healthy trend surfacing in Naga society. This is because of rampant and rapid westernization of Naga society through English education and foreign religion. The Naga society should be aware of this fact and do the needful to bring back the society on correct path. In fact, the foreign religion has prepared ground for rapid westernization. It has prepared ground for violence also. These are required to be checked without any further delay. The westernization problem is also in Hindu society but in Hindu society, there is a strong resistance from the society put forth by revered Sanyasins and indigenous Hindu Organizations. Such resistance is lacking in Naga society. This is urgent need of the present times.
The Rengma Naga The Morung Express
Though the office of the Western Rengma Hoho has given a press release in the local papers regarding formation of Western Rengma Hoho, yet it is desirable to give more information in better detail for public consumption about Rengma.
Several centuries before the advent of Ahom (the Shan tribe of central China) into the present Assam, the Rengmas had already established their country with Serna in the east, Lotha and Sibsagar in the North, Nowgong in the West and north Cachar and Angamis in the South. The Ahom entered Assam during 1228 A.D under the leadership of Prince Sukapha and came in contact with Rengma,first in the Sibsagar area. The Rengma and the Ahoms exchanged gifts of elephant tusks by Rengma and sword by Ahom. The Ahoms settled down in the plain areas outside Rengma country. There is no traditional or written record of enmity between them at any point of time, rather extended mutual help to each other in time of necessity. The Rengmas and Ahoms lived side by side independent of each other. The country of Ahoms and Rengma Naga and other Nagas were demarcated with clear boundary lines by jointly constructing embankments known as Lodoigarh,the Nagas bunds and Dodhar Ali, especially in Savasagar (Sibsagar) and Lakhimpur districts.
The Rengma Nagas and the Ahoms jointly resisted Moamoria rebellion in 1789 during the reign of Gaurinath Singh. The Rengma Nagas who survived the rebellion after the war, settled down in Surupathar, Parpathar, Rengma Pathar areas. The Rengma Nagas and the Ahoms jointly resisted Burmese invasion of 1817, 1819 and 1821. The Ahom Rajas and their concubines were also given protection and shelter them by keeping in the Rengma Hills with hospitalities till 1826 i.e, "Treaty of Yandaboo". Because of the bravery and prowess in war , six Rengma warriors were conferred "PHUKAN" title by the Ahom Raja. The title "Phukan" been conferred hereditary even after British control over Rengma country, those six Rengmas were recognized and made them British Authority of revenue collectors. The Rengma who hold the title Phukan last was Pfukha Phukan of Phenchero Village under Bokajan Sub - Division of erstwhile North-Cachar and Mikhir Hills. There was enter-marriage among the Rengma Nagas and Ahoms. Thus the bond of relation and friendship was continuously maintained and strengthened.
The first British officia1 who came in contact with Rengma Naga was colonel Alfred Richards in the month of March in 1824at Nchiben-Habing (Rengma language) changed into Doboka-Dokmoka near Nowgong. After the concluded Treaty between the British and the Burmese -known as Treaty of "Yandaboo" on 24th Feb 1826, the British started to explore and conducted survey of the land. Thus in course of their official tour Mr.Grange came in contact with the Rengma Naga living at the Mohan Dohao (Manja) in 1839.Captain John Butler also met Rengma Nagas in Deopani area in 1845-46 and directed the influential chiefs to meet him in Nowgong which was done.Mt.. Masters to conduct survey of the Rengma country. There were hundreds of villages of Rengma Naga spreads across the Rengma country but because of successive famine during 1641 and 1665 fallowed by devastating effects of Moamorian war in 1789 and the epidemic diseases therefore, by the time the British set foot to conduct survey for assessment of house-Tax, there were only 52 villages existed. However, the British official could survey only 32 villages for revenue assessment but the rest were left un-assessed on account of wet and impassable jungle to reach the villages.
In 1841, under political proceedings on 18th April 1841; Nos. 79 to 80 "Rengma Hills" was created. This was followed by creation of 2 (two) Mauzas known as west Rengma Mauza and east Rengma Mauza in 1870 for collection of Revenue (House-Tax). It should be noted that this was excluding hill sector Rengma of present Rengma of Naga1and because the present Nagaland Rengma was surveyed in 1874 by Dr. Brown Wood after the creation of Nag a Hills District in 1866 with its Headquarters at Samaguting(Chumukedima). Before Naga Hills District was created in 1866, the Rengma Hills created in 1841 which covered plain sector only was under Nowgong Administration which was again brought under Asaloo (Halflong) Sub-Division Administration and subsequently merged with Naga Hills District in 1866 with its Headquarters at Samaguting (Chumukedima). But a portion of Rengma Hills was left behind and in the next political proceeding only the whole area of Rengma Hills was brought to merge with Naga Hills District. Thus in 1871, the Rengma Nagas of Rengma Hills submitted revenue amounting to Rs. 450/- at Samuguting. Again when the Administrative Headquarters was shifted to Kohima in 1878, the Rengma Hills Nagas' (plain sector) continued to submit their revenue (House¬Tax) at Kohima. The revenue amount submitted to Kohima in 1898 was Rs. 742/-.
However, on account of administrative inconvenience due to vastness of area under Kohima Administration, the then Deputy Commissioner Kohima proposed for transfer of Rengma Hills back to the adjoining District of Assam which was accepted by the Chief Commissioner of Assam who issued order to that effect. And so with effect from 1 January 1899, the Rengma Hills was again merged with Nowgong and Sibsagar. The West Rengma Mauza was placed under Nowgong District and East Rengma Mauza was placed under Sibsagar District of Golaghat Division and Naga Hills District Rengma was placed under Kohima. Thus, to meet the convenience of British Administration, the same stock of people in contiguous area were divided and brought under three administration Headquarters or Districts (Nowgong, Sibsagar and Kohima). When Naga Hills District was granted Statehood in 1963 with an additional area known as Tuensang District, Which was then known as NHT A (Naga Hills Tuensang Area), inspite of Rengma Hills Naga submission of memorandum for inclusion to Nagaland State, the Rengma Hills Nagas under Assam were left behind. It is to be noted that Nagaland before becoming a full-fledged State was under Assam Administration with Headquarters at Shillong.
It may be noted that "Rengma Hills" was created in 1841, merged with Naga Hills District in 1866, transferred back to the adjoining District of Assam in 1899, Changed the nomenclature to North-Cachar and Mikir Hills in 1952 and again changed into Karbi-Anglong in 1976. Therefore, Karbi-Anglong is the former area of Rengma Hills. Therefore, the plain sector Rengma residents had unanimously agreed to have one social organization known as "Western Rengma Hoho" for the welfare of Rengmas in particularI and other communities in general and work as an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) like other community NGOs.
Khillo G Rengma, Dimapur
ULFA extortion drive in city By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Dec 20 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), in an attempt to boost its coffers, has launched a major extortion drive in Guwahati city and served notices on a number of traders. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Guwahati city, VK Ramisetti, admitted that a number of traders received extortion notes demanding sums varying from Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh from the ULFA and majority of the letters were signed by dreaded militant Hira Sarania. Interestingly, some of the traders received extortion notes by post and there have also been instances of traders receiving telephone calls from the ULFA with demands for money.
Ramisetti said that according to information available with the police, majority of the traders, who received demands from the ULFA did not pay anything and the flow of information to the police has improved considerably. He revealed that the city police has drawn up a comprehensive plan to foil the extortion bids of the ULFA and called upon the people to report any such attempt. He assured that confidentiality of information received from people would be maintained at all costs.
The SSP said that normally extortion bids by the militants increase during the winter season when the routes used by the militants to come down from their camps open up. He also did not rule out the possibility of the militants trying to indulge in acts of violence to terrorise the people to force them to pay the demanded amount as such attempts were made in the past. He revealed that a comprehensive security plan has been chalked out to prevent any sabotage attempt by the ULFA and a number of places vulnerable for explosions have been identified. He said that the counter-insurgency operations have been intensified and asserted that the police and security forces would not spare any militant or sympathiser of linkman. Ramisetti further said in recent times, the city police achieved considerable success in the operations against the ULFA and other militant outfits and only last week, a group of militants were nabbed when they entered the city for causing sabotage, while, one Achyut Rajbonshi, involved in a blast in the Athgaon area of the city, was killed.
Commenting on the recent arrest of militants belonging to the Adivashi National Liberation Army, the city SSP said that they had come to the city to establish their network and it is still not known whether they were planning any acts of violence.
Doc in dock for aiding Ulfa - Attack on Sulfa member in Dibrugarh OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Dibrugarh, Dec. 20: Tinsukia police today arrested a doctor who owns a nursing home in Doomdooma on charges of providing medical aid to Ulfa militants. Police said Dr B.C. Bora, owner of Rupai Bora Nursing Home, not only treated Ulfa rebels at his nursing home but also visited the outfit’s camps in Arunachal Pradesh to look after ailing militants. Bora was arrested following an interrogation session with Nagen Moran, an aide of Ulfa leader Jiten Dutta. Moran, who was arrested from Margherita last night, has confessed to his involvement in the car bomb blast at Debipukhuri in Tinsukia on November 26 that killed three persons. Moran had revealed during interrogation that Bora visited Ulfa camps at Lathua in Arunachal Pradesh and also sent nurses undergoing training at his nursing home in Doomdooma to treat ailing militants.
“The doctor was in charge of the medical unit of the Ulfa’s 28th battalion. He also supplied medicines to camps,” a senior police official in Tinsukia said. Bora was under the scanner of security forces for long but there was no clear evidence to pin him down, the police said. “We are sure he will provide us with more information,” the officer said.
In an unrelated development, suspected Ulfa militants attacked the house of a surrendered rebel, Tileswar Lahon, at Moran in Dibrugarh district late last night, injuring him and his wife. Around 12.30am, rebels lobbed a grenade into Lahon’s bedroom through a ventilator, critically injuring his wife Jyoti, who sustained splinter injuries in her chest. Lahon was also injured, but his condition is stable. The former militant had returned from a birthday party with his wife, 10-year-old son, Roni, and two personal security guards and was about to retire for the day when the grenade landed in his room. Police suspect that the attackers may had sneaked into his residential compound, located near Moran police station, when the family was out and had waited for them to return. Hearing the blast, the personal security officers, who had gone to sleep, rushed to Lohan’s room and took them to Assam Medical College and Hospital. Roni, who was in another room, escaped unhurt. Lahon was on the Ulfa hit list for quite some time. The outfit had accused him of aiding security forces to hunt down a senior activist of the outfit’s 28 battalion, Charan Majhi. Ulfa also alleged that Lahon had been assisting the security forces in a number of its operations against the outfit. Another senior Sulfa (the acronym used for surrendered Ulfa rebels) member, Srimanta Chetia alias Chinese, was killed by suspected Ulfa militants near Namsai in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese was also said to have been helping the security forces hunt down Ulfa militants.
Internal security meet Manipur particularly vulnerable, says PM Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Dec 20 : Touching on a whole gamut of issues concerning the internal security of the country, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that the problems of the North East States and Jammu and Kashmir are unique and stressed that the situation is vulnerable in Manipur and Nagaland.
Addressing the Chief Ministers’ Conference on internal security at New Delhi today, the Prime Minister said that the North East States and Jammu and Kashmir are unique and added that these regions suffer from poor infrastructure and communication facilities.
“It has been our sincere attempt to improve these facilities so that these States too can benefit from our booming economy,” said the Prime Minister.
However these States have vulnerabilities on the internal security front which needs to be discussed, said Dr Singh and added, “each Sate has its specific nuances and characteristics and we cannot generalise the problems. “There are many regional and tribal demands which need to be addressed systematically,” said Dr Manmohan Singh and added that if not done soon they can lead to disaffection and law and order problems. While the Prime Minister admitted that there has been an improvement in the overall situation in all these States, he made an exception and observed “Manipur and Nagaland appear to be particularly vulnerable.”
Pointing out one of the problematic causes for the situation in these two States as well as in the other North East States, the Prime Minister said, “Extortion seems to be a frequent occurrence. We need to put an end to this. We need to enforce the rule of law and create a respect for the State apparatus.
“We need much better leadership at all levels so that militancy is curbed and people feel secure. National considerations and requirements should take over- riding priority. I wish to hear from the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States, their perception of the situation and how they propose to handle the delicate situation that prevails in some of their States.”
The Prime Minister also touched on the need to improve the police apparatus all over the country and asserted , “I believe that citizens should see policemen as their friends.
“It should be our common endeavour to improve routine policing, policing which affects the day to day life of our citizens, policing which gives them a sense of security and comfort.”
Four ULFA rebels surrender at Kamalpur, lay down arms Minor says his joining ULFA was an adventure By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Dec 20: The surrender of 17-year-old Bhun Kumar Boro alias Baikanto, along with three other United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants, at the Army’s Red Horns Division camp at Kamalpur in Kamrup district has punched holes in the claim of the rebel group that it is not using the services of minor boys and girls to further its cause. Bhun, who joined the ULFA last year (at the age of 16), is still a Class X student of Lampara Anchalik High School. It may be mentioned here that early this year, when a minor boy was caught by the police while planting a bomb in Dhubri district, the ULFA promptly said that it was against using minor boys and girls in its activities.
“I joined the ULFA not driven by any ideology of the outfit. It was just an adventure on my part,” Bhun said while interacting with reporters after the surrender ceremony.
Bhun, who has a skilled hand in using pistol and lobbing grenades, hails from a farming family of Ukiam village located along the Asom-Garo Hills border under Boko police station in Kamrup district. Son of Biliram Boro and Sabita Boro, Bhun has two sisters and one brother. While one of his sisters has already been married, the other two are students.
According to sources, the remote Ukiam village is used by the ULFA as a transit point for its militants who sneak into India from Bangladesh. “It’s Ukiam from where the outfit deploys its members to various parts of the State, including Guwahati. In intelligence parlance, Ukiam is better known as the sleeping cell for ULFA militants,” the sources added.
The ULFA suffered another jolt today when four of its 109 battalion militants active in its Ukiam cell surrendered with arms and ammunition before the Red Horns Division of the Army at Kamalpur in Kamrup district. The surrendered militants are self-styled sergeant major Anil Kumar Boro alias Ajit Brahmo (30) of Barpeta, sergeant Tuluk Gogoi alias Padum Hazarika (32) of Dibrugarh, lance corporal Ranjit Boro (24) of Boko and Bhun Kumar Boro alias Baikanto (17) of Ukiam. This group of militants was active along the Asom-Meghalaya border in South Kamrup and it used to facilitate the movement of ULFA militants who sneaked into Asom from Bangladesh and transferred weapons, explosives and extortion money to various places of lower Asom and Guwahati itself, Army sources said. Ajit Boro and Padum Hazarika had joined the outfit in 1997-1998 and undergone arms training in Bhutan and Myanmar. The ULFA cadres today laid down one 7.62 mm Chinese pistol and 12 live rounds with two magazines, one revolver, two Austrian grenades, three PTEDs, four kg gelatin explosives, nine electric detonators, one sophisticated programming device, two modified mobile chargers and incriminating documents. Commanding Officer of the 6th Rajput Regiment R Panikar, Brigadier Arun Gupta and the Rangia SDPO were present at the surrender ceremony.
UN Chief convenes first meeting 'Groups of Friends' on Burma Mungpi Mizzima News
December 20, 2007 - In a renewed International effort to push for changes in the military-ruled Burma, the UN Chief on Wednesday convened the first meeting of 14 nations that will assist him in his initiative to tackle problems in the Southeast Asian nation. While the formation of the loose forum, 'Group of Friends of the General-Secretary on Myanmar', is the latest move by the World body chief for changes in Burma, critics said, all plans and action must bring result.
Debbie Stothard, coordinator of Altsean-Burma, a network of regional campaigners, said, "For any forum or group working on Burma, the most important thing is to influence the military junta and to bring substantive result on changes." While welcoming the formation of the forum, Stothard said, the group should add to the increasing pressure and member nations of the forum should exercise its individual leverage to impress upon the Burmese junta.
"We will judge any group with the result that it produces," added Stothard. However, the forum which includes Burma's traditional supporters - China, Russia, Vietnam, and Thailand – is a progressive step as it will facilitate dialogue between the west and Asian neighbors on Burma, Dr. Thaung Tun, the UN representative of exile Burmese government – National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB) - told the BBC Burmese service. Dr. Thaung Tun said, the formation of the group, which will meet as and when needed, is an indication that the international community has realize the need to support Ban Ki-moon and his special advisor on their initiative. Debbie said, "It is important to show the regime that the international community is united on the cause of Burma."
The informal forum includes Australia, Indonesia, Russia, United States, China, Japan, Singapore, Viet Nam, France, Norway, Thailand, India, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
Burmese workers issue highlighted on International Immigrant Workers Day
by admin — last modified 2007-12-21 10:41
21 December 2007: (Khonumthung) - The plight of Burmese migrant workers was discussed by Burmese and Mizos on the International Immigrant Workers Day falling on December 19 in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state in northeast India.
Burmese democracy and social activists, Burmese Christian religious leaders and block leaders from Aizawl participated in the IIW day function organized by Ferrondo Integrated Women's Development Centre, a Mizoram based NGO that deals with immigrant workers issue.
"We are holding this function in an attempt to convince Mizoram authorities to acknowledge the situation of the Burmese immigrant workers in Mizoram, so that they will recognize them and provide the basic rights that migrant workers need to be access," Sister Rose, Director of FIWDC said.
"Though they (Burmese immigrant workers) are here temporarily, Mizoram should be the place where justice and safety is available to them," she added.
Most Burmese in Mizoram are engaged in domestic work, driving, wood cutting, road construction, weaving, and are goldsmiths. They get irregular and low wages from employers, sexual harassment from landlords and discrimination because of their weakness in being able to communicate in the local language and overwork among others according to a Burmese who attended the function.
"Another problem is when someone from Burma dies. It is very difficult to bury the dead in local cemeteries," he added.
The participants who attended the IIW day agreed to do whatever is needed to solve the problems that Burmese immigrant workers in Mizoram face.
Meanwhile, the participants also called on the Mizoram government to pay heed to the plight of Burmese immigrant workers and address their problems.
On Tuesday, a migrant worker from Chin state, Burma died due to lack of treatment in Mizoram. He could not afford medical attention as he was not paid by his employer.
Frans on 12.21.07 @ 01:43 PM CST [link]