‘God has a purpose for the people of Nagaland’ morungexpress
‘God has a purpose for the people of Nagaland’ morungexpress
I send my warmest New Year greetings to our people as Nagaland see out a semblance of peaceful 2009 and look forward to the year 2010. We thank the Almighty God for sustaining Naga nation at all time. Our people are certain that God has a purpose for the people of Nagaland, even then, some Naga people including some clergymen, vainly worship Money and Man. Be that as it may, the enduring Naga nation as an embodiment of harmony and free will, march on confidently in the certainty that Our Country is Ours’.
Come the New Year! Our irrepressible Naga people will as always look on the bright side because the people of Nagaland are born free. Inspired by the political vision of the Father of Naga nation, our people unflinchingly uphold 16 May 1951 mandate together with the Yehzabo of Nagaland, and not in spite of, as certain quarters obscenely harbour, that Nagaland exist today. For that Naga nation pay the highest tribute to our Naga patriots who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, their family and the dedicated Naga people serving the nation.
The bizarre and naive notions that there ever was a competing saviour of Nagaland could be much closer to public scrutiny as it usually does when people are cheated. Besides, over the years a section of largely educated Naga people blithely ignore the core issue of the war and instead, loudly sermonise our people on seemingly more pressing subjects; “peace, unity, integration and reconciliation,” but could it be merely an attempt to deflect Naga nation’s priority or a more sinister plot to cover up the transgressors sins? When the truth unfolds, including the dark episode of 1980 to date, history will certainly not turn a blind eye to why some Nagas who think of themselves much cleverer than everyone cleaved to these theories when there are such discrepancies and perfectly reasonable explanations? Far from a wistful fate of moribund as often claimed in certain quarters, the Naga National Council (NNC) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) astounded the world on account of against all the odds never give in to the unremitting Indian occupation army militarised tyranny and its proxy militia gangs preying on a terrorised nation.
Nagaland and India never ever share a common history. It makes no sense whatsoever for anyone to imagine that Nagaland “demand” independence from India. Nonetheless, out of the blue the late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, at a meeting in Delhi with a visiting three member Naga delegation led by the President of the NNC, A Z Phizo, on 11 March 1952, ranted, “Whether heaven falls or India goes to pieces and blood run red all over the country, I don’t care! Whether I am here or anybody comes, I don’t care! I will not discuss Naga independence with the Nagas!” By all accounts, it still resonates among Indian leaders to this day and Delhi stay spellbound. Since Jawaharlal Nehru ordered the India army to “crush them” and invaded Nagaland in 1954, over 100,000 Naga civilians perished at the hands of the brutal Indian army. Notwithstanding the peculiarly negative mindset of modern Indian leaders, NNC remain unbowed and consistently pursue a diplomatic approach to resolve the international conflict. Our people couldn’t possibly have foreseen that someday in our time the enemy’s evil designs to extinguish the existence of Nagaland would appear self-fulfilling. While successive Indian leaders have been blindly consumed with a false claim over Nagaland, thoughtful Naga people watch in amazement the acceleration of India’s inherent contradictions spiralling out of control and the country teeter along a future of much uncertainty!
In over half a century of conflict, our people are thoroughly unimpressed with successive Indian leaders’ prevarication and hypocrisy that stifle avenues for diplomatic solution. The international Cease-fire Agreement entered into between the two nations, namely, the Federal Government of Nagaland, representing Nagaland, and the Government of India (GoI), representing India, in 1964 created condition sufficiently conducive to bilateral talk for an amicable solution. Instead, the GoI cynically availed the opportunity to exploit the vulnerable section of Naga society. The failure to reach an agreement had inevitably turned the conflict into the longest unremitting international war (1954 - 2010) in modern time. It is all the more absurd that Delhi cling to the idea of annexing Nagaland in the 21st century in total opposition to civilised norms, and even resorting to circumvention.
The recent widely reported GoI spurious “political package” said to have handed to the so-called NSCN-IM vassal supplicants in response to its 2005 “ Proposed basis for discussion to achieve a comprehensive solution to the Naga issue” and follow up dossiers, clearly borders desperation and nothing short of blatant circumvention. The “demand” purported to express the decision of the “collective leaders of the Naga inhabited areas (NIA) equate with “Nagalim.” The fact is, only after the Cease-fire Agreement between FGN and GoI in 1964, the Naga people of NIA were set free from colonial tether to enter Nagaland without heretofore mandatory ‘Inner Line Permit’ in force since the British colonial era. However, by a quirk of historical incident the Naga people of NIA are at the present time outside sovereign Nagaland. Regrettably, in 1980s a section of Naga people from Indian Manipur state broke away and turned violently anti-Nagaland. The renegade gang notoriously target the people of Nagaland; murder, kidnapping, torture, extortion and blackmail, operating from Indian occupation army provided safe haven “designated camps”. As the GoI conceded pandering with its proxy non-state subordinated gang unconnected with the protracted war against Nagaland, the exercise would define India’s stance on international terrorism. Unlike in the past, India cannot fool the world with a sham “honourable solution.”
The past, the present and the future of a nation invariably interlink but by no means predestined. Nagaland will not disappear notwithstanding under the circumstances, Delhi has to rise above diplomatic mediocrity and address it’s first foreign foray into Nagaland in brazen violation of the UN Charter, to define future relations between the two nations. Both nations know that India no longer has the luxury to conceal its transgressions in today’s global Internet age. It couldn’t have done the GoI image much good to bury the inconvenient truth and harp on imagined past. In the event the GoI decide to conduct normal diplomacy, Delhi is not unaware of the competent authority with popular support of the people of Nagaland.
In keeping with our long-standing tradition of ones word given must means something, Naga nation will not be deflected from upholding freedom. It is in the interest of the youth to gain knowledge of our enduring Nagaland and look ahead to take responsibility in national affairs. Our people also have been tormented by some very unchristian and ugly side of contemporary Naga society concerning sectarian violence led by renegades, splinter groups in the guise of national workers, bickering, carping and malicious lies. From anecdotal evidence, it is symptomatic of enemy’s hands to drive a wedge between Naga society lured by money. Although still a vibrant and not a sick or fragmented society, there is no room for complacency. In national context, a Naga who truly love our people must not remain indifferent to national challenges. There are subjects that requires intra-solution and in the case of external issue of war and peace, requires bilateral solution between competent authorities. Let us in humility pray to God that we overcome evil with good and find genuine peace in our beloved Nagaland.
May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie
Adinno Phizo
President
Naga National Council
Natwar receives “Lifetime Service to Naga People” morungexpress award
Natwar Thakkar, founder Secretary of Nagaland Gandhi Ashram was conferred with "Life time service to Naga people" award by Chuchuyimlang Senso Mongdang at Chuchuyimlang village on Tuesday. The first of its kind prestigious award was conferred to him for his 55 year long selfless and dedicated service to the Naga people. (Pradeep Pareek Photo)
Mokokchung, December 29 (MExN): The Chuchuyimlang Senso Mongdang conferred the “Lifetime Service to Naga People” award to Natwar Thakkar, the Founder-Secretary of Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at an impressive function today at Chuchuyimlang.
Thakkar was awarded a cash amount of Rs. 1 lakh however, he donated the amount for setting up a Senior Citizens’ Retreat at Chuchuyimlang and entrusted the Chuchuyimlang Baptist Church to initiate the project. He also donated an additional Rs.1 lakh for the same purpose which he had received earlier as cash component of Siu-Ka-Pha Award from the government of Assam, informed the Chuchuyimlang Senso Mongdang in a press note issued by its president.
The note also stated that the award was presented by Supongmatong, President of Chuchuyimlang Senso Mongdang. An “especially composed song” in praise of Thakkar in pop style was presented by Martemsu, a renowned local composer.
Gandhi Ashram founder donates award for Senior Citizens’ RetreatThe Mongdang in the note claimed that the said award is “first of its kind”, which was given in recognition of Thakkar’s “selfless and dedicated service to the people of Nagaland in general and Chuchuyimlang and surrounding villages in particular for more than five decades”.
It also mentioned that Thakkar was “born to Gujarati parents at Dahanu, a small town in the western coast of Maharashtra and inspired by the upsurge of nationalism in his younger days”, he volunteered to come to Nagaland with a mission of service in 1955 at the young age of 23 and made Nagaland his home.
“With a single-minded devotion and at great risk to his life, Natwar Thakkar continues his mission of service till date.” The main objective of his mission is to promote “goodwill and emotional integration through voluntary social service on Gandhian lines. While the work of strengthening the bonds of goodwill and brotherhood continued, Thakkar also gave concrete expression of his spirit of service by undertaking various socio-economic development programmes, it stated.
Moreover, the press note stated that former Secretary of Chuchuyimlang Village Development Board Latongwati while presenting a brief biographical sketch of Thakkar listed the various socio-economic initiatives undertaken by Nagaland Gandhi Ashram for the welfare of the people. Most notable among these initiatives are the establishment of “Vocational Training Centre for Physically Handicapped and School dropouts, pioneering work in the spread of modern Bee-keeping all over Nagaland and similar other activities”.
The latest contribution of Shri Thakkar is to motivate government of India to establish the Rural Extension Centre of RIeLIT Computer Institute at Chuchuyimlang. Latongwati also lauded the efforts made by Thakkar for getting IGNOU to accept his request to establish a major educational project which will consist of a Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College of Social Work and other half a dozen Institutes at Chuchuyimlang., it added.
The note also went on saying that “emotional” Thakkar, in his acceptance speech described the award as the “most precious of more several awards received by him throughout his life”. He reminisced over various amusing and “touching experiences during his long sojourn” in Nagaland.
He attributed his long sustenance to the love and trust bestowed on him by many well meaning Nagas from Chuchuyimlang and elsewhere. He feelingly remembered the senior inhabitants and paid rich tributes to many elderly personalities of the village who were associated with him.
The presentation ceremony was attended by over 3000 citizens including women and children and was presided over by Odimatsung, a leading citizen of Chuchuyimlang village, the press note stated.
German loan for NE States likely Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Dec 29 – German Development Bank (Kfw) is working on a proposal to extend a loan on concessional terms for climate change adaptation projects in the north eastern region. Official sources said the Ministry DoNER is awaiting final clearance after it forwarded project profiles submitted by five north eastern states including Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Sikkim.
The project proposal was vetted and forwarded to the Department of Economic Affairs. The Ministry of Finance is now waiting for the outcome of the Indo-German Consultations for further action.
The Ministry is also awaiting sanction of North East Livelihood Project by World Bank. A joint team of officials of the World Bank, IFAD and DoNER visited Kohima and Agartala to discuss the implementation arrangements for the project. The project envisages social and economic empowerment of rural communities. A similar project implemented in some districts of Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya was a success.
Sources said the Ministry has reviewed the progress of the proposed North East Rural Livelihood Project to be funded in four States of Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura with the officials of the WorldBank.
The Ministry DoNER is in the process of setting up an autonomous society for detailed project preparation and implementation, added sources.
Meanwhile, a year ender released by the Ministry said that the north eastern states have been asked to nominate a nodal officer and to provide logistics support to the DoT and BSNL for taking advantage of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for expansion of tele-connectivity in the region.
Meanwhile, a meeting convened by the Secretary, DoNER, to discuss the progress of implementation of PM’s package pertaining to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Tripura discovered that the main reasons of delay in implementation of roadprojects include issues relating to land acquisition, forest and environmental clearances, non-availability of resourceful contractors, inter-state coordination.
The Secretary has also undertaken meetings to review the status of 27 key infrastructure projects identified by the PMO for expeditious implementations.
The eight road sector projects in the 27 key infrastructure projects in the NER which are being monitored by the PMO include trans-Arunachal Highway, Dhola-Sadiya Bridge and Numali-Gohpur bridge (Assam), alternate route to Sikkim, besides four-laning of NH-37 on the Nagaon-Jorhat-Dibrugarh stretch and upgrade of NH-52, NH-53 and NH-54.
The Ministry DoNER has decided to facilitate inter-state coordination and issuance of clearances to fast track the projects.
Naga heritage traced back to 50 BC The Imphal Free Press
Dimapur, December 28: Scientists have carried out the radiocarbon dating of archaeological sites from New Phor, Movolomi and Khusomi in Nagaland, which have further `pushed back` the antiquity of Naga ancestral sites as early as 50 BC.
According to a report in the Morung Express, the radiocarbon dating was done by scientists at The Beta Analytic Inc. in Miami, United States.
"The calibrated dates assigned to the sites were as per scientifically accepted procedures using Calibration Database INTCAL 04 Radio Carbon Age Calibration, said Dr. Anungla Aier and Dr. Tiatoshi Jamir of Anthropological Society of Nagaland.
"The sample from New Phor, dated to Cal BC 50 - Cal AD 90, thus far offers the earliest radiocarbon date for the Naga ancestral sites archaeologically investigated, while new radiocarbon dates for Khusomi gives a date of Cal AD1320-1350 and Movolomi dated to Cal AD1420-1640," they said.
"All charcoal samples analyzed are reported from the lowest earth layers of the sites," they added.
It was further stated that the archaeological investigations carried out so far is part of a larger research project that has embarked on the analysis of the archaeological evidences side by side with the `folkloristic, ethnographic and anthropometric data.` These radiocarbon dates are significant not only for furthering the understanding of the cultural history and migration of the Nagas, but will also provide insights to past social and cultural interactions between Naga communities.
"In this endeavor, we solicit the continued cooperation of the various Naga communities as the work progresses," the researchers said.
2010: A New Year with New Hopes Nungshi Jamir Morungexpress
A young girl looks to the future with hope and anticipation. Youths in Nagaland have expressed their zeal and excitement for 2010, wishing that it will bring a lot of changes, be it political, social or economic. (Photo/Caisii Mao)
Another year comes to an end again and within a couple of days another new year will begin. There is a lot of hope for the New Year – everyone seems to have a lot of expectations in 2010. The youths and the younger lot in Dimapur have also expressed their zeal and excitement for 2010 wishing that it will bring a lot of changes, be it in the political, social and economic arena.
Talking here with The Morung Express, Joel, 24, expressed that one ‘change’ he would like to see is in the Naga people’s attitude towards public property and traffic regulations. Naga people have this mentality wherein they tend to take every government property for granted and as their property, and that they can do anything they like with it. Destroying and spoiling public property has become part and parcel of everyday life here in Dimapur.
“In Dimapur you will see that many of the streetlights do not work properly; or the steels along the divider either stolen or bent by some antisocial elements… I just hope and expect that the general public will change their attitude in the New Year,” is what Joel lamented in the end. It is quite sad when people don’t realise that it is their own property that is being destroyed, for which they have already paid in the form of taxes. The state government cannot always be blamed for the stagnation in development when the mentality of the general public has not yet matured. Development of the society is a collective effort and this cannot be limited to individuals.
Most of the youths here also hoped that 2010 would be a year to finding a solution to the age-old Naga political problem. The ceasefire being extended year by year is not only dragging the problem more but it has also stalled the issue. With no new developments on the issue, the question in everyone’s minds is: “Where is the talk heading to?”
“When there is no peace among the different factions, I don’t understand why so much effort and emphasis is given on the peace talks,” is what Akum, 28 (name changed), further added. It is just hoped that the New Year will bring an amicable solution to the age-old problem along with new developments to Nagaland.
Another problem that most of the youths here emphasised is on the ‘dry state’ tag or the Prohibition Act that Nagaland has been facing. It can be mentioned here that this tag has not only made a complete mockery of the Naga people outside the state, but it is also quite shameful considering how many liquor shops there are in Dimapur.
“Many of the students study outside Nagaland, or even India for that matter, and they are quite used to that lifestyle; so when they come back they want to continue with the same lifestyle. So no matter what the government does, the drinkers will always find a way to drink,” quipped Mathung, 29. To make matters worse, Assam, which is Nagaland’s immediate neighbour, is just a stone’s throw away from Dimapur and it so happens to be a ‘not so dry state’.
Talking to The Morung Express, Sunep, 30 (name changed), said, “We Nagas are such hypocrites; we consider our state to be a dry state but what of all the alcoholics and drug addicts not to mention the every-now-and-then visit to the hospitals because of alcohol related problems.” With so many deaths and alcohol fans in Nagaland, it is about time that the government wakes up and takes a reality check. One major reason for so much revenue loss and alcohol-related problems might be cause of the free flow of much spurious and adulterated wine and alcohol. If only the prohibition would be lifted then this might be avoided to a certain extent, with branded companies setting up their breweries here in Nagaland itself. This might also be an answer to the employment problem.
Unemployment was another issue that most youths expressed concern about, and most hoped that something would be done soon by the government. Kvulo Lorin, 29, commented, “I just hope and pray that the economy here will somewhat improve by the year 2010, and that better and more avenues open up for the youths.” The problem with the unemployment in Nagaland could be because most of the Naga youths have the typical-Naga “only government job” mentality. It is just not possible for the government to provide white-collar jobs to each and every unemployed Naga out there. A solution can only be achieved when steps are taken from both sides.
With so many hopes and expectations in the New Year, one can only hope and keep their fingers crossed that at least half of them are met.
“Militancy, a stumbling for development in Manipur” NNN
Imphal, December 28 (NNN): Militancy has been a hurdle in the development of the state, said O. Ibobi Singh during the celebration of the 125th Foundation Day of Congress party on Monday at Congress Bhawan, Imphal. Addressing the function, chief minister O. Ibobi Singh stated that owing to the bad law and order situation in the state, several developmental projects are at halt. The road construction in Imphal-Churanchandpur which leads to the major districts like Churachanpur, Bishnupur was at halt for about a month due to the pressures from underground organisations, disclosed the chief minister.
While asserting that New Delhi is concerned about the development of the state, Ibobi Singh revealed that the Centre has been granting funds and packages for the development of the state for making the state an advanced and developed state but due to hindrances from the underground groups the progress of the construction works is either slow or halted.
Meanwhile, the chief minister said that several states of the North East region were given the statehood status during the tenure of the Congress. Nagaland was separated from Assam during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru and Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were granted statehood status during Indira Gandhi’s period and Sikkim during Rajiv Gandhi.
On the other front, O Ibobi Singh said that to set up a Tribal University has been approved and because of this only 7 percent reservation for the Schedule Tribes (ST) has been allotted in the Central University in Imphal after updrading it from Manipur University. Otherwise, there had been 31 percent reservation for the ST in the University.
India’s clumsy visa curbs By John Elliott From Riding the Elephant blog
Some politicians have an uncanny knack of saying the right thing publicly at the wrong time. Shashi Tharoor, a former top UN official who is now India’s junior foreign minister – and a famous Tweeter (as I wrote in September) – is a leading example. He only became an MP earlier this year and his new political career will probably suffer if he doesn’t curb his tweeting.
For now however, let’s praise him for pointing out how illogical the Indian government has been by clumsily toughening its tourist and business visa rules just because a suspected terrorist visited India several times over several years months on such visas.
“R we going 2allow terrorists 2make us less welcoming?” Tharoor asked, in tweet-speak on his Twitter page which has over 540,000 followers (readers). “Imprt to recognize that security must not become an excuse 2change our cntry 4d worse …Making it more difficult 2 visit India, return here frequently or stay long hurts large nbrs of innocents, costs us millions of$ & alienates … Dilemma of our age: tough visa restrictions in hope of btr security or openness &liberality to encourage tourism& goodwill? I prefer latter.”
Riding the elephant
According to reports, Tharoor was reflecting reservations in India’s External Affairs Ministry about the Home Ministry’s visa restrictions which, after weeks of muddle, seem to mean that foreigners holding long-term multiple entry visas must leave the country for at least two months every three months, and stay away for the same period if they leave voluntarily earlier. The government has added that exceptions could be made for travellers who submit itinerary details to the visa authorities, but that would undoubtedly lead to endless hassles with India’s often obstructionist foreign registration offices (FRROs) which are already overcrowded, inefficient and often unfriendly.
The restrictions have been suddenly introduced because a suspected terrorist, David Headley (or Daood Sayed Gilani), who has been arrested in America, travelled frequently to India on a business visa in the run-up to terror attacks in Mumbai 13 months ago. He allegedly also ran a small business in Mumbai. Other visa-busting cases include low-wage Chinese workers who have been employed on tourist visas. This all led to a knee-jerk reaction by the Home Ministry which introduced the new rules.
But the misuse of these visas by long-term residents has been widely known for years. When I appeared on an Indian TV news channel (NDTV’s 24/7) last week, K Padmanabhiah, who was the home secretary in the 1990s, admitted he had known about long-stayers on tourist visas who went to the states pf Nagaland and Kashmir “to write books”. I suggested that since this proved the Home Ministry had known about the visas being misused for many years, there was no excuse for a knee-jerk reaction now.
Both the UK and US governments have complained, mainly about a lack of policy clarity and consistency. The US embassy’s website talks about “inconsistent implementation of the new rule.” These rules risk worsening India’s long-established reputation as an uncomfortable and unfriendly tourist destination where officials are more interested in hassling travellers and foreign residents than in smoothing out their problems.
The rules are also illogical. How will having to leave the country curb a would-be terrorists, who can easily travel to a nearby country and operate from there or, more probably, bribe an Indian official to be allowed to return immediately? And why must a visitor leave for two months? Why not just apply for an extension?
As G Parthasarathy, a retired senior ambassador, remarked on television on Monday, terrorists who attacked Mumbai last year did not come on visas, nor did others who staged earlier attacks and an aircraft hijacking. In any case, what is point in introducing such restrictions in a country where the bureaucracy is so easily buyable – as Parthasarathy also said, corrupt officials even sell passports and “every policeman is on the take”.
Problems of harassment begin when would-be visitors try to obtain visas abroad. In the past few months I have heard several stories of problems. One visitor says that India’s Paris and London visa offices do not require the same supporting documents, while others complain of endless delays.
A story from the UK tells of sheer misery of a young visitor who was ineffiociently pushed around for nearly three weeks by India’s visa officials in London. An internet application system did not work, an application was lost, officials gave conflicting messages, the applicant was told to contact the wrong office, and a pre-paid courier service for returning the passport was not used, and the passport was almost returned to the wrong address.
Virtually every country of course treats visitors appallingly. I hear many complaints for example about how unhelpful and arrogant the UK’s outsourcing company in Delhi can be, and the US seems to do its best to deter visitors. But that is no reason for a country like India, whose culture is to be open and welcoming, and which needs to develop its tourism and international business links, to behave as the home ministry is now doing.
Tharoor was right in what he said, though he was of course unadvisedly breaking ranks. As his boss said on Monday, he should air his comments within the government, not on Twitter. But let’s hope he survives so that he can continue tweetingly to mock irrational government.
John Elliott was the FT’s first South Asia correspondent (1983-88) and now writes from India
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Manipur – Northeast – India By: Heigrujam Nabashyam Kangla on line
This week, we all, will be landing on the first year of the new decade – the year 2010 AD – some with hope and some with despair and some with no difference. Time goes on and good times and bad times come as the natural cycles of life. The largest economy in the world had had the bad times sometime last year and it did crash and the collateral damage was felt all over the world including India. But time heals. And the hope to rebuild the economy soon regained by the efforts of those who had the vision and the courage to meet the challenges.
The UN Copenhagen Climate Summit in the Danish capital could not reach an agreement. The countries just could not forgo their interests which ultimately will prove disastrous to our own existence. However the last minute efforts of the leaders of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and of the US president Obama’s unconventional diplomacy – a trait of American pragmatism – had succeeded to make an “essential beginning” as Ban Ki-moon, the UN chief whose quiet diplomacy helped the leaders reached the “political accord” – not a treaty – described it.
The beginning of the decade also saw, the rising of the economic power of India in the world, though more than half the population lives without safe drinking water. Development in the Northeast during the economic boom in India is not much visible, except, in the commercial capital of Assam and Nagaland, and the capitals of Meghalaya and Mizoram. And also, may be in the numbers of cars on the dilapidated Imphal road, the double-track Imphal fly over and the unfinished Imphal sewage project.
But as it is always said, India embodies unity in diversity – the picture of India is quite a lively one. The Gangetic people of the north think themselves the ruling class of the country. The people to the south of the Vindhya think themselves to be the custodian of the Indian civilization. The corporate people of the west thinks that without them India would have been a pauper. The giant of the east thinks themselves as the most intelligent tribe in India.
And not with malice, a Marathi considers their language superior to Hindi. A Hindi speaker considers the Rastra bhasha as the supreme language of India. A Malayalee thinks a Tamil foolish for not learning Hindi. Bangalore and Hyderabad are vying for top spot in IT. The Mumbaikars consider Mumbai as the heart of India. The Delhlites consider Delhi as the head of the country and so on. But all said and done the Indians – north, south, east, west – agree to disagree and rightfully they are proud Indians, despite all the differences and rivalries – regional and sectional.
But the Northeast – the fringe India – is different. In Assam the Assamese feel that they are being marginalized in their own homeland. The Tripuris in Tripura are a threatened species and they feel lost in their own land. The Meghalayees of Meghalaya consider that their new found patriotism would save them from further erosion. The Arunachalis of Arunachal Pradesh feel that India is not taking them seriously despite their professed Indianess. The Mizos in Mizoram consider themselves the most westernized Indians but they cannot dilute Mizo identity in any case. The Nagas agree among themselves that they should be one before others. The Manipuris believe in no one and probably they do not believe themselves, too and everybody is a leader. Fact is, the Northeast communities just cannot be proud Indians. This is plain reality of the minds of the fringe Indians.
Incidentally, there is no point in denying the fact that many of the Northeast communities have not been able to come out of the indigenous minds or tribal instincts as it is better known and often taken with contempt. The last few decades also saw violence of unprecedented scale in the Northeast between the different ethnic communities. Hundreds and hundreds of innocent life were lost and many villages were uprooted without any remorse.
The Northeast also continues to be an important arena of acclimatization of bloodsport for the security forces of the Indian state, umpired by AFSPA. The line which divides the players – the security forces and the insurgents – gets blurred and the public are at the receiving end. And this is unjustifiably justified by the government telling righteously that such collateral damages are bound to happen in a conflict situation.
Most of the Northeast states except may be, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya had experienced and suffered extreme violence from both the security forces and the armed militants and insurgents. With Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura being more or less peaceful and Assam becoming more manageable, the only state left with the conflict situation is Manipur.
According to a rights activists group – Human Rights Alert, the ratio of civilians and security forces in Manipur stands at 35 : 100. Whether this figure is true or false, one can easily confirm the omnipresence of the security forces in Manipur by taking just a minute’s drive in any direction from any point, on any day. Imagine a situation when a real life Don Quixote happens to be the most powerful man of Manipur! The Ibobi Singh government finds the forces insufficient, and it is not taking any chance. And one thing is certain that insecurity in the mind of the Ibobi Singh government is pervasive.
Now, with all the fake and un-fake encounters and the hullabaloos that follow and the huge unemployment problem, which no longer is considered a problem; Manipur still has lots of potential which may find few parallel. But what is most despicable is the political trend driven solely by self-interest devoid of any moral obligation which is destroying our youths. And the only option is our intelligent public must come to their senses and our Maichous and pundits start telling things incisively which can be connected to the global village or else our Sanaleibak Manipur will be lost irretrievably.
Soren to take oath as Jharkhand CM today PTI
Ranchi, Dec 29: JMM chief Shibu Soren is all set to take oath as Chief Minister heading a five-party coalition in Jharkhand tomorrow, which will be the seventh dispensation in nine years since it became a separate State.
65-year-old Soren, who had been Chief Minister of the mineral-rich State twice earlier, will take oath at 10.30 am at the historic Morabadi ground here.
Preparations were underway at Morabadi ground for the ceremony after Governor K Sankara- narayanan invited him to form the Government.
Soren, who was asked to take the floor test of his Government by January eight, has not yet revealed who else would be taking oath along with him triggering speculation.
As of now, Soren, known as Guruji, will take oath along with his two deputies Sudesh Mahato of AJSU and Raghubar Das of BJP. But this too is tentative," a senior AJSU leader told PTI when asked how many ministers would take oath with the JMM supremo.
As per the Constitutional requirement, Jharkhand can have 12 ministers including the Chief Minister.
Soren had staked claim to form the Government on December 25, two days after the election results had thrown up a hung assembly.
The following day, he was invited to form the Government supported by 44 MLAs (JMM 18, BJP 18, JDU-2 AJSU 5, JJM 1) in the 81-member Assembly.
Soren had twice before been the Jharkhand Chief Minister, but as the head of the UPA. This is for the first time that he will he heading the Government with the help of the NDA.
Incidentally, Soren was the chief minister till the President's rule was imposed in the State in January.
Soon after meeting BJP president Nitin Gadkari in Mumbai and NDA Convenor and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav in New Delhi yesterday, Soren said "our efforts will be to provide a clean and stable Government. Jharkhand is a mineral rich state but the people have remained poor."
"Our efforts will be to uplift the poor," he said, adding a common minimum programme would also be formulated by all the coalition partners.
This is the first time in the State's political history when an alliance has not yet been formally named, though Soren has forged ties with the BJP and JD(U).
"A decision about JMM becoming part of the NDA will be taken later," Sharad Yadav said in Delhi last night when asked whether the JMM would be part of the NDA.
PTI
Fresh attack on KNU likely Brian McCartan Mizzima
Chiang Mai, Thailand (Mizzima) - A bomb blast at Karen New Year celebrations in Papun town on December 16 was quickly blamed on the Karen National Union (KNU) but border sources suggest that the blast may be the prelude to a dry season offensive in northern Karen State early next year.
The explosion killed seven Karen and injured a further 11 celebrating the New Year at a fair ground in the town of Papun. Burma watchers say bomb blasts have frequently been used by the junta in the past as excuses for launching military operations. Many observers believe that many of the bombs were planted by the regime itself.
In 2006 a series of explosions in central Burma were blamed on the KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA). A regime spokesman said at the time that offensive military operations in eastern Pegu Division and northern Karen State were necessary to stop the “terrorist attacks” of the KNU. Military operations continued for months and resulted in the displacement of thousands of Karen villagers.
This time the regime looks set to use the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) to attempt to seize control of the region. Rumours of an offensive into northern Karen State began circulating shortly after the completion of operations against the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) 7th Brigade in central Karen State in June. The unusual rainy season offensive resulted in the KNLA’s loss of several border camps and established DKBA control of the border from Myawaddy to the confluence of the Moei and Salween Rivers.
Predictions of an offensive appeared to be substantiated when a column of DKBA soldiers was ambushed by the KNLA in September north of the town of Ka Ma Maung. At least seven DKBA soldiers were killed in the fighting and many others wounded which prompted them to turn back.
Border sources say the real reason for the halt in operations was that its architect, DKBA Colonel Maung Chit Thu had become ill. Chit Thu has become one of the most active officers in the DKBA and commands some of its strongest units. He commanded the fighting in June and his forces have taken part in most of the DKBA’s military operations aimed at consolidating their control over central and southern Karen State in the past few years. Key to any push into northern Karen State, his hospitalization for appendicitis apparently put the DKBA’s plans on hold for several months.
Now recovered, sources close to the DKBA say he is eager to restart operations aimed at finally defeating the last major pocket of KNU resistance to both DKBA and Burmese junta rule. Although the KNU still maintains several small pockets of territory in Tenasserim Division, Mon State and south and central Karen State, the largest areas which could still be called liberated territory remain in eastern Pegu Division and in Papun and Thandaung townships of northern Karen State. Both the junta, and many Karen, view these areas as the hardcore of the Karen resistance.
The area has been almost devoid of DKBA influence since its founding 15 years ago on December 21 1994. Attempts to recruit in the Papun area have been largely unsuccessful and only a couple of hundred DKBA soldiers have ever been present in the area. The DKBA was also unsuccessful in past efforts to extend its influence into eastern Pegu Division.
KNLA sources say the offensive would likely follow the same pattern as fighting in 7th Brigade earlier this year and other offensives in past years with DKBA troops out front and Burma Army soldiers in support. The DKBA conducted several conscription drives in the past year with the aim of increasing troop numbers to 9,000. This increase in strength is related to its transformation into border guard battalions, but also necessary to seize and control northern Karen State.
Burmese Army forces are expected to take a supporting role providing security to supply lines and artillery support. The army is already stretched due to the need to reinforce units in northern Burma where the defiance of former ceasefire groups to the regime’s Border Guard Force plans has created the possibility of renewed civil war. In addition units must be maintained in central Burma to prevent potential civil unrest.
A successful DKBA offensive would allow the group to claim control over almost all of Karen State and virtually remove the KNU as a rival for power in the region. For the SPDC it would remove an insurgent group that has been a thorn in its side since 1949 and replace it with what it views as a much more compliant group.
There is a risk, however, for the junta that control over all of Karen State could embolden the DKBA. It would place the DKBA leadership in a much better bargaining position to negotiate the terms of its conversion to a Border Guard Force. Although the group was the first to agree to converting its military into Burma Army controlled border guard units, progress appears to have stagnated. There are also growing rumours of dissatisfaction in the ranks of the DKBA with effectively handing over control to the Burmese military.
The DKBA may also feel that complete control over Karen State would allow it to better contest elections planned for next year and put itself in the driving seat politically. How the group will manage this, however, is unclear. The group’s political wing, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organization, has been defunct for over a decade, and many of its members have publicly decried their lack of political savvy. Sources close to the DKBA say individual members are considering contesting the elections, but there is no word yet on forming a political party.
Success would also secure the DKBA’s business holdings in the region and expand them into new territory. It is so far unclear what will happen to its businesses once its soldiers convert to border guards. Effective political control, however, would presumably allow it to maintain its economic holdings even outside of its military structure.
The DKBA has been fighting the KNU since it split from that group on December 21, 1994. Their mutiny allowed the Burmese Army to seize key KNU bases in 1995 and was a major setback for the Karen. With active support from the junta the group has steadily expanded its influence in the region. The group, however, continues to suffer from a poor human rights image and general lack of support from the local population.
Frans on 12.30.09 @ 10:50 PM CST [link]
