NAGA LATEST NEWS

Naga Orgs resist construction of Mapithel Dam
Imphal, May 07: Naga Frontal Organisations United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM) and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) in a joint press statement reiterated that they would resist the construction of Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project) until conducting of proper assessment of environmental impact of the dam.

The organisations also demanded the Government to come out with comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement policy as per the Terms of Reference (ToR).

Government must also show a contingency plan for the downstream areas, the organisations pressed.

Maintaining that there is no comprehensive Government plan to rehabilitate the affected villagers, the organisations pointed out that 86 percent compensation was arranged for 20 percent of the total affected villagers.

The organisations informed that payment to the land owners for direct (mutual transfer) started only in the year between 1996 and 2003 and could not completed till date, which according to the organisations, is the violation of memorandum of Agreed Terms (MOA) of 1993 .




Naga issue taken to UN Permanent Forum
Dimapur, May 7: The United Nations was today suggested a number of recommendations by the Naga people’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) as means to pressurize India to take bold and active steps to addressing the Naga political issue. Among the recommendations included the suggestion that the UN Special Rapportuer and UN experts visit Nagaland and the insurgency-torn region.
Athili Sapriina, executive member of the NPMHR, in his May 2 statement to the 7th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, suggested that the UN forum, PFII, urge the Government of India to take bold positive steps on the Indo-Naga issue towards an acceptable and just settlement of the political issues. The PFII may also urge India to halt her policy of using the Media, intelligence agencies and not resort to using the Military Civic Action (MCA) and Army Development Group (ADG) to engage counter-insurgency. Further, the UN Special Rapportuer and UN experts may visit Nagaland and the region, a region having experienced the longest-running political insurgency.
The suggestions were made following the NPMHR’s highlighting to the August House the state of affairs of the Indo-Naga political issue. “Human Rights are indivisible and inalienable and encompass all. We do not believe in transforming conflicts within the existing State structures and therefore, shall continue to confront the attempt by dominant societies to impose solutions, backed by psychological schemes” the Naga Human Rights body said.
The State of India continues to use means to divide the Naga people and urging the people to unit India continues to divide, the forum was informed. “This is a contradiction. However, our struggle is with the Indian and the Burmese State, not so much with their peoples, from whom we have received solidarity and continues even today. Government of India has been in a dialogue with the Naga people’s representatives since a ceasefire came into effect in 1997. While the Nagas have come forward, India has not taken positive steps” the NPMHR stated.
“Our history is clear. We were never part of India, either by conquest or consent. India is driven to these ‘dialogues’ and ‘negotiations’ partly to further her Look East Policy (LEP) which aims to link the economies of South Asia with South East Asia” the NPMHR said.
It was lamented that while a dialogue process is “apparently on,” the Indian state has not been able to stop the works of her intelligence agencies who continue to monitor the Naga people, especially the leaders, NPMHR informed the forum. “They have used the media and propaganda machinery to create fissures amongst my peoples by planting rumors and thereby creating divisions” the NPMHR said.
For these, the NPMHR urged the agencies having a direct bearing on the people to undertake a more direct inclusive process in planning, implementation and monitoring of projects, which otherwise gives primacy to the Nation States which refuses to involve Indigenous Peoples. “They include World Bank, ADB, IFAD, UNITAR, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF. We also wish to request for raising our ability to participate in the Human Rights Council and also benefit from such committees such as CERD, etc. Mega-dams, mining, bio-fuels, oil extraction and development projects are being undertaken in and around Nagaland. A high degree of militarization and military presence, entry of international financial institutions and health issues such as HIV/AIDS continue to engage my peoples, especially the youth. This is a phenomenon not peculiar to my peoples alone.”
In a separate but likened agenda, the executive member also said nation-states have devised ways to misdirect and engage the youth, using propaganda machinery particularly the media and intelligence agencies. “They continue to monitor our movements and create divisions using people who have been co-opted within the existing systems and structures. We do not believe solutions to contentious issues of Indigenous Peoples always lie within the structures of existing State Systems. Political dialogues have often been used to further dominate us” she stated. She cited the instance of political accords signed by nation-states with Indigenous Peoples in Asia, which have not been honored.
In cases such as the Indo-Naga issue, India has not taken sufficient steps to allow the negotiations to move forward since a ceasefire was signed in August 1997, NPMHR informed. “Madam Chair, our struggles do not only aim to liberate ourselves, but also those who have historically trampled upon our lives and hurt our dignity. We repose hope and faith in the ability of nation-states and dominant communities to be bold in taking actions that will promote Just Peace. We denounce nation-states who promote some organizations in the region claiming to represent Indigenous Peoples while they are not. We welcome support from them, while we urge them that they do not usurp our voices and not contribute to the marginalization processes” the address added.



NSCN(I-M) leader asked to study Constitution
Guwahati, May 7: National Socialist Council of Nagaland general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah has been asked to study the Indian Constitution which has necessary provisions to address their grievances placed before New Delhi.

Responding to the charges of the NSCN leader that the government of India was not sincere about the ongoing peace talks, highly-placed security sources told this newspaper: "The NSCN(I-M) leadership has been told categorically that the Indian Constitution has enough space to address their grievances."

An authoritative source in the home ministry said: "We are waiting for the NSCN(I-M) leader to complete his study on the Indian Constitution to restart the peace talks."

Meanwhile, ongoing factional clashes among the Naga groups in Nagaland has started taking an ugly turn, with the NSCN(I-M) fast losing its support base on the ground to the breakaway Unification Faction. The factional fights have been raging since April 15, killing more than 19 people so far.

It is likely to aggravate further with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) rejecting the reconciliation process initiated by a Naga church leader between the Naga warring groups. "We’ll not attend the meeting nor will be part of the reconciliation process," said Kughalu Mulatonu, a senior kilonser (minister) of the Khaplang faction. The meeting was initiated by Rev. Wati Aier, a prominent Naga clergyman who heads the Naga Reconciliation Forum, and was scheduled to be held at Chingmai in Thailand in the last week of May, the Khaplang group said in Dimapur.

The ceasefire between the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre completed 10 years and during this period, over 50 rounds of talks were held for finding an acceptable and honourable solution to the Naga political conflict.

The inordinate delay in the peace process has also changed the ground realities in Nagaland and now attempts are on to isolate NSCN(I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah among the Nagas of Nagaland. The breakaway unification faction and the Khaplang faction have joined hands against NSCN(I-M).

If independent observers are to be quoted here the unification faction has virtually taken over the control of majority of the areas in Nagaland. The failure of NSCN(I-M) on unifying the Naga-dominated areas of north-eastern states has given strength to the argument of the Khaplang faction that Mr Muivah is an outsider in Nagaland.

Though, Khaplang himself is from Burma, the outfit considers Mr Muivah and his people to be non-Nagas. It even asked Mr Muivah to leave Nagaland or face consequences for all his wrong doings to the Naga people.



Violence belies Peace Bloody Monday
Dimapur, May 5: Tension runs high in Dimapur, even after the formation of the District Coordination Committee Dimapur to maintain peace and tranquility and despite the frequent and fervent appeals to stop bloodshed made by Naga civil society. In a latest and a clear sign of the deteriorating law and order situation in Dimapur district, five people - two NSCN (IM), a Patkai Christian College student, a civilian and one unidentified person - were killed in different incidents within a span of little over 12 hours here today.
According to police sources, at around 11:30-12 noon, a speeding Maruti Zen came and shoved out two persons at a spot near the Ao Baptist Church and Essar petrol station in Duncan Basti and fired ‘three shots’; leaving one dead on the spot and another seriously injured with a bullet wound in the head. He was rushed off to Metro Hospital then shifted to Civil Hospital and then Zion Hospital, where he is said to be in serious condition, sources said.
The deceased, who was blindfolded and bore two bullet wounds on his head, has been identified as Suriyo Khamang (33 yrs), son of Chenaongai from Ukhrul. The injured has been identified as Sumiho (Ayo) Muivah (29 yrs) son of Shemiriphang from Ukhrul, and reportedly an “ex-member of the NSCN setup”. The involvement of the deceased in underground factions is not ascertained till now, police said.
Meanwhile, at around 12-12:30 at Ghorapatti area in Dimapur, police recovered the dead body of another person, Mayoyang Muivah (19 yrs), reportedly the brother of the injured person, Sumiho (Ayo) Muivah, the injured person in the Duncan incident.
Police said that Mayoyang Muivah is reportedly a student of PU (Commerce) who had recently come to Dimapur from his village for readmission into Patkai Christian College; he had earlier studied there but got “failed.” Dimapur Superintendent of Police, Lirimo Lotha disclosed that the three persons were abducted by armed cadres from a house in Khermahal colony at around 9:30 this morning.
The SP informed that last night at around 12:30 pm one NSCN (IM) cadre was shot dead while he was traveling in a Maruti car with his companion in a Burma Camp area. The deceased was identified as ‘ss’ Lt AB Pouken Zeliang, presently residing in Wungram Colony, Purana Bazar. His companion escaped however, his condition is not ascertained till now and that the police have no records of his accomplice, the Dimapur SP informed.
Meanwhile, Dimapur police confirmed that the body of ‘capt’. Vitoshe, an NSCN (IM) cadre was recovered this evening from Burma Camp area. A top Dimapur police officer informed that another body has been found in Padum Phukri area late this evening. However details to these two incidents could not be ascertained from the police, till filing of this story.
Nonetheless, speaking on the tense situation in Dimapur SP Lirimo Lotha said that the Dimapur police will “definitely gear up” to face the situation. He disclosed that Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Maongwati has personally requested the Assam Rifles to provide security in the peripheral areas of Dimapur. “The DC personally requested the Assam Rifles and hopefully they would come forward and help us with peripheral security,” the SP said.
The SP further disclosed that the DC has asked the tribal hoho leaders present at today’s meeting of District Coordination Committee Dimapur at DC office, to disseminate to the people not to harbor cadres in their houses; since rival cadres would come around in search for them, resulting in abductions and even shootouts in civilian-populated area.
Meanwhile, the Dimapur SP Lirimo Lotha today refuted the allegation of the NSCN (IM) that that one of its officials, Tatong Ao (Secretary) had been “abducted” from his residence at Bank Colony, Dimapur by the “Unification gang” who came disguised as policemen in ‘police uniform’. In this regard, Liromo Lotha said that the police have thoroughly inquired into the matter with the relatives of the abducted persons, who told the police that some people did come to the abducted person’s house three or four times searching for the victim; however, they came in civilian clothes, said Lirimo Lotha.



Naga Hoho session from May 29
Dimapur, May 5: The 9th general session of the Naga Hoho has been scheduled May 29 to the 31st at Peren, to be hosted by the Zeliangrong Baudi. The Executive Council of the Naga Hoho and various tribe hohos in all Naga-inhabited areas extend profound gratitude to Zeliangrong Baudi for hosting the 9th general session. This was collectively decided during the Naga Hoho’s Federal Assembly held on April 30 in Kohima. The Executive Council is contemplating to bring out the detailed programme, stated the hoho in ante and informed to bring out the same for distribution without delay.
Further, election to various posts in the Naga Hoho for the tenure 2008-2010 will be held on May 30, 2008 during the general session for which the Federal Assembly has set up an election commission as enshrined in the constitution of the Naga Hoho. The commission members are Dr. Lanusashi Longkumer as Election Commissioner, and Kho John and Vipopal Kintso are members.