Send college students to Northeast, suggests PM

The Northeast may see a surge of young tourists soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said each of the over 30,000 colleges in India should send a hundred students every year to the states in the Northeast. If the idea is implemented, the annual domestic tourist number will be a whopping 30 lakh.

Modi made the reference as part of elaborating the government’s Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat slogan mentioned in President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to Parliament. “We have 30,000 colleges in the country, why can’t 100 students from each of these colleges visit the Northeast once a year?” the Prime Minister asked in Rajya Sabha during discussion on the President’s address. “Imagine how it would help tourism, eco-tourism and help young people understand the problems of their brothers and sisters in the Northeast.”

Senior journalist and author B.G. Verghese said while it is not a new idea, the concept of familiarisation with the Northeast is a good one. “But it should be done with planning, may be letting students live in a university and play a football match,” said Verghese.

The Prime Minister’s move matches an idea his determined opponent and former DoNER minister Manishankar Aiyar had introduced. As DoNER minister, Aiyar introduced the practice of providing airfare as LTA to central government servants in order to holiday in the Northeast. The practice helped domestic tou-rism in the region.

Capacities in the hilly region are limited and infrastructure uneven. However, officials said if the government is determined to increase domestic tourist potential, it would also have a plan for backing it up with infrastructure like hotels, roads and transport. Verghese questioned if 30 lakh students are going to visit, can the railways cope with it? He felt concession tours during summer months would be a good idea.

Currently, air connectivity to the region is prohibitively expensive. Airfare from Calcutta to Bangkok costs less than a ticket from Delhi to Dimapur.

Modi also spoke of an idea he had floated a few years ago as Gujarat chief minister and referred to it during election speeches also. As Gujarat chief minister he wanted 200 women police personnel from each of the eight Northeast states to be deployed in Gujarat for two years.

“The families would visit and people would understand each other. This would help integration,” said Modi. The plan had not worked out, allegedly because the Centre had not given the nod to such a move.

Over the past two years, domestic tourism in northeastern states, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Nagaland, has risen by over 30 per cent. Coupled by a task of increasing capacities as envisioned in Vision 2020, the Northeast could be a new destination for domestic tourists.

Source: The Telegraph

A Timeless Love letter

Miss Rose, a Tangkhul girl of Ngaprum Khullen village in Ukhrul district, was gang raped for hours in the house of Mr. R. Khasung in the night of 4 March 1974 by the officers of 95 Border Security Force. Rose committed suicide on 6 March 1974. She wrote a suicide note in Tangkhul language to her boyfriend. That suicide note was translated into Manipuri, and it was published at a publication of the Pan Manipur Youth League in 1993. The Manipuri version of the note was again translated into English by Ms. R.K. Smejita

"A Timeless Love letter" written by a Tangkhul Rape victim ( A publication of the Pan Manipur Youth League in 1993 - Translated to English ) Source: AFSPA 1958, CPDM 2010.

Most beloved…

In a world seeded with envy, our love shall never bloom together like those lovely flowers in the same stalk but we will bloom radiantly in that pure everlasting place of our true love. That I am leaving this world should not bereaved you to utter melancholy. A life driven by gale of sorrow and unrequited words mortify my soul and leave me to choose only this lone way. For the days to come, we made promises to be one and together in our lifelong journey. But oh! My love I could not make for that moment! Oh! My life none is there to receive your lot. What a pity! Oh! My vanquished soul every second bears the brunt of bereaved feelings, bringing me to the threshold of defeat. Even the tears which flow like an eternal spring now dries up. Those tears were the only image of my life. I will be remembering in those looming darkness of hell the tale of you and I. From dust to dust let this body embrace its birthplace; let the earth dissolves my remains. Oh! How enviable for that last glance, to see one last time of my image in your eyes, but alas! Fate deceives me at this last hour. I choose my own disgraceful death and lo! I will walk as an outcast forever. My love when you remembers me, turn your eyes to those darkest horizon for I reside forever in the abyss of darkness. There, you will find me treading all alone with a heavy sigh of regrets in that long darkness.

Love of my life! Feeling of sweet remembrance of those long hearty laughs and sharing each other woes fills my memory. At the dead of this night, far from here my love a deep slumber will be taking you to pleasant dreams. My last wish to see your visage shall ever remain unfulfilled as you are far from me… far across these ranges of hills.

For my lovely friends, though I am unable to write each a parting letter I plead to you to tell them my last farewell. In this early morning, I am glancing over the distance of your lovely place Bungpa. Remember, my love how I wish to shower all my feelings and love, all I have for you like a cascade flowing down in your ocean of love. Have you ever received the letter I sent to you on 6-2-73? What could have happened for not returning any reply from your side? I have waited long and I am still waiting, but at the moment life steals away stealthily. Why and how did we ever get parted will only be known after you escape from this world. Oh Hell! Oh! Abyss of Darkness! I loathe going that dark passage. No one shall ever know who betrays whom. The secret is entombed forever.

The life of a maiden dries up from blooming into a lovely flower and lays in the heathen… unadorned, unaccepted, untouched. Only regrets on my part for I am choke with words which I unable to tell you everything at this moment. What remains of the sad tale I will narrate to you closely in another lifetime, in another eternity. I will end with this note my love! That the only words that erupt from the truest, innermost part of me is the saddest part of our parting, the story of our failure to be together again.


Your Rose.

 

 

Epilogue:

Many Naga women have fallen prey in the hands of the Indian Armies. There are many undocumented cases of assaults, tortures, rapes and killing of innocent Naga women. *Here are some of the few documented cases:

1. Mass rape committed by the Indian troops against women residents of Cheswezy village on 9 December 1970, where 18 girls and 9 married women were raped and 53 women molested.


2. The animal passion of the Indian army personnel that fell upon the female population of Mao Songsong town and Shajaoba village women on 24 July 1971 left with several women raped and molested.


3. In Ukhrul area, Ms. Rose of about 19 years from Kumram (Ngaprum) village committed suicide. She was gang-raped by two Indian paramilitary officers, namely, Dy. Comdt. Pundir and Asst. Comdt. Negi of the 95 Bn Border Security Force on 4 March 1974 in front of the helpless village elders who were kept at bay at gun point.


4. The villagers brought Ms. Ngaithengla, a 24-year-old girl from Grihang village, in a near-dying condition. She had been tortured and gang-raped for three continuous days from 3-5 March 1974 by an armed group of the 95 Bn. Border Security Force personnel under the command of Dy. Comdt. Prakash. On the third day she was dragged to the school building where the other villagers had been rounded up. She was dragged by her hair to the classroom, kicked, beaten and stripped. Sticks were forced into her private parts causing profuse bleeding.


5. Again on the evening of 6 March 1974 at about 18:00 hrs, Mrs. Paothingla and Ms. Shiningla of Grihang village were taken away by two Indian soldiers under the order of Dy. Comdt. Dharam Prakash. They were taken a mile away from the village. One soldier took Mrs. Paothingla into a jungle from the main road, forcibly removed all her garments at gun point, pulled her hair and, after beating severely, raped her. The other soldier took Ms. Shiningla and repeated the same beastly act.


6. Two Indian army officers assaulted Ms. Luingamla of Ngainga village on 24 January 1986 and, when she resisted their beastly behavior, she was shot dead at point blank range.

*www.angelfire.com/mi/Nagalim/cont7.html

 

Something much higher than Article 371(A) for the Nagas

By: Kaka D. Iralu.: 10 Jun. 2014

Something much higher than article 371(A) was given by God to the Nagas. But tragically, Nagas have turned their backs to this extra-ordinary special provision and have been wandering in the jungles of India and Article 371 (A) for the past 52 years (1962-2014).

The extraordinary special provision that was given by God to the Nagas is found in the Constitution of God (The Bible) in Article Acts 17:26. The wording of this article goes like this: “And he (God) made from one (Adam) all the nations of the earth (Including Nagas) and gave them their respective periods and the boundaries of their habitation.”

Now, it is a universal fact of history that no citizens of any nation on earth have ever created or made their own geographical lands. On the contrary, every citizen of every country is born into a country that has already been there for a long time. As to the creation of any nation’s geographical lands, there is no historical or scientific record that the ancestors of any nation have ever created the mountains, rivers and lands of a country. The Bible is therefore not making any nonsensical statement when it reveals that the author and creator of all nations and their respective geographical and national identities ares a work of God.

In the same vain of truth, the special provision of land ownership and its rights for the Nagas was given by non other than God himself who is the creator and real owner of all the Naga Lands. (The same is true of all nations on earth). This special provision also supersedes or even nullifies anything that India can give to the Nagas. This is so, because Nagaland was never a part of India nor was Nagaland created by any ancestors of India.

Now to be sovereign and independent within ones own God apportioned lands is the inherent right of any nation on earth. This right is also recognised by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights under article 15 (1) and (2) and 21 (1) and (3). We also must accept that to be sovereign and independent is to be responsible for running one’s own governmental affairs like civil administration, building one’s own economy, industry, defence, finance etc. It means responsible governance which is a very tough work involving sacrifices, toil and sweat.

But what have Nagas gotten from India under Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution? We have no time or space here to quote the whole of Article 371(A) or the 16 Point Agreement. But if we go through these documents, we will find that all the important factors of running a state was to be handled by the Government of India. On top of this, the funds would be generously provided from the Consolidated Fund of India (Art.371 (A) (c). As for the responsible and gigantic task of running law and order problems in a state, article 371 (A) (b) guarantees: “The Governor of Nagaland shall have special responsibility with respect to law ans order in the state of Nagaland…”

What this means for our Naga leaders who negotiated the 16 Point Agreement and made Nagaland a puppet state in India was that they got Ministerial posts complete with household Assam Rifles bodyguards, massive travel CRPF escort parties with sirens and of course access to the massive development funds that poured into Nagaland after it became an Indian state in 1962. As for running the affairs of the state , they were provide with a lot of manpower right from Chowkidars, Personal Peons, Malis and office staffs to obedient bureaucrats who would pre-fix and su-fix every word with “Sir” and “Sir every time their services were required!
But tell me, can any nation become a strong nation if it is spoon fed and “Governed” by another nation?

As for the rest of the Nagas who constitutes about 80% of the overwhelming majority of Nagas in the villages, their share of the deal was heinous laws like The Armed Special Powers Act 1958/1970, Nagaland Regulation Act 1962 etc. When these acts and Regulations were applied into Nagaland, these village folks, on top of their hard works in their fields, went again and again to Indian Jails and many even died. This was because they refused to give up their dreams of an independent Nagaland where they could live in freedom and liberty. They have suffered the brunt of all these heinous laws for the past 52 years of statehood. That was their share from the so called grand Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.

Now, at the end of the day, or to put it in years-after 52 years of marriage with article 371(A), what did Nagas gain as a nation? May be 5% of the people who have lived on the top ladder of the Naga society got the lion’s share of the consolidated funds of India. Perhaps another 10% got a steady job with which they were able to raise their children. As for the rest of the Naga population, ask them what they got from this deal with India.
But for those who have been feasting on the sumptuous meals of Article 371(A) set on the externally polished table of the Indian state of Nagaland, watch out for the legs of the table. Over the years, the legs of the table have been ravaged by different Naga political ants -some even wearing national uniforms.

They have all been eating away the soft wood of the table legs so much so that the table might soon crash down in a cloud of dust. The best solution of course would be for India to come and take away this Indian made dinning table that has already cost the Indian exchequer billions of Rupees. The moment this is done, Nagas will be compelled to stand on their own two legs of equality and hard work again. The sooner this is done, the better it will be for both Nagaland and India who are two different and distinct countries.

North East United FC Unveiled

John Abraham Launches North East United Football Club

Football fans across the North East were ecstatic when Guwahati was selected as one of the eight franchise cities of the proposed Indian Super League (ISL). The ISL is a football League promoted by  IMG , Reliance and Star India which is all set to kick off from mid September to November 2014.

The ISL received an overwhelming response as numerous corporate houses of the country and top sporting institutions as well as a galaxy of top Bollywood stars  bid to own a team from the proposed 9 cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Goa, Kolkata and Guwahati.

In April this year, the winning bids were announced and the consortium comprising of Bollywood actor John Abraham and Shillong Lajong FC were awarded the Guwahati Franchise.  Guwahati had found its place in the list of 8 cities for the 1st edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) in place of Chennai.

The team was unveiled in an event held in the city today and named “North East United Football Club”.

Speaking at the function, John Abraham said “I am a firm believer in the footballing talent that exists in the North East and proud to be associated with owning a football Club from the region. Our objective is to harness the talent and combine the footballing potential of the region into one team that we hope shall become an engine and platform that will power Indian football forward in the future.”

The event was also attended by a host of actors and personalities from the Assamese film industry who were present to lend their support and encourage the team besides officials of the Assam Football and Guwahati Sports Association and other dignitaries. Also present at the function were Bolywood Producer Ronnie Lahiri who is a designated advisor and mentor of the Franchise and Sanjiv Narain co – promoter of the Franchise.

Larsing Sawyan, Managing Director of Lajong said “A United Team of the North East based out of the region’s largest city has the potential to compete at the highest level in the country and with North East United, we hope to continue to fulfil the sporting aspirations of the people of the region and assist in propelling football in the country to higher levels”.
India is a country of 1.2 billion people where over 50% of the population is below 25 years of age. Sports is therefore gaining traction in the country and is mostly followed by everyone in this age group. The aim of the Franchise is to take football to the next level in the North East in order improve the overall development of the sport in India and also provide new opportunities to talents across the region.
The league which will be organised by IMG-Reliance and Star India which has the support of the All India Football Federation, promises to bring international football stars who will be playing alongside the Indian Footballers and create a new era of football in the country.

http://www.shillonglajong.com/north-east-united-fc-unveiled

Manipur youth brutally assaulted in Delhi

A 26-year-old northeast boy was brutally assaulted by the manager of a BPO where he worked along with five men on Wednesday night in Kirti Nagar,New Delhi

The incident occurred at the third floor of the office building around 11pm. The victim’s left hand was fractured. He sustained injuries on his right leg, left waist and on his face.

Recounting the harrowing experience victim told our reporter that he was working in a BPO named Consumer Loan in Kirti Nagar for the last 10 months and he had left the company three days ago.

“I was called by our manager Mr Ankur on Wednesday night to collect salary at the office. The moment I entered the gate, he locked the entrance , the victim alleged that at that moment the Manager was accompanied by an unknown person who looked like a bouncer. The Victim further narrated that ‘they brought me into the third floor. As soon as we entered the room, Ankur suddenly snatched away my mobile phone and my laptop. Then he began hitting repeatedly on my head with blunt object. I shielded my face with my both hands. He hit me so hard that my left hand got fractured then and there. Not only he beat me, the other men who were in the fourth floor joined in and mercilessly attacked me with blunt objects and wooden sticks,” the victim recounted.

Terming the attack, racial the victim who hails from Manipur added that there were racial overtones to the attack and they specifically said , “We will finish you and we will kill all the Nepalese present in this office’ they allegedly also thratened to take him to an isolated place and kill him ”.
After the assault the culprits went to the other room to consume liquor and the Manipuri Victim taking advantage of this situation ran out of the place but not before he had locked the culprits from outside .This quick thinking ensured that not only the-goons could not chase him but also they couldn’t escape when the police eventually came to arrest them.

After the police were intimated they arrested all the accused from the location.Not suprisingly the arrested instead accused the victim of attacking them but such ridiculous claims were refuted by the police and a case has been filed against them at the Kirti Nagar Police station .
The Police have said that they are still awaiting for the Medical report. Depending on the reports, necessary sections will be added in the FIR,” meanwhile some groups of northeast youths visited the Victim at the police station. The victim also submitted complaint letter demanding the addition of SC/ST Act in the FIR.
The victim is the lone breadwinner in the family. They lives in south Delhi with her ailing mother and her elder sister, who looks after their ailing mother. They all hails from Manipur.
This is one of the many such assaults on people from Northeast in the National Capital.

Gunmen Take Hundreds of Students Hostage on Iraq University Campus

Iraq:  Gunmen occupied a university in Iraq's western province of Anbar on Saturday, taking hundreds of students and their professors hostage on campus, security sources said.

After fighting their way past guards overnight, the gunmen broke into Anbar University in the provincial capital Ramadi, parts of which have been held by anti-government tribal groups and insurgents since the start of the year.

The attack on the university is the third brazen offensive in as many days by militants who have regained ground and momentum in Iraq over the past year and this week overran districts in two other cities.

Security forces surrounded the university in Ramadi on Saturday and exchanged fire with the militants, who had planted bombs behind them and were patrolling the rooftops with sniper rifles.

Sources in Ramadi hospital said they had received the bodies of two people, one of them a student and the other a policeman.

A professor trapped inside the physics department said some staff who live outside Ramadi had been spending the night at the university because it was the exam period.

"We heard intense gunfire at about 4 am. We thought it was the security forces coming to protect us but were surprised to see they were gunmen," he told Reuters via telephone. "They forced us to go inside the rooms and now we cannot leave".

He was later able to escape along with 15 colleagues and pupils. "I brought some of my students' exam papers in a nylon bag and, wearing my tie and suit, jumped the fence and am outside now," he said.

The identity of the assailants was not clear, but Ramadi is one of two cities in Anbar that were overrun at the start of the year by tribal and Sunni insurgents, including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Security forces control central Ramadi, where the city council and other government offices are located, but the suburbs and outlying areas have shifted back and forth between of hit and run attacks by militants.

VIOLENCE RESURGES

Almost 480,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Anbar over the past six months, according to the United Nations, in what is Iraq's largest displacement since the sectarian bloodletting that climaxed in 2006-07.

Violence is still well below those levels, but insurgents have been regaining ground and momentum over the past year, making 2013 Iraq's deadliest year since security began to improve.

Nearly 800 people were killed across the country in May alone - the highest monthly toll this year so far.

On Thursday, militants moved into the city of Samarra in the adjacent province of Salahuddin and briefly occupied a university there as well as two mosques, raising ISIL's black banner until being forced to retreat under airstrikes.

The following day, insurgents fought Iraqi security forces in the northern city of Mosul.

A source at Mosul morgue said the bodies of 70 people had been brought in on Saturday, adding there were still corpses on the streets but they could not be recovered yet some districts of the city remained under militant control.

© Thomson Reuters 2014

BJP Leader Vijay Pandit Shot Dead in Greater Noida, Mob Set Ablaze Vehicles

Greater Noida:  BJP leader and Dadri Nagar Panchayat Chairman Geeta Pandit's husband Vijay Pandit(37) was shot dead allegedly by four unidentified persons in Dadri area on Saturday night, after which a mob set ablaze 16 vehicles near a police station in protest.

The assailants came on two motorcycles and held the pistol at Pandit's temple and mouth and shot him dead when he was returning home from his brother's shop at Bramhpuri at around 8.30pm, police sources said.

Thereafter, they fired several rounds and one bullet hit the victim's chest too. 

Vijay Pandit, a former district BJP Vice President, fell down bleeding. The assailants then fired in the air to scare away the people in the area and fled abandoning one motorcycle which went out of control and skidded sideways. The villagers and BJP workers, on hearing about the incident, reached the site and a mob set ablaze around sixteen vehicles near Dadri Kotwali on G T Road. 

They also stoned buses and other passing vehicles and police fired in air to control the mob which fired at the police team, the sources said. 

District Magistrate A.V.Rajamouli deployed additional forces drawn from neighbouring districts and PAC and Rapid Action too were pressed into service. An injured Vijay Pandit was taken to Dadri's Mohan Swarup Hospital from where he was shifted to Ghaziabad Yashoda Hospital where doctors declared him dead. 

One bullet hit Vijay Pandit in the mouth, another in chest and one behind the ear, police sources said. "The situation is now under control. PAC has been deployed", said Brijesh Kumar Singh, SP(Rural), late tonight. 

Two policemen were injured in skirmishes with the mob, police sources said. 

'Tribal laws can help resolve conflicts in Northeast'

GUWAHATI: In a region often rocked by ethnic clashes, experts said tribal jurisprudence should be explored as a means to resolve conflicts in the northeast.

At a two-day meet on "Conflict Resolution Systems in Tribal Societies of North East India: Legal Pluralism and Indian Democracy" organized by the North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC) here, human rights activist and Supreme Court advocate Nandita Haksar stressed that tribal jurisprudence was still relevant in resolving conflicts between communities and individuals in the region. Haksar pointed out that while conflicts over natural resources were at the heart of tensions between communities, contestations among those claiming indigenous status and so-called migrant communities were major issues that needed immediate attention.

She added that tribal jurisprudence could provide "creative ways" to address conflicts. However, she suggested conflict resolution systems within communities had to evolve suitable mechanisms to deal with emergent tensions.

Experts highlighted that communities were undergoing rapid changes with regards to land and ownership of natural resources. Haksar contended that, in such a situation, a question remained on how tribes should persist with loyalty to older traditional customs.

Haksar opined that land and natural resources formed the basis for conflicts in the region at present. She added that religion, too, had a role to play in these conflicts.

Experts said Indian democracy had much to gain from the legal pluralism of the tribal communities of the northeast. At the same time, they focused on understanding the influence of political forces over traditional methods. Haksar said village authorities had come under the control of political parties and underground groups who use traditional law to legitimize their positions.

Experts pointed out that an important concern in adopting traditional methods was that of participation of women. "This issue needs to be dealt with extreme sensitivity because often women, as individuals and as a group, are pitted against the community while staking their claims to political rights and adjudicative participation," Haksar said. Women's rights activist and co-founder of Mumbai-based Majlis, Flavia Agnes spoke on issues related to the uniform civil code.

Manipuri girl ends life in hostel room

BANGALORE: A 20-year-old nursing student allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her college hostel near Ayyappa Nagar, East Bangalore, on Thursday night.

Lamthakka Teshang Chui Shille Koruphur, who hailed from Manipur and was a final-year BSc (nursing) student at South East Asian College, KR Puram, was found hanging in her room by security personnel.

Ao tribe completes tribal community learning prog

EMN
Dimapur, June 7

Altogether 25 young students and 3 resource persons from the Ao community have successfully completed the Tribal Community Learning Programme at NEZCC on June 7. Tribal Community Learning Proogramme is an ongoing series designed by NEZCC to address the challenges posed by the advent of modernity and the resultant impact created in the society, especially on the younger urban youth.

The programme culminated in a simple function where the students have performed various forms of art and traditional knowledge they have gathered relating to their community during the ten days period and shared their experiences which has benefited them from the programme.

Lipokmar Tzudir, Director of NEZCC, in his brief introductory address has thanked the Dimapur Ao Lanur Telongjem for their support and cooperation in making the training programme a success.

K Temjen Jamir, Editor of Tir Yim Yim, presented a brief review on the performance by the participants of the training and exhorted them to act as Master Trainers to carry forward the traditional knowledge that they have gained through the training programme for the benefit of the community. He also congratulated the Director of NEZCC for his initiative in focusing on the relevant issue relating to preservation and sustenance of indigenous culture. He also gave away the certificates to the participants.
In the ongoing series, the next group of 3 experts and 25 students from the Chakhesang community would commence their learning programme for the next ten days beginning from June 8 in the NEZCC Campus.

Students storm MPSC office

Newmai News Network | June 7

IMPHAL: Around 60 activists of Joint Students Co-ordination Committee (JSCC) stormed the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) office in Imphal protesting against the process to hold the Main Examination of the Manipur Civil Service by the MPSC and demanding nullification of the results of the preliminary examination of 2014 alleging various anomalies by MPSC officials during exams.

There were several errors in question papers and the marking pattern of the MPSC Preliminary Exams. Issuing of forms for the Main Examination has begun since May 21.

At around 1 pm today, JSCC stormed the MPSC office at North AOC in Imphal. They pelted stones at the office and attempted to dismantle the gate of the office. The student volunteers then locked the office before they left.

Manipur police guarding the MPSC office were stunned when the large number of JSCC members suddenly rushed into the office campus this afternoon. The police failed to control the charging JSCC members. Additional police was called in. Imphal police station officer-in-charge along with his team witnessed the volatile situation. Things came to a halt a few minutes later.

It can be noted here that All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM-Tombing) and Joint Students' Co-ordination Committee (JSCC) had threatened to resort to series of agitation if the ongoing process to conduct the Main Examination to the Manipur Civil Service is not halted immediately.

ATSUM and JSCC had demanded to cancel the Preliminary Examiniation Results of 2014 and start a fresh examination.

Both JSCC and ATSUM had expressed their resentment on the farcical situation created by the negligence committed by Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) regarding the 2014 Preliminary examiniation results. They had also demanded that if the MPSC is not capable of conducting such examination it should be handed over to the UPSC.

Earlier, JSCC had apprised the Governor of Manipur while the All Manipur Muslim Girl’s Student Union, United Minority and Student’s Federation of North East Education and social Upliftment Department had asked for the re-evaluation the examiniation papers or else threatened to resort to starn form of agitation.

‘Maintain peace amongst Naga brothers and Karbi people’

morungexpress | June 7, 2014

Naga Hoho meets border village representatives and civil society 

DIMAPUR, JUNE 7 (MExN): The Naga Hoho has urged the people living along the Nagaland-Karbi Anglong border to “maintain peace and tranquility amongst the Naga brothers and also with the Karbi people.”

The Naga Hoho convened an ‘Interactive Meeting’ with various villages and NGO’s neighboring Karbi Anglong on June 7 at the Naga Council Dimapur’s (NCD) Unity Hall here.

Opening remarks delivered by Chuba Ozukum, President Naga Hoho, urged the ‘august house’ to maintain peace and tranquility amongst the Naga brothers and also with the Karbi people. Highlighting the “efforts being put up by the Nagaland State Government to amicably solve the border issue pending in Supreme Court of India between Assam and Nagaland,” he requested the house to be “patient enough” and assured them that Naga Hoho will be with them till “amicable solution” is arrived at.

Mentioning the Consultative Meeting between Nagas and Karbis on May 23 in Dimapur, in which both parties expressed longing for peaceful relations between the communities, Ozukum stressed on the need of “better and cordial relation amongst the Nagas first.” A press note from the communication cell of the Naga Hoho informed that the meeting was chaired by Ntsemo Ngullie, General Secretary, NCD. Various young and senior citizens spoke on the issue and reiterated the need for unity amongst the tribes and villages. Village Council Chairman, members and Civil Societies of Dikoi, Indisen, Rilan, Aoyimkum, JAC, UNTABA, DNSU, NCD and other concerned citizens highlighted the historical facts as well as the current scenario of the disputed belt adjoining Assam border.

The members pledged to stand by their proposal to maintain peaceful atmosphere between villages and further urged the Nagaland State Government to expedite the resolution of the border row at the earliest.

Mentally challenged woman burnt to death after gang rape

Agartala: In a case of horrific brutality, a mentally challenged woman was burnt to death after being gang raped in Tripura, police said Saturday. "She was gang raped by three men. They then burnt her to death in Harina village in southern Tripura Thursday night," a police spokesman told reporters here. The village is located about 155 km from here. The woman, 42, a mother of two, was mentally challenged. Police arrested the three culprits, all construction workers, and a probe is on. Various political parties, including the ruling CPI-M, have demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits.

ALOBO NAGA AND THE BAND OUT WITH NEW SINGLE, ‘ALL WE HAVE IS NOW

Alobo Naga and the Band is out with their brand new single “All We Have is Now” which is streaming on youtube. The song can be downloaded free from http://indihut.com/alobo-naga-the-band/

Winner of 2012 Best Indian Act At MTV Europe Music Awards – Alobo Naga & The Band (ANB) is an Indian rock outfit from Dimapur, Nagaland, formed in 2010. Since 2010, the band has consisted of members Alobo Naga (lead vocals, songwriter, and keyboards), Akum James (lead guitar, backing vocal), Fung Walling (bass guitar, backing vocals), Sumika Yepothomi (Turntables) and MyBon Pamei (Drums). The band rose to fame in 2011 with their video single ‘Painted Dreams’ which was an instant hit; it was premiered in August 2011 at VH1. The popularity of the video also helped the band to earn themselves MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 nominations under Best Indian Act/Worldwide Act.

Alobo Naga & The Band – ALL WE HAVE IS NOW

Mixed by Tim Palmer (Grammy Nominee British Music Producer)

Video Conceptualized by Creovaent Productions

Video Directed by Prithish and Puja Chakraborty (Creovaent Productions)

Associate Producer – Nirupam Deka (Creovaent Productions)

Cinematography – Nagen Baishya

Asst. Cinematography – Pankaj Baral

Editor: Jhulan Krishna Mahanta

Jimmy Jib Operator – Rijauddin

Production Assistant – Betoka Swu, Sam

Kejriwal to visit Manipur soon

IMPHAL, Jun 6 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National convenor Arvind Kejriwal is likely to visit Manipur ‘very soon’, according to a party source.

The former Delhi Chief Minister expressed his desire to visit Manipur when K Zou, Joint convenor AAP Manipur met him at his official residence at Delhi yesterday evening.

According to Th Jugindro, another Joint Convenor of AAP, Manipur the date and time of proposed Arvind Kejriwal visit to Manipur will be prepared by the State Aam Aadmi Party very soon.

Meanwhile, K Zou who is currently in New Delhi said that well wishers of AAP and supporters of anti corruption campaign should not be confused by the ongoing situation within the senior members of the AAP. “It is part of introspection of the performance of the last 16th Lok Sabha election and the party will overcome the situation very soon,” K Zou added.

He also said that unlike other political parties, AAP will not deviate from its war against corruption and corrupt culture in the country, even though several people with vested interest files defamation cases against the party leaders for making a list of corrupted people. The AAP said it has sufficient proves for making a list of corrupted people in the country and will ensure to bring out the truth in the court of law.

Meanwhile, AAP Manipur also warned politicians, Government servants and LPG/ petrol/diesel/ K.Oil agencies to abstain from looting the public by virtue of their official positions and the privileges they enjoy.

“We appeal to all the bureaucrats to maintain transparency and accountability and be a model for the common people when discharging official duties,” AAP Manipur stated. The Prime minister of India has already made it clear that government officers must work without the fear of politicians, it reminded. AAP Manipur then said it will intervene in any case of harassment of honest public servants if politicians threaten them for transfer or take undue action. We will take the matter direct to the Home Ministry or the Prime Minister of India,” AAP Manipur cautioned.

Rio apprises Home Minister on Naga issue

DIMAPUR, Jun 6 : Nagaland’s lone Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, Neiphiu Rio today urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to expedite the Naga peace process.

According to Abu Metha, the media advisor of Neiphiu Rio, the latter has been meeting a number of leaders and Ministers in New Delhi after taking oath. Rio met Union Home Minister and National BJP President Rajnath Singh and highlighted the need for early resolution of the Naga political issue in his meeting with Rajnath Singh. He also met Union Minister of State (Home) Kiren Rijiju and impressed upon the Minister to expedite the peace process and work towards early resolution of the political problem.

Rio met Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Sarbananda Sonowal and highlighted the need to promote sports and youth activities, create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities and promote youth empowerment. Emphasizing on some of the pioneering initiatives taken up by the Nagaland Government in the area of youth empowerment, Rio stressed on the urgent need to promote the youth of the North Eastern region and also address the problems being faced by the people of the North East in the rest of the country especially in the metropolitan cities.

Meanwhile, participating in the ongoing Parliament session immediately after the election of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Rio congratulated the newly elected Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, Rio extended his regards on behalf of Nagaland, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the North East Regional Parties Front (NERPF) to the Speaker.

He assured all cooperation to the Chair while urging her to support in bringing about peace and resolution of the Naga political problem. He stressed on the fact that Nagaland is fifty years old and that he was the lone MP in the House from Nagaland and that the Naga political problem needed to be seriously discussed and addressed.

Rio has also been called on by a number of senior leaders from all over the country, including both the Members of Parliament from Sikkim, Rajya Sabha MP, S. Reddy, senior officers and representatives of NGOs and civil societies.

Neiphiu Rio then took up the issue of poor air connectivity in Nagaland with the Prime Minister and the union Civil Aviation Minister. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Rio stated, “At present, only Air India is operating in Dimapur with five flights a week to Kolkata via Dibrugarh. In this regard there is an urgent need to increase air services to Dimapur and also introduce new flights in this sector in the greater interest of the people. In the past too, the State Government has taken up the matter with the Government of India on several occasions, however the services have only deteriorated.” The letter further stated that the Dimapur Airport is in a very poor condition and its facilities need to be immediately improved and upgraded. At present the aircraft that is operating in the Dimapur sector is very old and regularly faces technical problems and therefore this concern also needs to be addressed urgently, the letter stated.

Rio suggested some immediate actions to be taken up by the Government of India like introduction of direct flights from Delhi to Dimapur and Dimapur to Delhi via Kolkata, introduction of Dimapur – Guwahati – Kolkata flight and improvement of Dimapur Airport facilities.

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang and MP Neiphiu Rio together met the Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati in New Delhi today to highlight the connectivity problems of the State. They also met Union DONER Minister Gen VK Singh.

‘Nagaland is rich in gold’

morungexpress | June 6, 2014

However, the extent of gold reserves in Nagaland cannot be predicted on the basis of preliminary study

Bangalore, June 6 (IANS): “There’s gold in them thar hills” was a promotional campaign that ran in Georgia in the US for almost a century from the 1830s and this could well apply to the Naga Hills straddling India and Myanmar, which are a promising place to prospect for the yellow metal, according to a geologist who has worked extensively there.
The discovery that can potentially put Nagaland on the gold map has been reported by Naresh Ghose, a retired geology professor of Patna University in the journal Current Science. His conclusion has emerged from an intensive study of rocks called “ophiolites” found in that region.

Ophiolites are slices of what were once the ocean floor but were thrust on to the continental crust more than 65 million years ago by the action of what geologists call plate tectonics, a mechanism that gave rise to the Himalayas. The hill ranges of Nagaland and Manipur bordering Myanmar are one such place on earth where an ancient oceanic crust had emerged on the land as a result of collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate.

The Naga Hills Ophiolite (NHO), as this region is called, consists of a variety of sedimentary rocks. Though the NHO was discovered in the 1970s its potential as a source of minerals was not realised till the 1980s when Ghose launched the study.

According to Ghose, the inaccessible nature of the terrain and lack of infrastructure are among the major constraints for undertaking a systematic study and exploitation of the NHO. Ghose says his preliminary study has brought to light the occurrence of gold in NHO in the native as well as in alloy form.

Ghose’s study dealt with rocks exposed as ophiolite at the northern and eastern margin of India along the suture zone where India and Eurasia collided to form the Himalayan mountain range. About 1,200 thin sections of rocks collected from across the NHO by his students were analyzed using instruments at the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Bangalore and were found to contain grains of both native gold and gold-silver alloy, the report said.

Gold mineralization in layered sections of Ophiolites “opens a new avenue for searching for primary gold in NHO,” Ghose told IANS.

According to the report, gold in pure form and also as gold-silver alloy, is found to occur near Sutsu, a village in Phek district about 60 kilometres from Nagaland capital Kohima. Small, detached lenses or larger bodies of “gabbros” (igneous rocks) are encountered between Tizu River gorge and Lacham Lake in the central part of ophiolite belt. The largest body of ophiolite - three km in length, 2.5 km in width and 300 metres thick - is present east of Moki, the report said.

Ghose said that sediments in the northern and central parts of the ophiolite belt are favourable sites for exploration and prospecting of noble metals. Similarly, a search for placer deposits in the Tizu River and its tributaries flowing across the northern part of the ophiolite belt “is also favoured as an alternative prospect of secondary gold”.

According to GSI, India now produces gold from Hutti, Uti and Hirabuddni mines in Karnataka and as by product from sulphide deposits of Khetri in Rajasthan and Mosabani, Singhbhum and Kundrekocha in Jharkhand. The Puga geothermal system is a “hot spring type” epithermal gold deposit in the making in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ghose said that the ophiolitic rocks of mantle and oceanic crust parentage at the continental plate margin in northeast India “have vast potential for intensive research and economic growth”.

However, the extent of gold reserves in Nagaland cannot be predicted on the basis of his preliminary study. “It calls for a more detailed geophysical and geochemical studies,” Ghosh added.

ACAUT asks Excise Commissioner to shut down liquor shops in 24 hours

morungexpress | June 6, 2014

DIMAPUR, JUNE 6 (MExN): The Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has requested Commissioner of Excise, Maongwati Aier, to “kindly shut down within 24 hours the major places selling liquor illegally in town.” These have been noted by the ACAUT to be all the wine-shops near Axis Bank, Faith Hospital junction, Khermahal Junction, Super Market area, Signal Angami area, etc., masquerading either as mineral water outlets or restaurants; all the wine-shops at Deluxe Point/Bata Charali area, Eros line area, etc., masquerading as family restaurants, and all the so-called bars and pubs, hotels, restaurants in town, including those located opposite SP office and Popular Bakery area.

“Unless the Commissioner takes action within 24 hours under Clauses 35, 36, 37, Chapter-4 of The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 where the department is EMPOWERED to ENTER, SEARCH, make SEIZURE and ARREST, it would be an open admission before the Naga people that selling/serving of IMFL/beer in a prohibited state is possible simply because the connivance of the department at the highest level with the mafia elements trading in IMFL/beer,” noted the ACAUT in a press release from its media cell today. Failure to implement the above, it maintained, shall be construed as “abdicating responsibility” and the Commissioner Excise should resign.

Further, on the issuing of a show-cause notice to a sub-ordinate officer of the Department by the Excise Commissioner, the ACAUT stated that this was a case of “the pot calling the kettle black” since the “whole Excise department is awash with corruption and the Commissioner himself is responsible.” Instead of suspending a few low-level erring officers, the ACAUT urged the Government of Nagaland to “take a tough stance and initiate action against all erring officers.”

With regards to the Excise Commissioner’s statement that “ACAUT Nagaland members did not seek permission from the Excise department for counting the IMFL bottles,” the ACAUT wondered if “the Commissioner takes permission from illegal wine-shop owners and bootleggers before conducting surprise checking and raids, if at all such takes place.” It asked the Excise Department to clarify what it has done to “curb this mockery” wherein spurious IMFL/beer are sold at prominent places in town right under the nose of the department.

GUITAR PRODIGY CONTEST 2014

The auditions of the first ever Guitar Prodigy contest organized by Barefoot Production Pvt. Ltd. Kick- starts at Dimapur on June 9 at Upstairs, opp Mahindra show room, Walford, Dimapur followed by Kohima and Mokokchung auditions on June 11 and  June 15 respectively.

For Kohima the auditions will be held at LCS conclave hall near Ao church while auditions for the Mokokchung will be held at Cosmos entertainment hall. The entries to the contest will be closed on June 6 at 5:00 p.m.

The organizers has requested the contestants to mention their preferred timing for their audition on the registration form (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to avoid clashes with school timings.

Courtesy: MExP

NSCN (K) on Naga Sovereignty

morungexpress | June 6, 2014

“There is no alternative but sovereignty even if it be in God’s own good time”

DIMAPUR, JUNE 6 (MExN): The NSCN (Khaplang) has stated its position that “there is no alternative but sovereignty even if it be in God’s own good time,” clarifying on claims that it was “already inclined to political arrangement with Myanmar.”

“Exception of ceasefire/peace agreements with India and Myanmar, the NSCN/GPRN is yet to initiate any formal political processes; therefore, the detractors’ eagerness to brand NSCN/GPRN as having already inclined to political arrangement with Myanmar is nothing but anti-Naga psychological campaign to demoralize the NSCN/GPRN and the Nagas in general,” stated a press note issued by Lt. Gen. Niki Sumi of the People’s Army of Nagaland NSCN (K).

While stating that “the Indo-Naga-Myanmar political issue basically is none but “Sovereignty” of the Nagas,” it affirmed that “NSCN/GPRN’s commitment on the issue remains clear and undiluted.” The NSCN (K) has taken exception to how the group had been “unnecessarily dragged in by few high profile individuals either out of their ignorance or with ulterior motives” while “speculating on possible settlement between GOI and IM.”

Clarifying its position on Naga sovereignty, it informed of a number of facts, namely when Myanmar held its first democratic election (since 1951) on 7th November 2010, SS Khaplang led NSCN/GPRN boycotted the process in the entire Naga inhabited area, as a result, balloting could be held in only two military stations.

Furthermore, that the few educated Naga elites representing the Nagas in Myanmar Union are “mostly nominal (nominees) in nature (not mass-based elected) and purely for the purpose of improving wretched economic and developmental aspects and in no manner infringe upon the sovereign status of the Nagas being championing by NSCN/GPRN hitherto”.

It was pointed out that in recent years the conflicting states in Myanmar had invited Nagas to join the “Union of States as member so as to pursue negotiated political status within Myanmar Union.” The NSCN (K), however, declined the offer, “keeping in view the inherent pan-Naga sovereign standing encompassing ancestral Naga home land spread over Myanmar and India.”

As recently as in 2014, the Myanmar Government had invited NSCN (K) along with the rest of “conflicting states for joint political consultation and resolution within Union of Myanmar,” The NSCN (K) maintained that “sovereignty being the sole objective of the Nagas, we are in no position to equate ourselves with other states and therefore refused to be a part of joint initiative.” The political convention in question, it was informed, had been “privileged to have had numerous international observers which included European and American countries.”

The NSCN (K) also stated that while the Nagas in Myanmar are yet to see the light of modernity “rather than alleged acceptance of political settlement- in staunch defence of Naga Sovereignty,” it was for the “Nagas of India to ponder over accord after accord starting from Hydari agreement, 16 point agreement to NNC/FGN’s Shillong Accord, by which successive acts of treasons the Nagas have been arbitrarily divided and are still languishing in political slavery under Myanmar and India.”

Woes of our Naga Society: From the Mind of an Economist

Majority of the Nagas engage themselves in activities of the primary sector which includes farming, fishing, forestry or any activities which deals with natural resources directly. This is a reflection that our economy is in an emerging stage or still very close to arudimentary form.  The economy is also a ‘sustenance economy’ with hardly any surplus to save or invest. Another way to describe the economy is a non-producing, consumerists’ economy. The Naga’s economy will collapse as soon as the inflow of funds from the central Government is stopped. Of late, the intrusion of the wave of globalisation and liberalisation is making an impact on the Nagas. More opportunities are thrown open, more options in choice of goods and services are available, there is also bombardment of information-the whole world is just a mouse click The society as a whole is in a transitional phase. More so, it is at a cross road. The question is-Do we go along with the rest and create irreparable dependency or address the problems to achieve a higher standard of life in future? Some of the problems that need immediate attention are:

Conflict of interests/aspirations: Our society is riddled with conflicting interests. Each region, every community, every tribe, every village, every clan and even  khel has its own aspiration. The Eastern Nagas want a separate state; the Southern Nagas want alternative arrangement; the Central Nagas want exclusiveness and the list goes on. Conflict of interests and resolving them do not harm the economy. This is because common benefits increase in meeting the need of one unit of the economy. I fight for my benefits; you fight for yours; if my benefits increase without harming your benefits then it is an increase in social welfare. However, the flip side of conflict of interest is that it can also harm the economy. When every organisation worth its name(there are countless) resorts to methods like economic blockade, total shut down of business establishment, lightening bandh and destruction of government properties to register their grievances or interests, it paralyses the normal functioning of the economy and results in loss of crores of money. Sadly, this is happening too often in our economy. For every interest of one section of the society, there must be a strike or bandh. It harms the economy in ways more than one-firstly it results in loss of money in terms of thousands, lakhs or crores depending on the magnitude, duration and place of occurrence. Secondly, it can result in artificial scarcity, leading to inflation due to hoarding and speculation. Thirdly, it causes untold misery to the fixed income group. This is a reflection of ignorance of basic economics in our society. While fighting for our interests we harm ourselves. Unemployment due to our idea of success: Typical Naga parents will make their children feel guilty for not sitting in competitive examinations, as if they have committed a crime. The success of a person is often equated with getting into government jobs. No matter a person can be successful financially in other fields, he is considered unemployed until a person gets into government services. The current imbroglio of SSA teachers in Nagaland not getting their salary should be an eye-opener. How many jobs can the central and the state governments create in a year, while we churn out thousands of graduates every year? Thanks to our education system, we add more to labour force. How employable they are is a different issue. For a state like Nagaland, a time will come when the government will have no money to pay its employees, a view which is supported by the deficit budget presented year after year. It is time we change our notions about success and unemployment, and look beyond exploring new areas and redefining our dignity of labour through entrepreneurship. Political issue: The Indo-Naga political issue must be resolved at the earliest opportune time. As long as the issue exists, there will be no investment friendly and market driven economy. Taxes in any form discourage investment. Saving and investment are basic activities that stabilise the economy of any society and take it to a higher level. There is hardly any saving as our economy is  by nature, sustainable,  whereas, there are no big investments due to the unfavourable environment. We have not been able to unshackle the burden for a long time now. Perhaps, Naga economy would have been different had the issue not dragged on for too long. It is high time we think together, out of the ‘umbilical-cord relationship’ we have with our national workers and exert added pressure for an early settlement to the protracted issue. Only when this happens, our economy will take its course towards development without unnecessary interference. Corruption and Poverty: Corruption in the society aggravates the problem of poverty. It also accentuates inequality. Naga society is “classless” but it is not without inequality. Whenever there is corruption, there is no distributive justice. The fruits of what little development we witness go to only a selected section of the population. The essence of development is lost where there is corruption. This is because any kind of development, especially economic development, calls for distributive justice where not just the rise is income. The existence of inequality is evident when we find palatial buildings along with huts called homes in every locality of the Naga society. Real development will come only when we weed out corruption and bring down inequality. Globalisation: Globalisation in a way is breaking down barriers in order to facilitate exchange among different parties. It is a fact that no economy in this world is self sufficient in all aspects. Exchange is necessary because of the differences in factor endowment, stage of development, availability of labour and capital, etc. To reap the fruits of exchange , Nagas need to have peaceful relation with their neighbours. The ground reality is different. We seem to be having problems with all of them. We have boundary problems with Assam, immigrants from Bangladesh, political issue with Myanmar and more. These problems should be solved first to reap the fruits of globalisation.

Clearly, the society is at a crossroad. For the present shall we allow the Hawk to prey and the Eagle to perch?

“Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. For feedback or comments please email: admin@tetsocollege.org”.

Article 371(A) and Nagaland State: Apprehensions and perceived threat

Newmai News Network
Dimapur | June 5

Apprehension has cropped up among the people of Nagaland that Article 371(A) may be abrogated by the Modi led NDA government. This apprehension has come up after the NDA government talked of opening a debate on Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.

There have been rising discussions on micro-blogging sites and social media networks on Nagaland’s Article 371(A). Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India protects some rights of some Naga people. It is also an “agreement of accession” to the Indian Union, according to Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) leader KV Pusa. He said if Article 371(A) is abrogated, it will be akin to the abrogation of the 16-Point Agreement.

Meanwhile, there are mixed feelings among the Nagas as the Modi led NDA government has come up with many serious indications on all fronts including the insurgency issues of the country. The appointment of former Chief of the Army Staff, VK Singh, as the DoNER minister speaks volumes. The approach of the 10 days old NDA government on internal security too is another indication that the Narendra Modi government means business and ready to deal with things with an iron hand.

A noted Naga intellectual who wished not to be named said that things will be extreme, either for good or for bad for insurgency issues in the North East and in Kashmir. He added that Modi may do things in a ‘straight-forward’ manner and not based on popular voice when it comes to ‘security’ issues. In that case, the Naga intellectual feared that even the hard earned cease fire agreements with various Naga underground outfits may be abrogated if Modi feels that is going to enhance the security aspect of the country. “Modi is a typical old fashioned nationalist of India,” the Naga intellectual added.

Policies aim to ‘disenfranchise & marginalize’ indigenous peoples

UKHRUL, JUNE 5 (MExN): The 2nd Consultative Meeting of Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights Groups’ of North East India expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situations of indigenous peoples within the region, and deliberated on the alarming rise in human rights violations resulting from “increased militarization” linked to developmental aggression and economic policies that “aim to disenfranchise and marginalize” indigenous communities further.

A press note from the organizers informed that such an approach towards the indigenous peoples of the North East region has resulted in increasing cases of human trafficking, violence against women and children, and HIV/AIDS etc.

The meeting, held in Ukhrul, Manipur, from June 2-4 was attended by Borok Peoples Human Rights Organisation (BPHRO), Indigenous Women’s Forum of Northeast India (IWFNEI), Karbi Human Rights Watch (KHRW), Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC), Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), and Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF).

The meeting took strong note of the ongoing series of negotiation and dialogue between the States and the Centre with different indigenous groups and civil societies with regards to varied demands for recognition of their distinct rights and identities based on their historical relationship with their lands, territories, resources, languages and cultures. During the discussion, representatives of participating organisations expressed serious concern over the delay of these processes and strongly urged the government to sincerely expedite the process of negotiation for meaningful solutions.

The meeting, distressed by the continued racial attacks and discrimination against people from the region residing in other parts of the country, questioned the “insincerity” of the government in ensuring the safety and security of the people.

Representatives of the organizations also dwelled at length on the implicit role of successive governments in “perpetuating conflict” among the indigenous peoples of the region through encouragement of land alienation by non-indigenous communities, implementation of anti-people development agendas, extraction of mineral resources etc. “All this has led to large scale displacement of indigenous communities from their lands and territories,” it was noted.

The meeting reiterated its stance on the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples and strongly urged the Government of India to uphold its commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

UT-I NSCN (IM) implements ban on night clubs

Regarding ban on “night clubs” and “brothels” in Dimapur as informed through the media by MIP-GPRN, Central Administrative Officer, Union Territory – I, NSCN (IM), M Daniel Lotha has informed that the UT-I has strictly implemented the same order to “flush out the immoral activities which is taking place in the lounges, club, and restaurants.” The authority has even met the president of “Night club & restaurant” and requested him to stop all those “evil activities which spoils the young generation and unwanted to the Naga culture as well and which is totally against the Christian society,” the CAO added in a press release.
“Naga people also should know that there are certain rules and regulation for club and pubs everywhere in the world, like age limitation and time limitation, but here in Nagaland particularly in Dimapur, we don’t see any rules and discipline in our society,” the CAO stated.

The UT-I authority has requested all the Naga public, church leaders, NGOs, and State administration to co-operate in this regard. It further informed that if any vehicle is found parked outside the night clubs and restaurants after 10:00 pm, it will be destroyed/ damaged. The liquor vendors have also been asked to shutdown their business by 9:00 pm sharp to “save people from accident and manhandling on the street.”

The release also mentioned that some “miscreants” have been collecting money in the name of CAO in and around Dimapur Town, therefore, it informed the general public to “acknowledge” the CAO UT to avoid any confusion. The UT-I authority also appealed to all the business community and peace loving people of Dimapur to stop/ ban tax, contribution and donation until further order. For details, one may contact 9436971965.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT UNC OFFICE, TAHAMZAM ON 28th MAY, 2014

The Meeting was conducted by Mr Gaidon Kamei, General Secretary, UNC with the President L. Adani, UNC in the chair. The invocation was led by Mr Ch. Angkham, President Maring Uparup. The discussion/decisions of the meeting were recorded agenda wise as under :

1. Agenda - Sale status of Charity Draw coupon in aid of UNC Sectt. Complex.
Status : Status of the sale of the charity draw was presented tribe wise and it was agreed that intensive efforts have to be made by those units who have not completed the sale. Further postponement was ruled out which otherwise would result in loss of confidence of the people.
Decision : after receiving suggestions it was agreed that sale of coupons would be completed and the sale proceeds submitted on or before 10th June, 2014. The Bank account for the Charity Draw with SBI Senapati A/C no 33822075933 was also given out to the tribe President for deposits of the sale proceeds.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT UNC OFFICE, TAHAMZAM ON 28th MAY, 2014

2. Agenda - Govt. of Manipur administrative order to all districts in the state appointing revenue tribunal to take up survey under MLR&LR Act, 1960
Discussion: The implication of the order was discussed. Although MLR&LR is not applicable in the tribal areas of the hills, after passing the Bill for a Separate Revenue Directorate for the Hills in 2012, the GoM has proceeded with an administrative order constituting Revenue tribunal Manipur as the Revenue Tribunal for Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur and the District Judge,Senapati as the Presiding Officer, Revenue Tribunal Senapati. The identity and culture of the indigenous people is rooted in Land and is inseparable from the people. The people own the land. This is a subtle move to get around the MLR&LR Act and legitimize taking over the lands of the tribals.

3. Agenda – Govt. of Manipur administrative order on Village Development Committee.
Discussion: Instead of amending the village authority act of 1956 which has been the long standing demand of the tribals and empowering the traditional institutions, the GoM has issued an office memorandum in its Gazette for establishment of “Village Development committee” (VDC) in each village in the hill district ostensibly to deal with the implementation of development programme. The VDC are to be chosen by the general body of the village but without the involvement nor endorsement of the village council, the ultimate traditional authority of the village. Instead of strengthening the village council, a parallel body with development function is to be put in place. The village which is the primary polity of the tribals is being pushed into a conflict and division situation. This is a move to abolish the village republic system of the Nagas and the tribals.
Decisions on Agenda 2 & 3: The move for appointing Revenue tribunals and the policy for establishment of VDCs must be outrightly rejected for their anti-tribal designs.
The above positions on VDC and Revenue tribunal is to be incorporated as a further justification for expediting our Alternative Arrangement demand.
Land and resources being central to our demand for AA, the issue of transfer of 193 Naga/tribal villages to police stations to Imphal East and Thoubal district can also be highlighted to bring out the GoM’s policies to dilute the ownership of the tribals over their land.
4. Agenda - AA dialogue process.
Revisit : The 7th TPT held on 6th Feb, 2014 has agreed upon the constitution of a High Powered Committee on AA for Nagas in Manipur. In the follow up visit to MHA, Delhi a written assurance was received on formal announcement of the Committee after the parliamentary election and lapse of the code of conduct.
Action : UNC Executive will follow up with MHA for early constitution of the Committee.

5. Agenda - Tribe wise review on performance in the 16th MP 2014 election.
Discussion : It was the general agreement that all the tribes have done their best and outmost in support of the Naga candidate. There were some areas in which blatant disregard for the Naga decision were reflected. This has serious implication for the people’s movement.

The Council took serious exception to the anti-Naga activities of Mr. Mani Charenamei. He caused widespread confusion among the Naga people and created avenues for questioning the mandate of the Nagas. Although he was blessed with Naga support in 2004 and 2009 because of the Naga issue, he went against the Naga people’s declaration. He was a member of the CFAA and had participated upto the 3rd rounds of TPT. In public statement he has put into the question the legitimacy of the AA demand of the Nagas in Manipur which gave very negative reflection to the world. He was also convenor of the Naga Parliamentary Forum formed under the aegis of the UNC. On hindsight, he had intentionally allowed the Forum to dissipate away into oblivion making a mockery of the UNC endorsement.

Actions : a. Tribe Hohos/Councils will take suitable actions within the tribe on those who defied the UNC directive as per customary practice. All concern organizations may also take appropriate measures in this regard.
b. The Presidential Council pronounced a “social boycott” on Mani Charenamei in view of his anti-Naga activities as per the declaration adopted in the Presidential Council held on 19th March, 2014 till such time the same is reviewed and decided otherwise. All tribe councils will strictly observe this stricture in their respective jurisdiction.

6. Agenda – Common observation of martyrdom of Nagas who gave their lives in support of the issues of the people.
Discussion : As there are already several heroes who have attained martyrdom on different occasions, it would be sensible to have a common observation of their martyrdom jointly at the all Naga level and to have a collective martyr’s memorial at one venue. The death anniversary of individual martyrs can be separately observed at the local or tribe level.
Action : Suggestion made for formation of a suitable committee to study the various aspect of this issue, such as criteria and trust/ foundation that could be established to perpetuate the fitting respect and honour of the martyrs.

The Presidential Council concluded with a benediction by Mr Mayarmi Jajo, Chairman Aze Longphang.

( GAIDON KAMEI)
General Secretary

Copy to : 1. All Tribe Presidents
2. All Frontal Organisations
3. All Regional Organisations

Woman Molested, Killed In Front Of Her Children By Alleged Militants in Meghalaya

South Garo Hills:  In a shocking incident in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, alleged militants shot a woman through her head at point blank range with an  automatic assault rifle for resisting their attempt to molest her outside her home on Tuesday evening.

The Meghalaya police said the woman's five children, locked up in the house along with their father by the assailants, first saw them assault their mother and then blow her head off.  The men fired six rounds directly at the woman's head, the police said. 

The attackers allegedly belong to the Garo National Liberation Front, a militant outfit that was declared a terror organisation by the Centre in January 2012. The GNLA is allegedly involved in several cases of murder, kidnapping and extortion in all three Garo Hills districts in Meghalaya.

The Meghalaya police said the incident occurred in a remote village of the district. The woman was about 35 years old.

There has been outrage in the country and globally after two young girls were gang-raped and found hanging from a tree in Uttar Pradesh last week.

In a statement yesterday the US said it is "horrified" at reports of sexual violence and murders in India. "Like so many in India, we were horrified to learn of these violent sexual assaults and murders. Our thoughts are with the victims' families during this difficult time," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said. 

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said the centre was viewing the incident very seriously. "It is a terrible case and symptomatic of what is happening in the country."

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/woman-molested-killed-in-front-of-her-children-by-alleged-militants-in-meghalaya-535818?fb

2 women gang-raped in separate incidents in Tripura

Two women, including a school student, were gang-raped in two separate incidents in Tripura, police said today. A group of four persons entered a house when the schoolgirl was alone at Dakshin Takma, a remote tribal hamlet of South Tripura district on March 29 last, they said, adding, that they then took her to a desolate place and two of them raped her.

They then took her to a place, about four kilometres away from the crime scene and freed her. The girl took shelter at a local’s house, who after two days reported the matter to local police, police said.
No one was arrested in this connection and initial investigations revealed that the perpetrators were unknown to the girl, they said.
Meanwhile, in another incident, three persons gang-raped a widow inside a Tata Sumo at Badharghat here last Tuesday night, police stated.
The same night a police patrolling van discovered her inside the vehicle and took her to Agartala women police station where she alleged of being raped by three unknown persons inside the vehicle.
The incident happened when the woman, mother of one, who lost her husband recently, boarded the vehicle on Tuesday night to go to a sub-divisional town. During the course of her travel, two unknown persons got into the car and took the vehicle to a secluded place and raped her, police said. The driver of the vehicle was arrested when he came to recover the vehicle seized by the police, they said

ASSAM RIFLES RECOVERS HUGE QUANTITY OF GANJA

Peren, 30 May 14.     Based on specific information regarding transshipment of huge quantity of contraband in general area Pedi, troops of 18 Assam Rifles under the aegis of  HQ 6 Sect AR placed a mobile check post and intercepted one Mahindra Pick Up Van, Regd No NL-01 2123 on 30 May 14.  During detailed search of vehicle, 590 kgs Ganja was recovered which was packed in 59 packets. In addition one Air Gun Model-35 was also recovered from the vehicle.  The occupants of vehicle namely Mr Wetsheto and Mr Sochulo were consequently apprehended.  The apprehended individuals alongwith recovered items were handed over to Peren, Police Station.

ASSAM RIFLES APPREHENDS TWO ARMS PEDDLERS

[caption id="attachment_11756" align="alignleft" width="466"] Lokesh Kumar Modi, (Rajastan) and BB Gurung,[/caption]

Based on specific information regarding presence of individuals with weapons at Forest Colony, Kohima, a well planned joint operation was carried out by 19 Assam Rifles alongwith troops of HQ 5 Sector Assam Rifles which led to the apprehension of Lokesh Kumar Modi, Age - 25 yrs of Jaipur (Rajastan) and BB Gurung, Age - 50 yrs, resident of Forest Colony, Kohima (Nagaland). The column recovered one Mauser 9mm Pistol, Cash Rs. 2,05,320/-, Driving License, Axis Bank ATM Card and Seven mobile handsets. The apprehended individuals were handed over to Kohima (South) Police Station for further investigation.

20 injured in Jorhat clash between youths and police

JORHAT: Over 20 persons, including seven policemen, suffered injuries during a clash between police and the public at Jorhat town on Sunday. Police held 22 persons from the spot in connection with the violence.

Officer in charge of Jorhat Sadar police station Pradip Kumar Bora said, "We have arrested 22 persons under provision of the Public Property Damage Act and Indian Penal Code. They will be produced before a local court with a plea to send them to judicial custody." Bora added that one person suffered bullet injuries and was admitted to Jorhat Medical College hospital. But the others' injuries were minor.

The clash started when a group of youths started damaging public property at Baruah Chariali in the town at around 7 am. They had come to Jorhat to attend a pre-recruitment rally scheduled to be held at Jorhat stadium on Sunday.

Locals alleged that an NGO through an advertisement had called unemployed youths from five upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia to join in a pre-recruitment rally for army and paramilitary forces. Over 8,000 youths from the upper Assam districts gathered at Jorhat town from Saturday to join in the rally. But the organizers cancelled the rally on Sunday because of which the youths became angry and started attacking the organizers and public property.

Police resorted to lathi charge leaving about 15 youths injured, but could not control them. Finally they opened fire and tear gas to disperse the mob.

Then hundreds of youths blocked the busy AT road in front of Inter state bus terminus here in protest against police action. Police picked up some of them and controlled the situation.

Couple assaulted in Delhi : TKLD condemns

NEW DELHI, Jun 2 : A group of about 10-15 youths belonging to a particular community from Manipur allegedly attacked a Tangkhul couple who were returning home after dinner outside at Kotla Mubarakpur in South Delhi on May 28 night.

In a statement the President of Tangkhul Katamnao Long, Delhi (TKLD), Phungshok Khongreiwoshi has strongly condemned the incident.

The couple were reportedly stopped by four-five men who blocked their way and when the husband intervened the men began to molest the wife and beat up the husband.

After the couple was physically assaulted, the accused fled from the spot. The statement said that the accused came back with more people, about 10-15 of them, and brutally assaulted the husband while four-five of them sexually assaulted the wife again. They also used abusive and derogatory language against the couple’s community with an intention to create communal hatred, the statement quoted.

An FIR was lodged (FIR 455) under IPC 323/341/354 but so far only one accused identified as Jimson has been arrested the statement said while condemning the Police’s inaction.

TKLD also mentioned that one of the accussed claimed to be a son of a politician ( an MP) and even threatened the victim.

The Delhi Tangkhul Students also expressed concern over the manifestation of a deeply rooted divide between the two communities in Manipur in such kind of violence. “We will not sit quietly while our sisters and mothers are molested and our brothers and fathers are assaulted and humiliated. Our voices will be heard although we do not encourage violent acts,” the statement warned.

It further stated that such acts reflect the continued hegemony of a community towards the Tangkhuls in particular, as well as other tribal communities in Manipur. Saying that there is a limit to such discrimination, the TKLD stated that this act further reflects the system that governs the Government of Manipur that has politically structured permitting one community to continuously dominate and exploit other tribal communities of Manipur. That, the series of incidences of violence against Tribals is nothing but the product of the system or the grand strategy that has structurally constituted the State machinery. Therefore TKLD demanded that there should be an adequate structural change in the political representation and administration of the State of Manipu

98 minor girls raped between 2001 and 2011 in Manipur: Report

IMPHAL, Jun 2: Altogether 98 minor girls were raped between 2001 and 2011 in Manipur, according to the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB).

Meanwhile, a consultative meeting of stakeholders on ‘Giving women their rights and entitlements as a road map to peace and development in North East India’ was held today at Classic Hotel under the aegis of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Control Arms Foundation.

Addressing the meeting, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network president Binalakshmi Nepram said that women in Manipur are subjected to different forms of crimes and violence even as Manipuri women have been taking pro-active roles in many social issues apart from sweating every day for economic alleviation.

Manipur occupies second position among all the States of India in terms of the quantum of domestic violence against women, Binalakshmi said.

Violence and crimes against women and children is related to the conflict situation and AFSPA imposed in the State to tackle the conflict situation. At the average, 300 women are made widows every year because of the conflict situation.

Citing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Binalakshmi said that all peace efforts should take women into confidence. Peace entails ensuring all the rights and entitlements of women.

Gender and Development Initiative executive director Hajarimayum Jubita said that women and children bear greater impacts of the conflict situation because of the social structure where males enjoy a superior position over females.

Most of the schemes taken up for women and children cannot deliver their benefits to the targeted sections. It turns out that all the schemes taken up in the name of women have hidden political purposes, Jubita said.

Women activist Sitara Begum underscored the importance of collective efforts of both males and females for the upliftment of women.

Nupi Samaj president Ramani, AMKIL president Mema, Tammi-Chingmi Apunba Lup president Momon, Joint Secretary (Tribal Affairs) Armstrong Pame, Widow Welfare Association founder Ruth Singson, Impact TV News Editor Rupachandra Yumnam and many Meira Paibi leaders too spoke at the meeting.

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/39381/98-minor-girls-raped-between-2001-and-2011-report

Alobo Naga and the Band to release new single ' All We Have is Now' on June 7

Alobo Naga and the Band is coming out with their new single 'All We Have is Now' which will bea released worldwide on 7th June 2014. The single is mixed by Tim Palmer, a Grammy Nominee Mixer/Music Producer who is the man behind the success of artists like David Bowie|Ozzy Osbourne|Porcupine Tree|Goo Goo Dolls | Pearl Jam| U2| Switchfoot|Jason Mraz and others~

Will it have an effect like their single 'Painted Dreams'? Well only time will tell.

Watch indihut facebook page for the updates!



Courtesy: Indihut

Girl from Arunachal scales three peaks in six days

ITANAGAR: Mountaineer Anshu Jamsenpa from Arunachal Pradesh scripted history by scaling three Nepal Himalayan peaks - Lobuche (6,119m), Pokhalde (5,896m) and Island Peak (6,189) -successively in six days from May 13 to 18.

During her expedition, Anshu trekked through three high passes -Cho La (5,330m), Reno (5,360m) and Kongma La (5,533m). She was felicitated by Nepal's ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu on May 27. Though most of the mountaineers returned to their respective countries, Anshu climbed the three peaks, undeterred by a deadly avalanche that killed 16 'sherpas' just above her camp site at 19,000ft.

While returning from her expedition, she received another sad news that mountaineer Chhanda Gayen and two sherpa guides went missing after being caught in an avalanche on May 20 while scaling the Kangchenjunga West. This year, expeditions have been at its worst, said Anshu.

Joint secretary of Nepal government M S Burlakoti congratulated her for her feat and said his ministry would adjust a royalty fee of $11,000 in her next Everest expedition in 2015, a source said.

Pillai optimistic of Naga solution within a year

Former union home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai expressed optimism that if the Modi-led NDA government at the Centre could sort out some of the pending issues of the long-drawn Naga peace talks, it would be able to bring an honourable and acceptable solution to the decades-old Naga political issue within a year. 


Pillai, who is currently on a private visit to the state said this in an exclusive interview to Nagaland Post at The Heritage here on Saturday.


The former union home secretary was also optimistic that the development of trust and understanding built between then Interlocutor R.S. Pandey (who quit to join BJP on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections) with Th. Muivah and NSCN ( I-M) delegation. He said both sides were able to satisfactorily resolve a number of contentious issues in 2013 but the then UPA government, for whatever reasons, did not want to take any risk. 


Pillai’s optimism stemmed from the decisive majority of the new BJP government at the centre and home minister Rajnath Singh’s affirmation that the government would accord top priority to internal security. 


With over 50 rounds of negotiations between the government of India and the NSCN (I-M) during the 17-year old cease fire period, Pillai said he hoped that by July this year, the new government would reappoint R.S. Pandey as its Interlocutor in the rank of minister of state so that he (Pandey) would be able to acquaint and sensitise the central ministers to push forward for a negotiated settlement within a year. 


The former union home secretary also said much remained to be done for giving a definite shape to the proposed agreement so that it could be acceptable to the Nagas after which legislation and amendment to the Indian constitution could be followed. 
“We don’t want disagreement between Naga organistions or groups and therefore any final settlement should be respect and honour the history of the Nagas”, Pillai said. 


On a newspaper report that Isak Chishi Swu was to be made chief minister of Nagaland as part of the agreement, Pillai clarified that such a stage has not arrived. 


He said since the Joint Legislators Forum of Nagaland resolved to resign if any solution was arrived at, Pillai said the government of India would also not raise any objection in such an event but added, it was not discussed during the negotiations. 


To a query on solution involving Nagas in Manipur and Th. Muivah, Pillai said it all depended on the Nagas in Manipur since the discussions were focussed on Autonomy for the hill districts of Manipur. He said once the autonomy package was finalized, “the rest will follow within the normal democratic process of elections and others”. 


On the fate of the armed cadres after solution, the former union home secretary said these would largely depend on the contours of the solution with regard to rehabilitation, demobilisation of the cadres and decommissioning of weaponry. Pillai said in practice, armed cadres were normally inducted into police or paramilitary forces while others could be given suitable alternative packages or rehabilitation in other jobs etc.


On the stand of the NSCN (K) with regard to Naga sovereignty, he said the group has reconciled itself with the Myanmarese government where Nagas in that country have been elected to the Myanmar parliament. 


He said Nagas in Myanmar have become part of the parliamentary democracy and constitution of Myanmar. Pillai said there would be no borders between Nagas of India and Myanmar since both countries were going to have free border trade, improved communication and visa-less travel within two to five years. 


On the poll pledge by BJP leaders during the Lok Sabha campaign, to grant statehood to ENPO areas, Pillai said since the NDA government has promised top priority on economic development, focus on budget and internal security, it would be too early to comment on ENPO demand.


He said infrastructure development of ENPO areas would have to be initiated by the state government as it was one of the main issues that had resulted in the feeling of neglect.

 

~Nagalandpost