Naga Star : NAGA STAR

Naga groups still hope for 'physical integration'

Posted by Sinlung

By Ratnadip Choudhury

Hebron (Nagaland), Aug 17 :

Those out of home rally around NSCN (IM)

The Nagas living outside Nagaland are rallying round the NSCN (IM) after the outfit’s general secretary Th Muivah on said on Saturday that it had not given up on sovereignty issue while ‘physical integration’ was mentioned in the framework agreement signed with New Delhi on August 3.
“Let me be very clear, when we talk of Naga integration, we are not only talking of emotional integration, definitely political integration is a core issue and we have it as a part of the competencies of the framework agreement, Centre has assured us that it will be worked out,” said Gen (Retd) VS Atem, Emissary to the Collective Leadership of NSCN/GPRN while talking to Deccan Herald on the sidelines of the 69th Naga Independence Day on August 14 at Camp Hebron, 35 km away from Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur. What Atem said is significant since, a public perception was building in North-East that the Naga integration issue was dropped.

Ever since the framework agreement was signed, the state governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have been pressing the Centre to spell out the details of the deal.

The Centre has been busy trying to assure the states that in no way the Centre will agree to NSCN(IM) core agenda of creation of a Greater Nagalim.

NSCN(IM) has been claiming that New Delhi has agreed to keep the demand of ‘Naga integration’ (read Greater Nagalim) as one of the competencies for further discussion of modalities for implementation in the framework agreement.

“We are not infringing on the right of the Assamese or Manipuris. We have been suppressed and we are fighting for our rights and there is no question for the Nagas to again try to suppress the right of the people. We have decided to work out a shared sovereignty with the Centre. The Naga issue cannot be solved considering Assam or Manipur interest,” Atem further added. The outfit’s stand on Naga integration kept Nagas living outside hopeful. Even since Muivah reached Camp Hebron, various Naga groups have been camping in Dimapur.

No change in ceasefire ground rule in Naga pact: Interlocutor

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There has been no change in ceasefire ground rule which has been in place since 1997 when the NSCN-IM for the first time agreed for peace talks, sources said quoting Ravi's communication.

Interlocutor for Naga peace talks RN Ravi is believed to have conveyed to the Union Home Ministry that no change has been made in ceasefire ground rule while signing an agreement with NSCN-IM recently.

The interlocutor is said to have conveyed to the Home Ministry that it was a framework for a final settlement to bring a lasting peace in Nagaland, sources said. There has been no change in ceasefire ground rule which has been in place since 1997 when the NSCN-IM for the first time agreed for peace talks, sources said quoting Ravi's communication.

The interlocutor's letter came after the Home Ministry sought a clarification on the agreement signed by him and NSCN-IM on August 3. The content of the agreement is yet to be disclosed. However, Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang said that the Naga peace pact is only a "formula" for a final accord.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that North Eastern states would be consulted before finalisation of the peace accord.

The NSCN-IM, which had given up its original demand of sovereignty a few years ago, has been asking for integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. All three states are opposed to the outfit's demand.

Naga customs, land holding to be respected across North East: Nagaland Chief Minister

Posted by Sinlung

New Delhi: Shedding light on details of the Naga peace pact which have been kept under wraps, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Sunday said it is in line with the demand of Nagas for autonomy to protect their customs and land holding systems in all areas inhabited by the tribe in the North-East.

Highlighting the key aspects of the August 3 pact between the Centre and the rebel group NSCN-IM, which he termed as a "formula" for a final agreement, Zeliang said Naga customary system and land holding system will be respected by the Centre based on the "unique history of Nagas" and it will be applied in all Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Sunday said it is in line with the demand of Nagas for autonomy to protect their customs and land holding systems.
#Naga customs #Nagaland #tr zeliang

"The Naga issue does not pertain to only Nagaland. Naga problem is covering the entire Naga contiguous region. So, when we say it would respect the traditional land holding system, customary system, it would cover the entire Naga (community) wherever they are...," he said.

The NSCN-IM, which had given up its original demand of sovereignty a few years ago, has been asking for integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

All three states are opposed to the outfit's demand.

Zeliang said when he would meet his counterparts in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, he would tell them that Naga people were asking government of India that their right to uphold their customary system be strengthened "in their own land".

"Whether in Assam, or Arunachal or Manipur, Naga people are living in their own land and they want some kind of autonomy or more power to strengthen their rights and their customary system.

"I think non-Nagas should not have any negative thinking about this," he said.

The Chief Minister said even Bodo issue was resolved and he was very happy when Mizo accord was signed.

"Today we are resolving Naga problem. It is not going to affect any other community, who are not Nagas. Solving the Naga problem is solving the problems of the North East," he said.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised him that he would consult northeastern states in finalisation of the details of the peace accord signed with NSCN(IM) last week.

Sonia Gandhi questions sagacity of Naga Accord

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When Congress president Sonia Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, calling him arrogant for not taking chief ministers of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam onboard before signing the Naga Peace Accord she was both right and wrong.

Right, because Naga Peace Accord, as Prime Minister's Office claimed to have clinched in a high optics drama on Monday evening, cannot take place without taking all the stakeholders on board that includes Nagaland and the other affected states of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and the NSCN (IM) and its faction groups in ceasefire agreement.

In fact, Naga peace accord would not only require signatures of all the stakeholders that includes union home secretary and other officials on behalf of the government of India but will also have to get the clearance of the cabinet after being vetted through by different ministries, especially law, defense and tribal affairs.

And wrong, because as it transpires now that the signed deal is not an Accord but merely a framework of agreement that has put on paper what would be the broad contours of the final agreement or Accord.

"The actual and the difficult part of the work begins now where you have to carefully draft the agreement after talking to all the stakeholders and taking into account their suggestions. The three states, especially Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will have to be consulted at length on tricky issue of what status needs to be given to the seven Naga-dominated districts," said sources.

The NSCN (IM) that came down from its demand to assimilate these seven districts in Greater Nagalim wants far greater autonomy to be given to these districts so that Naga identity and culture could be preserved there.

Manipur has four Naga dominated districts of Ukhrul, Senapti, Tamenglong and Chandel while Arunachal Pradesh has three – Tirap, Changlang and Longding.

Sources said, it is not going to be an easy issue as the states would not like leave their control on these districts and would want to keep them under their ambit while the Nagas, riding on the feeling of victory, would like to extract maximum possibly autonomy and gains.

The reverberations "secret" peace deal with NSCN (IM) were felt even on Thursday when Naga interlocutor R N Ravi was summoned by union home minister Rajnath Singh to brief his office about the framework of agreement.

Home ministry was taken by surprise on Monday when Prime Minister's office suddenly announced inking of a Peace Accord with NSCN (IM). To its embarrassment it did not have any answers on the "historic Naga Accord".

An updated Rajnath Singh is expected to make a statement on Naga development in the parliament in coming days that will finally throw some light on the contours of the agreement reached between the two sides.

Nagaland Government Permanently Bans All Forms of Tobacco or Nicotine Products

Posted by Sinlung

The Government of Nagaland has prohibited permanently the manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of all forms of processed tobacco.

All the sweet flavored/scented/chewable tobacco whether going by the name or form of gutkha, pan-masala, zarda etc., containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by whatsoever name available in the market are now banned in Nagaland.

A notification issued by M.Patton, Food Safety Commissioner, said the prohibitory order was imposed "in pursuance of Regulation 2:3:4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale) Regulations, 2011" the prohibition to this effect came into force in the entire state of Nagaland in the "interest of public health".

The order said "non-compliance to this order would be an offense punishable under Section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2016".

Naga lawmakers' bid to push for talks

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Members of the parliamentary working committee of the Naga Legislators Forum. Telegraph picture

Kohima, July 15: Nagaland's lawmakers have left for New Delhi in a bid to push for the fragile Naga peace process.
The parliamentary working committee of the Nagaland Legislators Forum (NLF), led by Speaker Chotisuh Sazo, left for New Delhi today to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh and apprise them about the need to expedite the ongoing peace process and urge the Centre to revive ceasefire with the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), which abrogated the truce in March.
The working committee comprises lawmakers from all political parties, including chief minister T.R. Zeliang, former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio and Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi. All 60 MLAs of the House are members of the NLF.

The chief minister reached the national capital yesterday.
Sources said the Naga lawmakers are in a hurry to meet the central leaders before the situation deteriorates, as the NSCN (K) was expected to carry out more attacks in the state and Naga inhabited areas in other states.
Zeliang has already expressed resentment over the Centre's half-hearted approach to carry forward the peace process with the NSCN (K) , which signed a truce with the Centre on April 28, 2001.
Sources said the members of the working committee would also apprise the Prime Minister and home minister of the need to declare ceasefire with all Naga groups, besides the state government's proposal to send a delegation comprising members from Naga Hoho and Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) to Myanmar, to meet Khaplang and urge him to resume truce talks with the Centre.
The Naga lawmakers will also ask the Centre to revoke the Disturbed Area Act, which was declared in Nagaland recently by the Centre without consulting the state government.
Several Naga organisations have condemned the Centre's unilateral act when the state already has the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in effect for decades.
Sources said the working committee would also ask the Centre for security of the Naga delegation in Myanmar.
The breakaway faction of the NSCN (K), the NSCN (Reformation) said it was not the decision of Khaplang faction to abrogate the truce but was masterminded by Ulfa and a section of Nagaland-based NSCN (K) cadres, who decided to snap the ceasefire to extort money and fill their coffers.
The state budget session, which begins on July 21, will also discuss the Naga political issue.

Plan to seal Nagaland border to curb rebels

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Kohima, June 19 : Plans are afoot to partially seal the India-Myanmar border in Nagaland to choke food supply of Northeast militants having bases in Myanmar, an Assam Rifles officer said today. Inspector-general of Assam Rifles (North), Maj. Gen. M.S. Jaswal, who is also the general-officer-commanding, Nagaland, also said 30 China-made improvised explosive bombs (IED) have reportedly been smuggled into Nagaland by militants to attack security forces.
"We know an IED was triggered at Changlangshu village on May 3 by an Ulfa cadre," he said. Sources said at least three IED bombs were smuggled into Kohima recently.
Gen. Jaswal said given that China-made IEDs and weapons were used by Northeast insurgents to attack security forces recently in Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, China's hand in aiding and abetting Northeast insurgents operating from Myanmar cannot be ruled out.
He, however, added that China-made arms were easily available in Southeast Asian countries.
Security forces suspect China has been supporting Naga insurgent groups, including NSCN (Khaplang), for several decades and China-made guns are popular among the Naga militants.
Gen. Jaswal said a foreign kilonser (minister) of the NSCN (K), who recently defected to another faction, was posted in China. He said this establishes China's support to Naga insurgents.
He said nearly 300 NSCN (K) cadres and 30-40 Ulfa cadres were currently operating in Nagaland. The Ulfa cadres mostly operate in Mon district, bordering Myanmar. NSCN (K) commander Niki Sumi, who supervises the group's military activities in Nagaland, is based at Layshi town in Myanmar along its border with India, he added.
Gen. Jaswal said efforts were being made to partially seal the border. He sought cooperation from all quarters, including the state government, on this. At present, there is night curfew on the Indian side of the border but it covers only a 1km stretch.
He said since intensive patrolling by security forces along the border would hamper the free movement of people of both the countries, the task had been entrusted to civil administration and the police. The GOC said the Centre was trying to regulate the movement of people across the border through designated routes. Once this is done, supply of rations to families living just across the border, who pick up their supplies from markets inside India, could also be regulated to choke supply of food to insurgents based in Myanmar.
He said while they would take care that economic sustenance of people living across the border is not restricted, they would not allow routing of excess ration to Myanmar in order to cut off supply to militants. Only families living along the border in Myanmar would be allowed to pick up their requirement of ration from the Indian side.
He said NSCN (K) rebels based in Myanmar receive rations from adjacent Mon district in Nagaland and security forces were trying to seal all such routes. They have been able to foil rebels' attempts to get rations recently, he added.
Gen. Jaswal said it was a tough job manning the porous border as there were only seven outposts in the state, which he said was most inadequate.
On sharing of intelligence to track militants, Jaswal said 90 per cent of the operation in Jammu and Kashmir was carried out through police inputs. He refused to comment on the role of the state police in intelligence sharing with Assam Rifles and the army.
Gen. Jaswal said militancy and terrorism could be nipped in the bud only when people were determined to do so. "Society should come forward to eliminate terrorism. The army alone cannot do the job."
He said permanent peace was possible only through the collective efforts of all sections of people. The security forces alone cannot herald peace, he added.