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North East

	August 02, 2004

Naga peace process : Bangkok round

In a significant development that is likely to give a boost to the virtually deadlocked Naga peace talks, the UPA Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has extended the ceasefire with the NSCN(IM) for another year.

The decision to extend the ceasefire which was due to expire on July 31, was taken after two days of negotiations between the Centre’s interlocutor on the Naga peace process K. Padmanabhaiah and NSCN(IM) chairman Isak Swu and general secretary T. Muviah in Bangkok.

Padmanabhaiah’s meeting with the NSCN(IM) leaders coincided with the Prime Minister’s visit to the Thai capital for the BIMST-EC summit. It was widely expected that a meeting would be arranged between Manmohan Singh and the NSCN(IM) leaders, but it did not take place.

National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit who accompanied the Prime Minister to Bangkok told mediapersons that the “peace talks are on track.”

In another important development which is likely to be welcomed by the NSCN(IM) leadership, the UPA Government has decided to draw a line between the Common Minimum Programme and Policy which is guiding the Naga peace process. Before the beginning of the Bangkok round of talks, the Government had directed its emissaries to clarify to the outfit leadership that policies should not be confused with the Common Minimum Programme.

It may be recalled that in their last round of talks in Amsterdam with Padmanabhaiah, NSCN(IM) leaders had expressed their serious concern over the declaration in the CMP to protect the “territorial integrity” of north-eastern states because that goes against the NSCN(IM)’s Greater Nagaland demand which incorporates Naga-dominated tracts of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Government has now sent out word that its policies are not dictated by the CMP which represents policies of the different constituents of the ruling alliance.



Nagaland PCC welcomes truce renewal

The extension of the ceasefire between Delhi and the NSCN(IM) has been welcomed by various political parties both at state and national levels. The Nagaland Congress has welcomed the move and urged both sides to be transparent about the process.

Pointing out that the peace talks had been shrouded in secrecy for the past seven years, the Congress said the people had a right to know the content of the negotiations. Since it concerns the political destiny of the Nagas, the negotiating parties should maintain transparency and keep the people informed about the progress and the contents of the talks, Nagaland PCC vice-president Khriedi Theunuo said.

The Congress appreciated the maturity and the wisdom of the Centre and the outfit in letting peace prevail and allowing the ceasefire to continue. The will of the people should always be supreme and decisions should be taken in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people, Theunuo said.

The Congress called on all parties to strive towards working out an honourable and acceptable framework to resolve the Naga problem.

The ceasefire ground rules should be adhered to in letter and spirit by both the security forces and the outfit, he said. After all, the Naga political problem is too sacred a movement involving sacrifices of countless people to be hijacked by anyone for vested interests, the Congress leader said.

The Congress differs with the Naga outfit on several issues and the United Progressive Alliance government in New Delhi is being seen as acting on the views of the Congress Bhawan here.

A senior NSCN (I-M) functionary said it had been possible to extend the ceasefire because the Centre had reiterated its commitment to holding talks without any conditions.

He said the issue of territorial integrity would be discussed in detail in the next round of talks.

Reacting to reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had urged the Thai Premier to flush out Northeast insurgent outfits operating from his country, the outfit said the NSCN (I-M) was not an insurgent group.

“We are politically recognised, so let them talk”, said Kraibo Chawang, NSCN (I-M) deputy kilonser (minister) for information and publicity.



Manipur : Agitation against Army continues unabated

The tiny state of Manipur in the troubled north-east is gradually turning into a battlefield with security forces on the one side and general public on the other. The mass agitation which has gripped the state following the killing of a woman (Manorama) in Assam Rifles’ custody refuses to die down. In fact, with each passing day it is escalating with protesters braving batons, rubber pellets and teargas shells at several places to drive home their demand for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Leaders of the 32 organizations that are spearheading the campaign gave chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh 24 hours on July 31 to lift the legislation or face drastic action.

Over 150 people were injured in clashes with riot police, reviving memories of the anti-ceasefire agitation that rocked the state just over two years ago. Women were at the forefront of the protest brigade at most places.

The situation spun out of control when the administration, which knew a mammoth rally had been organized at the Thangmeiband Athletics Ground in Imphal West, blocked the route chosen for a procession to the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. A group of protesters breached the barricades, leading to ugly scenes.

Apart from the protesters, several police personnel were wounded in the clash, which lasted nearly an hour. Deputy inspector-general of police (law and order) Anish Dayal was hit by stones while marshalling the force.

A semblance of normality returned only with the arrival of reinforcements and a fresh supply of teargas shells, rubber pellets and stun bombs. The injured, mostly women, were admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

The protesters were finally allowed to march to the main stadium at Khuman Lampak. Another clash took place minutes later at Minuthong bridge, which leads to the sports complex. Several protesters, again mostly women, were injured in the police assault. A truce was called before the situation could worsen and the procession wound its way into the main stadium.

Slogans such as Go back Indian army, Remove Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and Punish guilty jawans rent the air as the placard-wielding protesters swarmed the stadium. Anticipating trouble, the police prevented more protesters from coming to Imphal from the neighbouring districts.

As the rally within the stadium was on, a mob set fire to the Manipur State Congress Party’s office in Imphal East. The fire brigade controlled the blaze.

A mass court-arrest programme has been planned if the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is not withdrawn. Senior Opposition leaders, including three former chief ministers, courted arrest.

The organisations leading the protests were also demanding punishment to the Assam Rifles personnel involved in the custody death of Thangjam Manorama.

A few days before Manorama’s death, another group of Assam Rifles personnel allegedly killed and buried a pastor named Jamkholet Khongsai in Saikul subdivision of Senapati district.



Chief Minister rushes to Delhi

A day after protesters set a 24-hour deadline for Okram Ibobi Singh to lift the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the state, the Manipur chief minister flew to Delhi for the second time last week.

Ibobi Singh, who promised earlier last month to take a decision on the popular demand by August 15, spent three days in the national capital meeting AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, defence minister Pranab Mukherjee and Union home minister Shivraj Patil to discuss the issue. He returned to Imphal on Wednesday.

Manipur power minister Phunzathang Tonsing accompanied the chief minister to Delhi. Political parties, including the Manipur Congress, and the ruling party ally, the CPI, too, joined the chorus to withdraw the act from the state.

Sources said the chief minister highlighted again before the central leaders the outrage over the killing of Manorama by the 17th Assam Rifles and also against the act, during his latest Delhi visit.

It could not be confirmed whether the Centre summoned Ibobi Singh or he volunteered to ask the Centre to bail him out of the situation. However, sources close to the chief minister said the response of the central leaders to his suggestions during his earlier visit to lift the act to quell the unrest was not very encouraging.

Leaders of Opposition parties, including the BJP, the Federal Party of Manipur and the Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) continued their sit-in protest inside the MPP’s office complex.

BJP legislature party leader and former chief minister R.K. Dorendra Singh, former deputy chief minister and president of Federal Party of Manipur and MPP president Okram Joy Singh took part in the demonstration.

Addressing the gathering, Dorendra Singh reiterated the Opposition’s demand for a cabinet decision to lift the act and also a special session of the Assembly. Senior Opposition leaders, including three former chief ministers, courted arrest in support of the demand. They were, however, released later in the day.

In New Delhi, several non-government organisations and social groups formed a platform to mount pressure on the Centre as well as the Ibobi Singh government to withdraw the act from the state.