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Students launch indefinite hunger strike demanding ILPS

IMPHAL, August 14: With just a day left before the August 15 deadline set for the government to come up with an ILP bill and the Chief Minister already hinting

IMPHAL, August 14: With just a day left before the August 15 deadline set for the government to come up with an ILP bill and the Chief Minister already hinting that meeting the deadline is almost impossible, the movement demanding introduction of the ILP or a similar act has been intensified.

Five students from various schools including a girl student on Friday began an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy demanding the ILP bill.

Surjt Sagolsem, Dayananda Lairikyengbam and Oinam Suresh of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School and two others Loitongbam Bidyaluxmi of Ibotonsana Girls`™ Higher Secondary School and Thoudam Mukesh of Lamlong Higher Secondary School have launched the hunger strike since 7am today against the failure of the government to bring out the bill within the set deadline, informed Joint Students`™ Union of Government Higher Secondary Schools convenor Surjit.

All five are studying in class XII.

Security forces have been allowed to mercilessly assault student protestors including girls. Schools and colleges have been closed down in order to prevent students from participating in the democratic movement, he claimed.

Instead of actually trying to introduce a bill, the government seems to be interested only in its delaying tactics, he asserted.

The demand for the ILP is the peoples`™ demand and the government need to act positively to meet it, he said and added, unfortunately, the State government has turned-out to be anti-people.

One of the hunger strikers, Bidyaluxmi who is also the general secretary of the Ibotonsana Girls`™ Higher Secondary School Students`™ Union said they have decided to launch the agitation as part of their ongoing movement against the boycotting of government educational institutes and demand for the ILP.

She said they had taken the decision to launch the protest on their own and will continue till the government brings out the bill.

CLP resolves to involve JCILPS in drafting bill `acceptable to public`

IMPHAL, August 14: The Congress Legislature Party has resolved that the State government will involve the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System in the preparation of a new ILP

IMPHAL, August 14: The Congress Legislature Party has resolved that the State government will involve the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System in the preparation of a new ILP bill which is acceptable to the people and to table it in the State Assembly at the earliest in order to safeguard the indigenous people.

The decision was arrived at during a meeting of the CLP held at the Conference Room of the Chief Minister`™s Secretariat today.

The meeting began at 3 pm and continued till 9 pm.

Elaborating on the resolution of the CLP meeting, Education and CAF & PD minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the spokesperson of the government said that the marathon meeting discussed at length the different forms of agitation launched by the people in pursuance of the collective demand for implementation of ILPS or a similar law to regulate the alarming influx of non-locals into the State which has posed a potential threat to the existence of the indigenous people.

He further said that the meeting minutely discussed the draft bill submitted by the government constituted Drafting Committee with Revenue, Law & legislative Affairs minister Th Debendra as its chairman.

During the meeting, the Congress legislatures unanimously resolved to sit down with representatives of JCILPS to draft an acceptable bill within the ambit of Indian Constitution, he said.

After drafting it, earnest efforts will be put in to ensure that the bill gets passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly without further delay, the Minister maintained.

Okendro said that the CLP meeting also condemned the peace accord signed between NSCN (IM) and Government of India on August 3 in New Delhi as it was done in a hurried manner without consulting the State Chief Minister.

The CLP meeting concluded that the peace accord should not compromise on geo-political, socio-cultural and economic boundary of the State at any cost and that the agreement should be implemented in Nagaland only, he said.

The minister went on to inform that the meeting firmly resolved to ensure that the territorial integrity of the State is not put at stake by the peace accord.

The exile and the kingdom

It does seem the contentious issue of the introduction of the Inner Line permit system in Manipur is unlikely to end soon. The government has indicated that it will not

It does seem the contentious issue of the introduction of the Inner Line permit system in Manipur is unlikely to end soon. The government has indicated that it will not be able to keep the deadline of a month it set itself to come up with a Bill to the effect and moreover, it has also made it known that there are two clauses amongst the five demands submitted by the JCILPS which are proving thorny. Although these clauses have not been made public, it is reasonable to guess one of these is Clause-2, which has to do with the cut off year of 1951 set to define non-domiciles. The other probably is Clause-5, regarding detection and deportation of illegal migrants and non-indigenous people. The other three, that of issue of permits to migrants; prohibition of sale of landed properties to non-domiciles; and creation of a full-fledged labour department to monitor migrants, should not face much legal hurdles, provided they are approached imaginatively and compassionately.
Our guess is informed by recent history on similar problems faced by Assam during its `Anti-Foreigners Agitation` of the late 1970s and early 1980s, where amongst the many demands of the agitators, the issue of 1951 as cut off year as well as detection and deportation of foreigners, proved impossible to resolve legally. These two clauses are also very closely related and indeed intertwined inseparably. In the Assam case, the cut off year was finally raised to 1971, but even this proved impossible. The question was, and still is, how do you declare as illegal somebody who has voted in an Indian election and therefore had been a fundamental instrument in the constitution of India`™s most important democratic institutions of the Parliament and Assemblies. We do hope there is light at the end of the tunnel, and in the spirit of give and take, the issue is resolved. From our standpoint, we would think that Clause-3, which prohibits land ownership transfers to outsiders is the most important, and ensuring this would resolve most of the others on its own. We need not look any further than our own hill districts which do not share the immigrant worries because hill lands are protected.

If the Assam Agitation is a lesson on the matter, there is also much to learn from the direction the Naga peace negotiation is heading currently. Ostensibly the two most contentious demands, that of sovereignty and integration of Naga territory have been dropped. Unlike what some commentators have claimed, neither of these happened long ago. In a recent interaction, the interlocutor of the negotiation, R.N. Ravi, confirmed it was only in February this year something on the line was agreed upon. Before this date, when the government made its position known that these two were not negotiable, the NSCN(IM) had broken off from the talks, and the negotiations were stalemated on these issues for almost the whole of last year. The words `Indian Constitution` is not mentioned even in the recent `framework agreement`, but in spirit this was amply implied when the consensus was to work for a solution within the `flexible and accommodative framework of the Indian system`. This message was always clear. Union joint secretary home in charge of Northeast, Sambhu Singh, had spelled it out in another situation in a televised interview while the agitation for `Alternative Arrangement` was in full swing. When the interviewer (Vision TV) told him of the threat of the agitators they would not allow government developmental projects in their area, all he said was no government employee would lose his job or salary while the trouble lasted, and only the earmarked development works would suffer.
What the ILPS agitators must keep in mind is, beyond a limit, the Union government can simply turn away. It does not hurt New Delhi that the Imphal streets are burning. As we have seen, even the national media will not keep its focus on the state for long. We must push the matter, which undoubtedly spawns from a very legitimate concern, to the very limit, but we must also know where this limit is, for beyond this limit, we will only be running against a wall. The Assam Agitation and the NSCN(IM) peace talks have demonstrated this loudly before our very eyes.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/the-exile-and-the-kingdom/

`Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited on a downward spiral`

IMPHAL, August 14: A group of societies supplying milk to the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited have expressed apprehension that the society is on a downward spiral as it is

IMPHAL, August 14: A group of societies supplying milk to the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited have expressed apprehension that the society is on a downward spiral as it is unable to produce even 4000 litres of milk per day due to lack of government guidance.

Speaking to media persons, the group on conditions of anonymity said the co-operative unit is under the Department of Co-operation, Government of Manipur, unfortunately, the Co-operative minister has failed to take any initiative to provide proper guidance to the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited.

The cooperative unit has been reduced to just a namesake, a member of one of the societies claimed.

He further asserted that the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited used to produce atleast 7000/8000 litres of milk on a daily basis earlier, but this is not the same anymore.

There was a time when we used to set a target of 20000 litres per day, he claimed.

However, due to the less intake of milk, the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited is unable to meet the target, he claimed.

It was also able to sell other milk by-products in the past, he said.

This downward spiral is a result of the negligence of the officer bearers`™ as there is no official to look over them, he claimed.

The societies, he said have already appealed to the concern authority to correct the mismanagement.

He continued that they have received information about products being sold without receipts for the past many months.

He continued that only 36 societies are at present supplying milk to the union although there are 250 societies under the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited.

He claimed that the officials are unable to make the other remaining societies to supply milk.

In the past, the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited use to make regular and sometimes advance payment of money to the societies, but nowadays, it is unable to even make regular payment which has deterred the societies from supplying milk, he continued.

Now, the union has also stopped production of its Aingbi Ice-cream which was launched in 2013, he continued.

If this trend continues, it wouldn`™t be long before the Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Limited closes down, he said, and further appealed to the concern authorities to look into the matter.

Not all citizens of India share the vengeful `collective conscience` which endorses capital punishment

By Garga Chatterjee Yakub Memon was hung at the early hours 30th July 2015, after being convicted for his role in the 2003 Mumbai bomb attacks that killed hundreds of

By Garga Chatterjee

Yakub Memon was hung at the early hours 30th July 2015, after being convicted for his role in the 2003 Mumbai bomb attacks that killed hundreds of innocent people. His conviction strongly rested on his `confession`™ to the police, that used to be admissible under TADA, an infamous black-law that was widely denounced for being in violation of basic human rights and protection from false framing. This hanging in Maharashtra was preceded by live-telecast hectic activity in Lutyens Delhi. Let`s leave aside for now those who were for or against Yakub`s hanging. The amount of self-congratulation and nation-congratulation among the `unaffiliated` must have made the 68-year old Bharatmata blush. Her eyes must have widened with excitement and moistened with pride as she saw Attorney General and others doing their duty far past the midnight hour. “Grandmother, what big eyes you have!” cried today`™s child who still believes that grand-mothers are necessarily loving creatures. We know how that one ends.

I was late to return home on the night of the 29th of July. Yakub Memon would hang in a few hours. On the streets of Kolkata, very late at night, there were men at work. Human beings, like you and me, were toiling very hard in Kolkata`s streets. This road work, the product of their labour, is something whose fruits I enjoy on a daily basis. From my years of conversation with many of them, I know that their shift often goes on past sunrise, after which they do not necessarily get to rest. That some human beings may work at night when many others are sleeping is nothing exceptional. It is quite common-place. It is another matter that the essential service they provide is grossly under-compensated. It is only when those who never work this hard at any hour of the day, let alone at 3 am or 4 am, deign to do something like that, it acquires the elements of a spectacle. Words like duty and conscience do the rounds. Such selective adulation is an insult to road-makers, truck-drivers, sex-workers and millions of others who spend their nights under oppressive and life-threatening conditions, not for any greater glory to `nation`, not to stealthily `encounter` or `disappear` others, but for mere survival. I remember what my rough-living friend Janam Mukherjee once commented after witnessing an altercation between a Bhadralok in Kolkata (a tribe I belong to) and an auto-driver -`That man (the bhadralok) has not worked a single day in his life`. By work, he meant the kind of toil that an auto-driver and his tribe has to go through `“ hourly, daily, monthly, yearly, generationally. It is no wonder that the heart-warming spectacle of `rarest of the rare` 3 am work has been a runaway hit with people like us here, there and everywhere. Like when gods almost smell the armpit of humans in Dalit villages between exotic vacations. Like when gods embrace and bow to some old woman with high-power spectacles in the crowd between approving the sell-off of entire coastlines to friends-in-need. We rock.

Barring the few men and women who were part of the hectic late-night Lutyens saga not as part of job-description but as part of ethico-moral duty, the rest agreed that justice was done. The Indian Union stands in a minority among UN member nations in having death-penalty. A majority of the countries that have practised death penalty in the last 10 years call themselves `Islamic Republics` of some form. The Indian Union is the sole nation-state in South Asia that does not have Islam as the state religion but also practise the death penalty in law and practice. It is the only one that seriously considered bringing children under the ambit of death-penalty. We must have reasons to be very proud.

But not all citizens of the Indian Union share this kind of `collective conscience`™. Parties with huge support-bases like the DMK, AIADMK, Akali Dal, etc have opposed the death penalty publicly and have led strong movements against it in specific cases. If anything, they were responding to public sentiments against hanging. So not all collectives in the Indian Union have the same kind of conscience. In this nation-state of routine `encounter` killings, unmarked mass-graves, death in custody by torture, `disappearances` and other examples of Khaki manliness that have never been given the death-sentence by any court of the land, the late-night events in Lutyens Delhi will `go down in history` as the `dance of democracy`. We pay for the upkeep of this and we will continue to pay for this. And then we will go to our gods and expect them to be on our side.

Actually, there is already an unsaid ban on death penalty in the Indian Union for certain kinds of perpetrators – something that is barely concealed. While death penalty is the most visible form of murder by the state, `encounter`™ is the commonest form and `disappearance`™ is probably the most brutal form. I am nearly 100% confident that there wont ever be death penalty for `disappearances` in Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Manipur and elsewhere, for any serving policeman for crimes done during performance of duty, for targeted massacres of Dalits by forward-castes, for cases involving crimes by BSF, CRPF and Army personnel, for murder of `Indians`™ who don`™t consider themselves Indians, for a single encounter killing, for `secret killings`™ by the SULFA and the Ikhwan, for air-bombing Indian citizens in the Indian city of Aizawl, for the killers of Thangjam Manorama, for any of the massacres of civilians in Kashmir, for rioter of Mumbai 1992-93, Bhagalpur 1989, Delhi 1984, Hashimpura 1987, Kashipur-Baranagar 1972 and many many other crimes done at the sacrificial altar of Bharatmata. As a Bengali Shakto and a worshipper of Ma Durga, blood-sacrifices in the name of false goddesses sicken me to the core.

The list of innocents whose killers will never get justice and the list of those who are regularly framed in false cases for crimes they didn`™t commit is reason enough not to leave something like death penalty in the hands of the powers-that-be. It`™s not about criminals, it is about the amount of power over people`™s lives that a state that is not worthy to be trusted should have. In such circumstances, the death penalty becomes one more tool of naked power, enforced with supreme confidence by those who are the most powerful in the Indian Union, and best-protected from the consequence of their actions and hence believe that they will never hang.

Solution to be above Shillong Accord: Muivah

Hebron (Nagaland), Aug 14 (Agencies): Earlier while not going into details of the kind of the final solution to be reached since the `competencies`™ are being worked out, Muivah revealed

Hebron (Nagaland), Aug 14 (Agencies): Earlier while not going into details of the kind of the final solution to be reached since the `competencies`™ are being worked out, Muivah revealed that the final solution will be above the 1975 Shillong Accord, a report in Nagaland Page, a prominent daily in Dimapur said.

`The solution will be above Shillong Accord,` he said.

He reminisced that Shillong Accord of 1975 was the worst thing that had happened to the Nagas, as a result of which Nagas began to lose ground it said.

The NSCN was formed in the aftermath of the Shillong Accord of 1975, signed between the Government of India and the Naga National Council.

The terms of the Shillong Accord had stipulated that underground Naga organisations would give up arms and `formulate other issues for discussion for final settlement`.

In the aftermath of the Shillong Accord, Muivah said some of them had taken a decision to oppose it, and after fighting for 25 years India realised the futility of military solution to the Naga issue, it said.

`India came in search of us. They took initiative to seek political solution. We also realise that we cannot finish the Indian Army off. So we also decided for political solution,` he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/solution-to-be-above-shillong-accord-muivah/

Security beefed up ahead of Indian Independence Day

IMPHAL, August 14: In connection with the Independence Day observation on August 15, security forces have been beefing up security in the State since the past few days. A cordon

Locals of Saiton Bishnupur lined up for identification during the search operation on the eve of I-Day.

IMPHAL, August 14: In connection with the Independence Day observation on August 15, security forces have been beefing up security in the State since the past few days.

A cordon and search operation was conducted today at Saiton, Bishnupur District starting from 3:30am and concluding at 6:30am.

The operation was conducted by a joint team of Bishnupur police including CDO and women police and 2 columns of 6AR under the supervision of additinal SP Bishnupur K Meghachandra.

Another team of Bishnupur Police including CDO and women police and 12 Bihar Regiment also conducted a similar operation at Maibam Chingning of Bishnupur District under the supervision of DSP (Ops) Bishnupur N John.

Meanwhile, according to a statement of the PRO IGAR (s), troops of the 16 Assam Rifles of 10 Sector AR has launched an operation in general area Lamboikhul and apprehended an over ground worker of PREPAK (PRO) on August 13.

It said the apprehendee was identified as Poshangbam Bijoy Singh, 32, son of P Lukhoi Singh of Lamboikhul, PO- Sawombung, Imphal East.

He revealed that he was working as an agent of the group recruiting cadres for his group and was responsible to find the young boys for recruitment. The apprehendee has been handed over to the Sagolmang Police Station, it said.

In yet another release, troops of the 24 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector AR has conducted frisking and checking at Khudengthabi check post and apprehended a drug peddler carrying heroin on August 13. The apprehendee was identified as Md Ajijur, 45, son of (l) Md Anamuddin of Muslim Nagar Leikai Moreh, Ward No 5, Moreh.

From his possession, three packets of heroin weighing around 80 grams, one Aadhar Card and cash rupees 600/- was recovered from his possession. The apprehendee along with the recovered items has been handed over to the Moreh Police Station, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/security-beefed-up-ahead-of-iday/

5 students on Hunger Strike demanding implementation of ILPS in Manipur

5 students’ began hunger strike to implement the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur. Details of 5 students: 1. Surjit Sagolsem (General Secy) of Class XII Sc, Anada Shingh Higher Secondary

5 students’ began hunger strike to implement the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur.

Details of 5 students:
1. Surjit Sagolsem (General Secy) of Class XII Sc, Anada Shingh Higher Secondary School.
2. Dayananda Lairikyengbam of Class XII Sc Anada Shingh Higher Secondary School.
3. Oinam Suresh of Class XII Sc were from Anada Shingh Higher Secondary School.
4. Loitongbam Bidyaluxmi (General Secretary) of Class XII Science, Ibotonsana Girls Higher Secondary School.
5. Thoudam Mukesh ( Social and Culture Secretary) of Class XII Science, Lamlong Higher Secondary School.

Photo: Deepak Shijagurumayum

Loitongbam Bidyaluxmi said they will be fasting until the the Inner Line Permit System is implemented in Manipur and further school will be boycotted until then.

Surjit Sagolsem said they know about the institute/coaching centers which were open during the class boycott and appeal to cooperate with the ILPS movement.

Candidates from North-East region required for primary teachers positions in Mysore

Requirements for School: True Shepherd Public School, Heggadadevanakote, Mysore District, Karnataka Visit website for details: www.tspschool.in No of Candidates required: 4 candidates from North-Eastern region Curriculum: CBSE Eligibility: Educated to Degree level, trained

Requirements for School:
True Shepherd Public School,
Heggadadevanakote,
Mysore District, Karnataka
Visit website for details: www.tspschool.in

No of Candidates required: 4 candidates from North-Eastern region

Curriculum: CBSE

Eligibility:
Educated to Degree level, trained teachers preferred,
Good communication skills and fluency in English is a must.

Salary:
Salary is in commensurate with the experience and knowledge.
Accommodation and Food will be provided.

Contact:
Ravi Hegde
Mobile: +91 9164139967
e-mail: raveeheggade@gmail.com
Website: www.tspschool.in

INDIA: Government Masterplan: Kick the Students Out of School

By: Urikhimbam Jenison The Manipur state government has closed down all educational institutions in the state in an attempt to curb the ongoing movement for the implementation of the

A torch rally taken out in New Checkong area demanding implementation of the ILPS.

By: Urikhimbam Jenison

The Manipur state government has closed down all educational institutions in the state in an attempt to curb the ongoing movement for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur. It has been a month since this decision was taken. In other words, students have been kept out of their schools and colleges for a long time already.

ilp, ilps, jcilps, hyderabad manipuri society

Hyderabad Manipuri Society, Hyderabad organised a peaceful candle light vigil at at Doyens Township Colony, Serilingampally on Saturday, 18th July 2015. Photo by HYMS

On July 8, Sapam Robinhood, a 16 year old student studying in the XI standard was killed by police personnel during the crackdown on a peaceful student protest that was led by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), Student Wing, in Tellipati area of Imphal East. Since then, all the educational institutions have remained closed following the order of the state government. The orders for temporary closure of educational institutions have been issued “in consideration of the physical safety and security of the students of all institutions in Imphal area”.

This temporary closure of the educational institutions has by now given rise to students fearing losing an academic year and falling behind in their planned careers. Despite many appeals from the teachers, CSOs, parents, and student bodies, the government has not been able to find a solution to the ILPS demand and make a decision to re-open the institutions. Instead, the government has taken to deploying police personnel in all the schools, colleges, and universities.

The root cause of this odd situation, wherein students are shut out of schools now packed with police and military personnel, is the government’s attempt to to suppress the movement of the Inner Line Permit System, which has been building for decades. The people living in Manipur genuinely fear that their identity will disappear in the near future if the influx of migrants is not controlled. Manipur non-residents are beginning to outnumber permanent residents in many areas, and also acquire local identity cards, provided by the government for vested interest.

MSAP rally demanding introduction of ILPS in Manipur.

The government passed a bill, titled Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill 2015, on 16 March, 2015, which failed to meet the demands of the people and led to an upswell of protests. This made the movement for the ILPS, led by JCILPS stronger. And, the killing of Sapam Robinhood by the police forced the government to retract. On July 15, the government held an emergency assembly session and a motion was passed to withdraw the Bill, without introducing an alternative, which is not in accord with procedure.

Since Sapam Robinhood’s killing, every nook and corner of state has resounded with the protest. The demand is for implementation of the ILPS and punishment for the officer involved in killing a student who participated in a peaceful protest. Student bodies have taken the step to boycott all governmental departments until their demands are fulfilled by the government. In support of the late Sapam Robinhood, students, CSOs, and social activists across the state have been demanding justice to the victim’s family and implementation of the ILPS.

Womenfolk taking out a rally in demand of ILPS.

While people living in Manipur have been protesting for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System, the rest of India has interpreted this as an anti-Indian or anti-mainlander fight, which is an incorrect interpretation. The people of Manipur are seeking that the government protects them from losing their ancestral place, and there is a fear that indigenous Manipuris will become minorities in their own land. It is not that the people want to prevent outsiders from entering Manipur. The fears of the Manipuris have been realized in Tripura, where the Tripuris have became a minority in their own ancestral land.

The government has been on the back foot since Sapam Robinhood’s killing. And, it is the government’s attempt to regain control that has resulted in the decision to to close down the schools and universities.

This, however, is not the first time the people, and in particular the students, of Manipur have had to experience of shut-down of educational institutions. For instance, institutions were shut in 2001 in relation to the Naga ceasefire, which, in Manipur, resulted in a people uprising. Then again, in 2004 they were closed to try and control the rage following the news of the rape and murder of Th. Manorama by Assam Rifles personnel. The year 2009 witnessed the same, following the killing of Rubina, a 7 month pregnant woman, and Sanjit, by police commandoes. And, most recently and something that is ongoing, in 2015, the Dzukou Valley dispute between Manipur and Nagaland is keeping students away from the schools and colleges in the Mao area of Manipur. So, in some sense shutting down schools and universities is standard operating procedure for the government in times of emergencies when misgovernance or brutal crimes following by impunity unsettles the population.

Police women trying to control vendors of Ima Keithels during a protest rally.

Following the order of the state government for the temporary closure of institutions, yet another order was issued to deploy police personnel in all the schools, colleges, universities, and other such institutions. And, now police officials deployed in the schools and colleges have taken to misusing the compounds: by playing cards, drinking, and smoking. Some students, who arrived at their respective campuses out of desire that their institutions be reopened, even confronted these officers. The prevailing environment of police personnel camped out in educational institutions has only generated insecurity amongst the students. And, while it is police officials occupying educational institutions in the Imphal City, in the outskirts, it is out and out militarisation, with the Assam Rifles and paramilitary forces having taken over the compounds of schools and colleges.

The central and state government have taken no steps to bring this movement and the root conflict to an end. Officials appear intent to only hold onto their chairs. The people of Manipur are grieving at heart, wondering why is it that the state and central government, which has all the power and infrastructure, cannot put an end to the conflict? Who benefits from the continuing conflicts? How long does the government plan to keep the people, the students, under soldier’s boots?

Mr. Urikhimbam Jenison is Human Rights Activist. He can be contacted at urikhimbam.jenison@ahrc.asia or jeni_u580@yahoo.com

Bishnupur joins in observing Patriots Day

BISHNUPUR, August 13: As in other parts of the State, the Patriots Day was observed by District Administration Bishnupur at the district DC complex today with DC Bishnupur Bobby Waikhom

BISHNUPUR, August 13: As in other parts of the State, the Patriots Day was observed by District Administration Bishnupur at the district DC complex today with DC Bishnupur Bobby Waikhom attending as chief guest.

SP Bishnupur Thomthing Ngashangba; former Revenue Minister Kh Pulinkanta and several District Level Officers were also present at the observance function.

The observation started with display of salami salute by a team of Bishnupur District Police followed by offering of floral tributes at the portraits of those warriors who sacrificed their lives in the 1891 Anglo-Manipur War.

Irabot Celebration Committee, Irengbam also observed the Patriots Day at Irengbam Community Hall, Bishnupur district.

The observation function was graced by principal of Royal Academy of Law, Oinam I Jugeshwar as chief guest; retired headmaster of Modhumati High School I Samungou as president and retired headmaster of Irengbam High School as guest of honour.

Offering of floral tributes at the photos of Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General and recital of patriotic songs by students were the main highlights of the function.

As part of the observation, Ningthoujam Loyanganba Meitei and N Malemnganba son of N Inao Meitei and Ahanbi of Irengbam village, who bagged medals in the national level Kungfu and Kick Boxing championships, were felicitated.

Mentors of the brothers and several officials including founder of Kung-Fu & Kick Boxing India Sifu Th Norendro; Black Belt 3rd Degree and National Referee Dr H Romen and Black Belt 2nd Degree and National Referee A Pintu Devi were also honoured.

The Patriots Day was also observed by Royal Academy of Law (RAL), Oinam at its campus wherein retired Captain O Sanajaoba; vice-chairman of Governing Body of RAL O Ibochouba Khuman and social worker G Gyaneshwar Sharma attended as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Patriots Day Observation Committee, Kha Potsangbam also observed the day with Zilla Parishad Member Th Dilip Meitei; retired Assistant Teacher S Kumar; Member of Nachou Gram Panchayat Th Damudhorn and social worker M Ibomcha attending as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/bishnupur-joins-in-observing-patriots-day/

Jiri da Apunba Miphamna Condemn touri – Progressive Meetei-Pangal Society, Jiribam

PRESS RELEASE Jiri da Apunba Miphamna Condemn touri Manipur People’s Party (MPP) gi President N, Sovakiran amadi, Dr Khomdon Lisam, anina jiri da leiba islammabad khunggangbu foreigners/non-manipuri khundaba lamdamni haina

PRESS RELEASE

Jiri da Apunba Miphamna Condemn touri

Manipur People’s Party (MPP) gi President N, Sovakiran amadi, Dr Khomdon Lisam, anina jiri da leiba islammabad khunggangbu foreigners/non-manipuri khundaba lamdamni haina sangai express (English edition) gi July 28th, July 30^th amasung August 3^rd 2015 ta hanjan hanjan na article irakpa matungda wathok ama oirakpadagi wathok asiga mari leinana August 9^th, 2015 (Sunday) gi numit ki nungthil pung 2 taba matamda Md. Riyaz uddin (EX Army) gi mayumda, Janab Badaein na chair louraga Progressive Meetei Pangal society, Jiribam na sinduna All Jiribam Meira paibi (AJMP), All Jiribam United Club Organization (AJUCA), Jiri Louri Khongthang Lup (JLKL), MSF, AMSU, DESAM, KSA, Jiri Development Organization (JDO) Jiri Ema Meira paibi Apunba Lup (JIMPAL), WACAK, WWOK, Hairiba lup taramathoi gi apunba Joint meeting ama phamminaraba matungda mathakta pankhiba mioi asigi warep sing asi yumpham yaodaba, mari makhong khangdana panghai haijinba, leibaak ki chiraba tangpham sida iraang sagatnaba rajneety (politics) gi oiba lou makhal ama oirabasu lup khudingmakna hakcinna loubaga loinana condemn touri. Leibaak miyamda laanna sandokkhiba waphong adu pao che (daily newspaper) gi khutthangda sengdokkadabani loinana progressive meetei pangal society, Jiribam da laalle haijagadabani haina mot amata oina warep tanakhi.

Pukchel Sengna,

Lukman Hekim
Ziaur Rahaman

Progressive Meetei-Pangal Society,Jiribam

Govt sends out feelers for next talk on August 16 to JCILPS

IMPHAL, August 13: Stating that the government wants more suggestions from Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on the proposed draft bill to safeguard the indigenous people from

IMPHAL, August 13: Stating that the government wants more suggestions from Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) on the proposed draft bill to safeguard the indigenous people from the unchecked influx of outsiders into the State, deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has made a fervent appeal to the representatives of JCILPS to join the next round of talk on August 16 evening.

In a statement issued to the media today, Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home maintained that the government is trying to pass a bill acceptable to the people in the Assembly within this month.

He asserted that the second round of talks between the government and JCILPS on August 12 was fruitful from the government perspective as a copy of the draft bill already prepared by the government was made available to the representatives of the committee during the talk.

Exclusion and inclusion of points in the draft bill were discussed during the talk but unfortunately any consensus on the draft bill could not be reached due to short duration of the talk, he said.

Acknowledging the cooperation of the committee in preparing a new bill acceptable to all sections of the people, the deputy CM admitted that the government was putting earnest efforts to pass a bill within August 15.

The government constituted Drafting Committee had submitted its draft bill to the government on August 3. The government was waiting for submission of a detailed draft from the side of JCILPS though the committee submitted a memorandum clearly mentioning all the points to be included in the proposed draft bill on August 10, Gaikhangam elaborated.

He assured that efforts are being put in to ensure that all the points adopted during a public convention held recently are included in the proposed draft bill.

The Dy CM in the statement reiterated that the Assembly had passed resolution on two occasions to implement the Inner Line Permit System in the State like in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland but the Centre rejected it.

MNP+ programme stresses on Hep C treatment issues

IMPHAL, August 13: A one day sensitization programme in relation with World Hepatitis Day 2015 was held today organized by Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) at its conference hall

IMPHAL, August 13: A one day sensitization programme in relation with World Hepatitis Day 2015 was held today organized by Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) at its conference hall at Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai today.

MNP+ president L Deepak Singh speaking at the function said that he is HIV positive and was also suffering from Hepatitis C.

He did his treatment for hepatitis C about five years ago. During those days the treatment charges cost around Rs 6 to 8 lakhs and took around a year`™s time, he said.

In January 2015, some new medicines were introduced in the market which cut down the treatment cost and treatment period considerably and now it is something around Rs 60,000 to 80,000 with a treatment period of only three to six months depending on the condition of the illness, he said.

He said the side effects of the new medicines are also minimal.

More than 10 generic pharmaceutical companies are offering different kinds of medicines for treatment of Hepatitis C. But it is upto the individual to choose which company they prefer, he added.

W Ajitshwor, who has completed his treatment for Hep C also shared his personal experience and even showed a demo of how to inject the medicine during the programme.

He said many people who are suffering from Hepatitis C have a misconception about the treatment and its side effects because many have lost their lives during the treatment in the past.

He said it is not an easy thing to undergo this treatment as one needs to be mentally prepared for the side effects.

There is a misconception among the Hepatitis infected people and they discourage each other to undergo the treatment fearing the side effects, he continued.

He said the patient will need atleast one person to support him or her during the treatment and for him his better half has always been a great support.

He said sometimes even doctors and nurses commit mistakes while administering medicines however he tries his best to co-operate with them by doing his own research and consulting with the doctors about his findings.

Due to the frequent bandh and strikes in the State he was push to learn how to inject the medicines by himself, he added.

However he advised the people who were present at the programme not to do self medication but instead always consult the doctors first.

Some side effects he mentioned include anaemia, physical pain, headache and diarrhoea.

However he said the side effects might not be the same with other patients.

He said he had worked for almost 20 years in the field of HIV/AIDS and now he is retired however he would like to extend his help if anyone wants to know more about the treatment.

He said he has a Facebook page where he posted all the details including pictures about his treatment.

Efforts on but unlikely to meet August 15 deadline: CM

IMPHAL, August 13: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today maintained that bringing out the ILPS bill before August 15 which is the deadline set by the JCILPS doesn`™t seem feasible

IMPHAL, August 13: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today maintained that bringing out the ILPS bill before August 15 which is the deadline set by the JCILPS doesn`™t seem feasible at the moment but the government is trying its level best to bring it out at the earliest.

The CM was replying to media queries on the sideline of the 124th Patriots Day observation organised by the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee at the Congress Bhawan today.

He said the government commissioned Drafting Committee has already submitted its draft bill and the government is trying to finalise it at the moment. It may take some more time, he asserted.

However, the government has already handed a copy of the preliminary draft of the bill to the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System during yesterday`™s meeting so that the committee may study it, he continued.

The government at the same time is also scrutinizing the five-point demand of the JCILPS and trying to fit it into the bill, the Chief Minister informed media persons.

The demand of the JCILPS is not in the format to be fitted into the bill, and needs restructuring by an expert committee for it to fit into a bill, he added.

He said technically bringing out the bill before August 15 seems quite impossible at the moment, but the government is putting all-out efforts to bring it out at the earliest.

He said it is under the disposal of the Governor as to whether he would like to examine the bill after it is passed in the House or examine it before it is tabled in the House.

The CM also said on its part, the government is not leaving any room for mistakes in the bill.

After August 17, the government would like to have regular meetings with the JCILPS so that the bill comes out at the earliest, the Chief Minister said.

Frequent sharing of dialogues would certain aid in bringing an amicable solution, he observed.

The public demand for withdrawal of the previous bill, setting up of an inquiry into the alleged police highhandedness during the recent movement, unconditional release of the arrested students have all been met by the government and hopefully with frequent meetings with the JCILPS, the government may be able to find ways to implement an Act at the earliest, he said.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also maintained once again that his government is still waiting for details of the Peace Accord signed recently between the GOI and the NSCN (IM) from the Centre.

Soon after the signing of the accord, he had demanded from the Central government the full text of the accord at which the Home Minister had assured to provide one, once it is tabled in the Parliament, the CM said.

He continued that he had met the government interlocutor, RN Ravi for more than 45 minutes during which, the interlocutor had said that the accord was just a framework and as and when it is to be finalised the governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur will be invited for discussion.

The same response was also repeated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting which lasted for more than half an hour, Ibobi asserted.

Yet, till date the Government of Manipur has not received any response from either side, he lamented.

JCILPS imposes 12-hour public curfew from 4 am today

IMPHAL, August 13: In protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards introduction of Inner Line Permit System or similar law in the State State so as to regulate

IMPHAL, August 13: In protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards introduction of Inner Line Permit System or similar law in the State State so as to regulate the alarming influx of outsiders, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the ongoing mass agitation has imposed a 12-hour State-wide public curfew with effect from 4 am of August 14.

Announcing the curfew in a press release, the JCILPS said media personnel, medical service, religious procession, water supply and electricity are not covered by the public curfew.

The committee appealed to the people to stage mass sit-in-protests in every locality on August 15 from 10 am to 3 pm, form human chains from 3 pm to 4 pm and take out troch rallies from 7 pm as mark of protest against the utter failure of the government to pass an acceptable bill to safeguard the indigenous people.

The government has also taken lightly the five-point demands adopted during a public convention which were demanded to be included in the proposed draft bill, it said.

By doing so, it has been proved that the government is not able to understand the pulse of the people, the release stated.

Reiterating that JCILPS had two rounds of talk with the government on the proposed bill at the Chief Minister`™s Secretariat Hall but failed to bring any mutual consent, it said that representatives of the committee were left in disappointment when the government produced an incomplete bill.

Moreover, the government during the talks failed to assure that the five points adopted during the public convention held on July 23 will be included in the proposed draft bill which was supposed to be passed within August 15. Due to this, representatives of the committee walked out of the talks before its completion, the release contended.

As the government is in no mood to work according to the wishes of the people, there is no point in taking part in Independence Day celebration on August 15, it said.

The JCILPS in the release appealed to the people to collectively boycott the Independence Day celebration.

Tengnoupal Landslide Relief Committee warns of intense agitation

Chandel, Aug 13: Tengnoupal Sub-Division Landslide Relief Committee has warned of intense agitations if the State government fails to take a concrete decision to ensure reopening of Tengnoupal – Sangshak

The decision was taken in a joint meeting of Tengnoupal Sub-Division Landslide Relief Committee and 31 Village Chiefs of Sita Area at Phalbung Village today.

During the meeting presided by Mk. Mothil Maring, chairman Tengnoupal Sub-Division Landslide Relief Committee, it was resolved to approach the State government including the local MLA, ADC members and the Deputy Commissioner for reconnecting the washed away portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak road which is the only lifeline of the area at the earliest.

Further, the present members of joint meeting also unanimously resolved to launch an intense form of agitations, if the State government fails to take a concrete decision on or before August 30 for reopening the road washed away by the landslide.

Later on, a team of the Relief Committee along with media persons inspected the washed away portion of the road in between Phalbung and Chehlep junction.

Speaking to the media persons, Lhunkhomang Haokip, spokesperson of the Relief Committee said that the villagers of 31 villages of Sita area are enduring severe hardship due to massive landslide which washed away a portion of Tengnoupal – Sangshak road in between Phalbung and Chehlep junction.

Since then, the livelihoods of many villagers were affected as the road connectivity was totally cut off by the recent landslide, he added.

He also appealed the State government and the concern authority to consider the plight of the villagers and make necessary arrangement for cutting an alternative road along the washed away portion.

L. Thangboi Mate, secretary of the Relief Committee also said appealed to the local MLA, ADC Members and DC Chandel to take personal interest in constructing an alternative road for the washed away portion.

He also warned to launch an intense form of agitations if the state government fails to response positively on or before 30 August for reconstruction of the said road.

Joykishan demands black listing contractors responsible for Sekmai Dam collapse

IMPHAL, August 13: The State should blacklist the contractor involved in the construction of the Sekmai RLI Dam which had collapsed during the recent monsoon within one week or a

IMPHAL, August 13: The State should blacklist the contractor involved in the construction of the Sekmai RLI Dam which had collapsed during the recent monsoon within one week or a detailed report on the issue will be submitted to the Centre, former MLA of Thangmeiband Kh Joykishan said today.

Joykishan who joined the BJP soon after his disqualification by the Manipur Speaker`™s Tribunal on May 27 under the 10th schedule of the Indian Constitution inspected the Sekmai RLI Dam today.

Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the inspection tour, he demanded if the government is not responsible for the dam collapse, why is it taking so long to take action against the contractors involved?

The collapse of the dam which was constructed at the cost of Rs 4.22 crore is a big scandal, however, the government has decided to remain silent, he claimed. The failure to act on the part of the government indicates to its involvement, he alleged.

An artificial calamity was witnessed in the State because of the negligence of the government, he continued.

If the government has no responsibility for the dam collapse, then it should blacklist the contractors concern and recover the estimated cost of the dam from the contractors for re-tendering of process for the construction of the dam, he further demanded.

Malhar Patel MP of BJP and in-charge of Manipur State and Dr Venugopal MP chairman of Standing Committee Rural Development had sought detailed reports on failed projects of the State, he claimed.

The two have also instructed the State BJP to check all projects sponsored by NEC, NLCPR and DoNER ministry which are undertaken in the State, he claimed.

Now if action is not taken against the concerned contractors within a week`™s time, a detailed report will be submitted to the two MPs and NEC member Prof Gangmumei Kamei, he threatened.

He further claimed that guidelines for construction works of such structures have been totally violated in the State by the government.

He claimed that he was a victim of a Congress conspiracy, and not allowed to sit in the Assembly.

Accord and autonomy

Amongst the hints of the shape of the `framework agreement` between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) signed in New Delhi on August 3 is that there will be

Amongst the hints of the shape of the `framework agreement` between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) signed in New Delhi on August 3 is that there will be no redrawing of the boundaries of existing states of the Northeast neighbouring Nagaland. Another also indicated there will be an administrative autonomy model introduced for Nagas living outside Nagaland, and a structure to ensure cultural unity amongst the various Naga tribes. On the first point, it has further been clarified that the accord will create no power structure which will clash with the authority of the states in these neighbouring states. If these are the correct and honest pictures of what are envisaged, and there is no reason why they would not be, neighbouring states have little to worry. For reasons obvious, Manipur has been the most concerned with the development, wary as it is of the idea of a Greater Nagaland which will dismember it of large chunks of its Naga majority hill districts. These assurances should however allay these concerns to a good extent.

Having said this, it must be agreed that the siege mentality that the Meiteis in the valley suffer from is not without reason. The small valley they are settled in is the only land governed by the modern land revenue laws, and open to settlement by all. An increasing congestion is the result. This should explain why the movement for the Inner Line Permit System, ILPS, is restricted to the valley, while many in the hills have either remained silent, or else dismissively and with airs of ridicule, assess its implications. This siege mentality is also what has led the retrogressive demand of a section of the Meiteis to be classified as Scheduled Tribes, a fact which the hills have, rather than rejoice at the prospect of an expansion of their fraternity, again viewed with apprehension that the latter would come and grab their share of the reservation pie. This is the nature of the hill-valley divide in the state today, and it is too deeply entrenched to be washed away by sermons on ethnic brotherhood and shared indigenous interests.

This being the case, the valley must begin changing its attitude and approach. It must begin thinking in terms of cooperative federalism rather than homogenising the aspirations of the different communities and regions. This will entail first of all for the Meiteis abandoning their arrogant presumption that their interest defines the state`™s interest. However, this should also mean an end to what they have also presumed as the political correct stance of investing all their energy to what they see as ethnic brotherhood of communities in the state, even if they receive little or nothing in return. To seek a certain level of parity however should not be about asking for ST status for themselves. It should on the other hand be about evolving a model by which the playing fields are level at least on their unreserved grounds. But before a possible model of this nature is touched upon, a little more on the autonomy model for the hills, especially with a Naga Accord approaching should be relevant. Let this accord be a success, and it can be a success only if it does not have the potential for harming neighbours.

As long as there are no power structures that will come to clash with the authority of the state, let an autonomy model, 6th Schedule or newer, be given to the hills, although the 6th Schedule was originally meant for pockets of tribal lands in demographically and territorially much larger Assam. Mizoram abolished it when it was separated from Assam to ultimately become a full-fledged state, and retailed it only in three tiny pockets where minuscule ethic communities who did not want to adopt the newly constructed Mizo identity lived. In Meghalaya strangely, the 6th Schedule was retained even after it was separated from Assam and reorganised as a separate state so that almost the entire state, except the capital region of Shillong, overlaps with three 6th Schedule ADCs. This, as reports suggest, has been the cause of many small administrative irritants but never one capable of threatening the existence of the state. So Manipur should not worry too much. Manipur needs not worry too much on the suggestion of a structure for cultural integration for the Nagas too, for this is already very much a reality even today. For instance all Naga students bodies in Manipur are affiliated to the Naga Students Federation, NSF, and all apex Naga tribal bodies are affiliated to the Naga Hoho.

But if the hills are give further autonomy than they already have, in all fairness and administrative prudence, the valley too must be given something. A model that refers back to the logic by which the 6th Schedule was conceived of when it was being framed, and the definition of tribal as communities living by their tradition mores and economies, whose land holdings are determined by customary laws etc, could be the cue. The Canadian model, although the situation is vastly different in that Native Americans had been robbed of their lands and their populations decimated by systematic genocide, could be useful. Natives who lived in `Reservations`, are entitled to state provided facilities for tribals, but not those who live and work, or have acquired properties in non-reserved lands as any other ordinary citizens of the country. In the Manipur context, this could be about all who settle and acquired landed properties in the valley having to forsake reservation facilities, although every one of them obviously would retain his or her ethnic identity intact. This will not only give a sense of a measure of protection to the insecure non-tribal Meiteis, but also ensure reservation facilities went to only those who deserve them amongst those in the ST list living in the 6th Schedule areas.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/accord-and-autonomy/

In-depth thinking and political wisdom crucial to solving Naga problem

By Oken Jeet Sandham Almost all the people and even those who have been so closely associated with leaders of the NSCN(IM) for years in working to find solution to

By Oken Jeet Sandham

Almost all the people and even those who have been so closely associated with leaders of the NSCN(IM) for years in working to find solution to the decades old Naga political issue have been caught napping when the Government of India has inked the “Framework Agreement” with the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015 at Delhi. The low profile event of the high profile Indo-Naga issue has been arranged at the residence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7 Race Course Road, Delhi in his presence along with his Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Interlocutor to Naga talks RN Ravi, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and also many top ranking NSCN (IM) leaders.

According to report, NSCN (IM) General Secretary Th Muivah and Chairman Isak Chishi Swu on behalf of the organization and RN Ravi representing the Government of India signed the agreement. Soon after this agreement, breaking news of this event came in all the TV Channels from Delhi and all the online editions of the National Papers. Hundreds of people in Nagaland and its neighbouring States were taken aback by the sudden announcement of the agreement as none of them expected that such an agreement would be signed so soon particularly the manner in which they did it, though many of them had some clues that some development between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) would take place.

Soon after the news of the “Framework Agreement” broke out, there were mix reactions and confusions among the people including the Naga people themselves. Such confusion is bound to happen, and of course naturally, when the Government of India has suddenly entered into such historic agreement with the NSCN (IM) without having given any pre-information of such significance to the Naga leaders including Nagaland Chief Minister, other stakeholders. Although some said that it is “Preamble,” it would have been more logical had the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) given pre-information to the public before signing the agreement, because the Naga issue has been dragging on for decades. However, the parties have been cautious in handling and explaining of the nature of the agreement.

This sudden development has changed the political course now. Many have been finding hard to give their comments except welcoming the agreement, saying they are yet to see the details of the accord. On one side, the Naga people know that there are other groups not only fighting for the cause of the Nagas but also maintaining even ceasefire with the Government of India. On the other, they are worried and anxious of details of the agreement that are yet to be finalized soon, and of course, the NSCN (K) has already walked away from the ceasefire in March this year.

Now, even though it is “Framework Agreement,” Chief Ministers of the neighbouring States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur have already demanded the Prime Minister to make the details of the agreement public as they had suspicions that there might be some hidden agenda in it to disturb territories of their respective States as the Naga Integration issue was one of the core demands of the NSCN (IM). However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Deputy Kiren Rejiju said such issues were not there now, besides saying that they (Chief Ministers of AP, Assam and Manipur) will be consulted before finalizing the details of the accord between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM).

Now the ball is in the court of the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) as to how they will move on from here, and all depends on how they act to the fast developing crucial political situation in Nagaland and its neighbouring States. One side they have to work out as to how they can take on board other Naga groups, on the other they have to see that Nagaland and its neighbouring States’ interests are protected.

Some crucial talks doing the round in the last few days after the signing of the agreement are about Nagas having a separate flag, separate currency and safeguarding their Naga customary system and land and its resources. Some of these points have already been touched by Zeliang also. When talking about safeguarding customary system and land and its resources of the Nagas living in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, they are similar to the Clause (a) of the Article 371A of the Constitution of India. Some say that Article 371A should cover the Naga areas in other neighbouring States. Because when they talk of providing safeguards to their customary practices and land and its resources, provisions of protecting them are already there in the Article 371A. But the point to be noted here is that this Article 371A has come into effect as a result of the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. And all this development had happened because of the 16-Point Agreement signed between the Government of India and the then Naga People’s Convention (NPC) in 1960.
Now as this writer has already stated in his earlier write-ups that any attempt to amend Article 371A of the Constitution of India will be doing so against the very spirit of the 16-Point Agreement of 1960. It is because of this agreement that the present State of Nagaland was born as the 16th State of the Union of India in 1963.

If the Naga leaders wanted to have provisions to safeguard their land and its resources and customary systems for Nagas living in neighbouring States, they can be discussed, and if agreed upon, then they can be incorporated in the relevant Articles connecting with the respective States of the Northeast. But attempting to extend the Article 371A, which is for the State of Nagaland, to other Naga areas outside it (Nagaland) will unlikely to produce positive result. It is also not very clear whether the Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur will agree to the idea that the Nagas living in their respective States to have provisions of direct sharing of power with the Government of India as pointed out by some including Nagaland Chief Minister. They may feel that such arrangement may violate the Federal structure of the Constitution of India.

One should, however, know that there are various ways to work out for protecting the interests of Nagaland, other neighbouring States and the Naga people if the so-called contentious issues are no more there. The leaders should apply their political wisdom while working out for details of the accord. The leaders must have in-depth positive and mature thinking abilities because all actions come after thinking. David Joseph Schwartz, who was an American motivational writer and coach, best known for authoring The Magic of Thinking Big in 1959 said, “Where success is concerned, people are not measured in inches, or pounds, or college degrees, or family background; they are measured by the size of their thinking.”

Most importantly, the leaders in talks should see that any move they attempt should lead to solving the vex Naga political issue. Otherwise, it will be only a vicious circle.

Bottom Line:

In Delhi on Sunday, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang said, “I along with all Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly are ready to step down, if an acceptable and honorable solution is found to the Naga people, in order to make a new beginning.”

I genuinely believe such a decision should be taken after a thorough deliberation on the present development through a “Special Session of Nagaland Legislative Assembly,” so that it will be politically valid and logical. Otherwise, differences may crop up among the legislators in Nagaland and that will be a major hindrance to the process again.