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KOHIMA, May 18 (NEPS): Senior ruling NPF functionary from Longlen has described the demand of the ENPO for a separate “Frontier Nagaland State” as “genuine.” “It is a movement supported by the masses,” said Er TL Semdok, Vice President, NPF. “The only thing is the political will is lacking,” he told NEPS News here on Friday.
The NPF leader, who unsuccessfully contested as RJD candidate in the last state general elections from 50 Longlen Assembly Constituency, while supporting the demand of the ENPO made it clear that “there should be a political will in order to achieve their goal (Frontier Nagaland State).”
He also categorically stated his point that though the State of Nagaland was born out of 16-Point Agreement, they could never have seen as a State if ENPO areas did not come while the State was formed.
The State came into being with their areas but regrettably, they, in spite of forming almost half the population of the entire state, had been grossly neglected in many spheres. “There is a chronic negligence and the anger of being longed neglected bottled up and the present demand of a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland State’ was the culmination of that maltreatment to the people of these areas,” he explained.
Semdok further put his point across that the Central Government’s economic seminars for the people of ENPO areas organized in Mon and Tuensang in the past itself proved beyond doubt that the areas had been neglected. Another seminar was also held here at Kohima for the economic development of the ENPO areas, unfortunately the money sanctioned after these seminars was manipulated by the present Government, he alleged.
The Central Government knew very well of the backwardness of the ENPO areas since long time back. So they had been releasing funds for the economic development of these areas. But since all these funds had been routed through the State Government, they had been manipulated and the benefit had not reached to the targeted people, he alleged.
The NPF leader, who is yet to resign from the party (NPF) and contest from other political party in the coming election against the sitting ruling NPF MLA Pangyu Phom, also disclosed that their people in his district were yet to taste what it called the developments even after 49 years of Statehood. For the people out there, they did not know that there was government for their wellbeing, he stated alleging that the present Parliamentary Secretary, RD, had been allegedly providing CGI sheets to the villagers and youth who promised to support him in the coming state general elections. “But many of our youth who came to know the conditional assistance being worked out by the Parliamentary Secretary, refused to take those CGI sheets,” Mr further alleged.
Sengdok also said the road conditions in their district were so pathetic and only portion of road which remained somehow in good condition was the one from Changtongya to Longlen. But this road was again constructed by the previous Government, he added. He went on criticising the Government particularly the Medical Department saying that his district did not get a single benefit from the NRHM programs till date. “There have been various schemes for the villagers under the NRHM schemes, but all these have not reached to our areas,” he disclosed.
On educational sector, the ex-candidate said, though they have only a single college, they are yet to see even a Higher Secondary School in the whole of district till date. “It is so painful that our people, far away from state capital or other major advanced districts and cities, are not in a position to study higher classes if their economic conditions are in bad shape,” he stated. “In any case, those who can afford sending their children from the district to Kohima or Mokokchung or Dimapur, etc, are a negligible few,” he pointed out expressing his serious concern on the educational sector. He assured that he would give his priority to “educational sector” if he was elected in the coming election due early next year.
He also said they had eight BDOs in Longlen. Out of this, six were in present Parliamentary Secretary’s village, Yachim while one each was given to Hukphang and Pongching villages. “All these have been politically appointed and not through the proper recruitment procedures,” he stated disclosing that he already had lodged a complaint in this regard. “Ruefully, the Government has not taken any action yet,” he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/%E2%80%9Cfrontier-nagaland-state%E2%80%9D-demand-genuine%E2%80%9D-longlen-ex-candidate/

By Oken Jeet Sandham
KOHIMA, Apr 20 (NEPS): Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen expressed his happiness on the prevailing peaceful environment in the State.
Talking to NEPS here today, the Minister claimed that “Nagaland is the most peaceful State comparing with other states.” “If you look at the pre-2008 situation and compared it with the 2012 situation in the state, I think, peace is there in the State,” he described.
Still not subscribing to the argument of the Opposition Congress that Naga underground factional clashes and killings should be taken as “law and order problem,” the straight talking Minister elaborated that all these issues were correlated to the political activities of the Naga political issue.
“If the Congress thinks that those issues are law and order problem, let them deal with it according to their philosophy,” he hit back.
They should understand that the Government of India had even “recognized” that the “Naga issue is political.” So definitely it had to be dealt politically and definitely it should not be from the perspective of the law and order angle,” he pointed out.
Imchen also failed to understand the logic of the Opposition Congress that the Naga underground factional issues should be dealt with a “firm hand.”
Asking the Opposition Congress to explain what they meant by a “firm hand,” the Minister wondered whether the so-called a “firm hand” was there in their (Congress) regime.
“We are not going to kill anyone,” Imchen said. “We are also not going to disturb the peace in the state.”
Asked how long the DAN Government would pursue the policy of being a “facilitator” to the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM), Imchen said, “So long it is required, we will remain as a facilitator to the peace talks.”
Elaborating further of their policy of being a facilitator to the ongoing talks, the Minister stated that the peace talks were between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India and they (DAN Government) were not a party to it.
He, however, made it clear that they had trust in the “wisdom” of the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) leaderships that they would bring good solution to the Nagas. “So we are even prepared to pave way in the event of arriving at an honorable solution to the issue,” he said.
Asked his comment on the reported plan of the NSCN (K) to have a bilateral ceasefire with the Myanmar Government, the Minister said there should be peace “everywhere.”

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/home-minister-says-nagaland-as-most-peaceful-state/

Freedom From India: PR Book Release in Delhi

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Delhi 1st Sept 2011: The release of the book entitled Freedom from India; A History of Manipur Nationalism (1947-200), authored by Malem Ningthouja and published by the Spectrum Publications was held on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 at the University of Delhi in Delhi. The programme that was addressed by Professor Bhagat Oinam of JNU, Kavita Krishan of CC CPI (ML) Liberation, and comrade Vijay Singh of Revolutionary Democracy was attended by the teaching staffs and students of Delhi University, representatives of civil societies and left democratic parties, Manipur students in Delhi and several others. According to Professor Bhagat the book had reflected the commitment of an activist cum scholar. The book had taken strong ideological position and had raised crucial debates on issues related to the Manipur national movement. According to Ms. Kavita the book had brought into the light the history of freedom movement that had been covered up. According to comrade Vijay Singh, the debate that was raised by the book had to be discussed and deeply analysed in widespread scale. According to the Author, despite contradiction / conflict among co-existing people / communities in Manipur over the national question, it was a fact that there had been continuous Manipur freedom movement as a result of continuous colonial rule since the British colonial rule onwards. It was necessary to understand the history of the movement by doing away from all forms of misinformation carried out by the colonial media. The book is based on the M. Phil dissertation Ph. D thesis of the author. The author is the editorial member of the journal Revolutionary Democracy, founder cum chairperson of the organisation Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur), founder cum managing trustee of Labour Research and Organisation Foundation, and a member of the ICC of the International League of People’s Struggle.

Manipuri

Houkhiba Tuesday, 30 August 2011, numitta University of Delhi da Malem Ningthoujana eeba, Spectrum Publicationna fongba, Freedom from India; A History of Manipur Nationalism (1947-200), haiba lairik asi release toukhre. JNU gi Professor Bhagat Oinam, CPI (ML) Liberation gi Central Committee gi Kavita Krishan, amasung Revolutionary Democratic gi editor Comrade Vijay Singh na wangangloi oiduna pangthokkiba thouram aduda University of Delhigi ojhasing amadi maheiroising, civil society gi meehutsing, left democratic partygi meeoising, Manipur gi maheirong amasung atei atoppa meeyoi kaya saruk yakhi. Professor Bhagat ki matung inna lairik asida activist cum scholar amagi commitment mamee tai. Lairik asina wakhallongi firep amada chap yungna leptuna Manipur gi national movemenka mari leinaba wafam kayada marei kaya puthokli. Ms Kavita gi matung inna, Manipur ningtambagi maramda kupsinduna thamluraba puwari ama lairik asina mayamda utli. Comrade Vijay gi matung inna lairik asina pukhatlakliba marei asi henna pak snna amasung kupthana neinabagi tangai fadba lei. Authorgi matung inna, Manipur gi manungda khundariba meeyoising / furupsinggi marakta national question gi matangda yetnaba / muknaba kaya leirabasu, British na pallingeidagi ngasifaoba loilam leingak loidaba asina maram oiraga Manipur ningtambagi khongjang ama leptana changsillak-ee haibasidi asengbani. Asigumba khongjang asi colonial media na kupsinduna thamliba kuyom asi thugaiduna khongjanggi puwaribu khangminnaba tangai fadaba lei. Lairik asi author gi M. Phil dissertation amasung Ph. D Theisis ta yumfam oi. Author asi journal Revolutionary Democracy gi editorial member amani, Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur) gi founder cum chairpersonni, Labour Research and Organisation Foundation gi founder cum managing trustee ni, International League of People’s Struggle gi ICC memberni.

The above press release was sent to Kanglaonline.com by Malem Ningthouja, CPDM. The contact email id is cpdmanipur@gmail.com

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/freedom-from-india-pr-book-release-in-delhi/

IMPHAL, July 14: The state election department is preparing to take up the revision of electoral rolls for 2012 in the state from September 29.
The decision of taking the revision of the electoral rolls for 2012 was officially taken by the department complying to the directives of the Election Commission of India which has already decided to revise the schedule of special summary revision of electoral roll with reference to January 1, 2012 as the qualifying date for those states where general elections to state legislative Assemblies are due in the year 2012 which include the state of Manipur.
In this regard an official notification was issued by the state chief electoral officer today and as per the order, the period of filling claims and objections will be from September 29 till October 29 this year, reading of relevant part/section of photo electoral rolls in gram sabha/local bodies and RWA meeting etc and verification of names will be done from October 7 to October 10, special campaign dates with booth level agents of political parties for receiving claims and objections will be done on October 9, October 16 and October 23 next and disposal of claims and objections shall be done on November 28.
The official notification further mentioned that updating the database, merging of photographs, updating the control tables and preparation and printing of supplementary list will also be done on November 28 and December 28 and the final publication of electoral rolls will be made on January 2 next year the official notification added.

EDITORIAL

Unity First
The unification move by a number of underground organisations operating in the state, as reported in the local media today, is something which would raise hope amongst all in the state, both those who believe a conclusive solution to the problem of insurgency through negotiation is the need of the hour, as well as those who think that the war must be fought to its logical end. Nobody will deny that in the absence of such a common front, either of these goals would remain elusive, and in fact even effort towards realising them would have remain a non starter. The second option, that of fighting the war to its logical end is pretty straight forward, and need no further elaboration, whether this is desirable or prudent is another matter altogether. On the first proposition, that of reaching a resolution without having to fight militarily, there is much to be said. As long a united front is absent, and as long as the decision of a single group remains not ratified by a united will, no peace overture can ever gather steam or legitimacy. This is perhaps what has been inhibiting many of the parties from exploring peace possibilities other than through violence.
The logic of a prolonged conflict is such that certain very peculiar equations come to dominate its dynamics in more ways than one. As for instance, increasingly the situation is one in which those who opt for peaceful negotiation of precisely the demands that led to the insurrections in the first place, are prone to earn the stigma of weakness and betrayal of cause, charges which more than likely would stick too. Tough posturing for all the years always makes it seem a comedown to accept anything that seem softer than the previously vaunted stances of uncompromising violent struggle till the actualisation of the dream that made the struggle inevitable when it was launched. The turnaround would hence also become vulnerable to be portrayed as show of weakness by the hawks amongst the insurgents’ ranks, although we all know how false such perceptions can be. To opt for peace is not an easy thing and it take plenty of courage to actually step forward and state the conviction. Given the commitment, there is also little that cannot be settled by democratic negotiations that bloody wars seemingly can.
There is yet another dimension to what can be terms as “transforming conflict” and bringing it to a route of peaceful dialogue. While the conflicts last, the rhetoric and indeed ideological drives being such, many lives, many of them brilliant, would have been lost to the cause. Turning around and changing direction of the struggle after all that have happened would hence be burdened with a heavy conscience. The question that would nag the leadership in such circumstance would be about how they would explain the shift in approach to the soul of those who made the supreme sacrifices in the course of the struggle till then. Would such a decision to change course amount to sending out the message that those who lost their lives died in vain?
This last question and the answer to it is vital in any peace approach. It is a very sensitive question and should be treated as such by all parties involved on either side of the conflict, if they are interested in lasting peace ultimately. Phrases such as “misguided youth” or “misled brethrens”, returning to the “mainstream” etc, are extremely insensitive in this sense, and although perhaps not visible immediately, would leave residues of guilt and disapproval in the minds and hearts of many, sowing the seeds for future trouble. The approach hence should be one of treating the new approach, if any, as a continuance of the struggle, and that this new turn was a logical consequence of the road the conflict has been on thus far. That is to say, that it must always be acknowledged that those who lost their lives in the earlier stages of the violent struggles, made invaluable contributions to the overall progress of the struggle, and that it was their sacrifices which made it possible for the struggle to make the new turn. Indeed, any historian of insurgency would vouch that this indeed is always the case. It is unfortunate but seldom false that it is the language of violence that made an insensitive establishment listen to the issues being articulated in the first instance. It is only after this attention has been won that people can begin talking meaningfully of a peaceful negotiated settlement to the problem at hand. This being so, the genesis and history of an insurrection must be given the respect they deserve first before a new non violent course to conflict resolution can be thought of as a meaningful alternative.

SPORTS

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/KkEFzt0O1Kk/