Manipur News

Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) May 20 (ANI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has sought further support from the European Union (EU) to facilitate fund flow from the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which are already funding all other north east Indian states, but not Arunachal Pradesh.
Interacting with an EU delegation led by its Ambassador Joao Cravinho here, Tuki said: “Arunachal is a virgin land, with 82 percent forest cover, and my government has adopted a priority policy to convert Jhum Land under unsustainable maize and paddy cultivation to productive green land by promoting horti-agri and allied cultivation like tea and rubber during 12th Five Year Plan to increase the forest cover to 90 percent. I will call on the Central Government soon to seek compensation for protecting and conserving the rich biodiversity since the Supreme Court banned forest activities in 1996.”
Highlighting the huge potential of Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Tuki said that though his government had submitted proposals as desired by Central Government, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, these had been rejected due to objections raised by China.
He said that Arunachal Pradesh had an annual budget of around Rs 3,000 crore, but was still hugely dependent on New Delhi for funding from external agencies.
Dwelling on the hydropower potential of the state, Tuki informed the EU delegation that the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project, the 600 MW Kameng project and the 110 Pare project would be commissioned within the next two to three years to improve the power scenario.
Responding to a question from Ambassador Cravinho, Tuki informed that the proposed 1,554 Trans-Arunachal Highway, Tasigaon-Bhutan Road, the historic Stillwell Road were close to completion, while the airports at Pasighat, Tzu and Ziro were under renovation and would improve communication.
“We have sought a direct fixed wing air service with Kolkata from these airports,” he disclosed.
Poland’s Ambassador to India Pitor Klodkowski said that he was highly impressed by the first hand experience of the rich cultural mosaic of Arunachal and its inspiring natural beauty, and added that this would lay a strong foundation between the state and 34 other nations, including 27 European nations.
Endorsing Tuki’s views that the maiden visit of eight European diplomats was historic, Ambassador Klodkowski said support should be gathered to win over China in not opposing the flow from of development funds from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
“All us were taken in by your rich traditions and culture. Our hearts are filled with whatever we saw and heard. Hopefully, this will lay a strong foundation and we all will try to achieve it,” he told Tuki in front of a gathering. Ambassador Cravinho had earlier said: “The hospitality is very touching during this trip aimed at identifying potentials to strengthen our ties with India. This is the second visit after the visit of four diplomats to Assam and Meghalaya last year led by Czechoslovakia Ambassador Miloslav Staesk.”
He added: “This was a tremendous learning experience that has opened our eyes to tap Arunachal’s potential, particularly by the EU members, inhabited by people speaking 23 languages with diversity like this state.”
He also lauded the power point presentation on state’s investment potential by Planning Secretary Ankur Garg.
The ambassadors, including Borislav Kostov (Bulgaria), Janos Terenyi (Hungary), Terhi Hakala (Finland),
Marian Tomasik (Slovakia) and German charge-d-affairs Cord Meier-Klodt interacted with the chief minister in presence of Education Minister Bosiram Siram, Power (Electrical) Minister Tanga Byaling, Industries Minister Tapang Taloh, Parliamentary Secretaries T N Thongdok and Nabam Rebia, Principal Secretary Yeshi Tsering and special secretary and PPP director Sonam Chombey at the CM’s conference hall here.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/arunachal-cm-asks-eu-team-to-persuade-wb-adb-to-increase-fund-flow-for-ap/

Dimapur, May 20 NNN: The NSCN-IM has reminded New Delhi today not to toy around with the ongoing dialogue with the Naga outfit. The NSCN-IM also urged the government of India that all its official statements will be only from the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister or the govrnment of India’s Chief Interlocutor.
This statement of the NSCN-IM came after Shambhu Singh’s statement appeared in the media saying, “If we don’t take all three factions into account, no kind of agreement is going to succeed. It will be a futile exercise to reach an agreement with one group”
Irked by the Ministry of Home Affairs stand, NSCN-IM’s “kilo-Kilonser” (Home Minister) TT Among and convenor of Steering Committee Qhevihe Chisi Swu in a statement made available to Newmai News Network recalled the background that had formed the ongoing peace talks with New Delhi.
“It is pertinent to remind all that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) came to the negotiating table when the government of India finally took the decision to go for a political settlement on the vexed Indo-Naga political conflict after having tasted the futility of going for military solution. The then Prime Minister of India P.V.Narasimha Rao had particularly chosen NSCN as the only potential partner to initiate talks on Naga political settlement.
Eventually ceasefire was declared on 1st August.1997 between the NSCN and the Government of India (Gol) to pave the way for political negotiation based on three principles that the talks to be held without pre-conditions; that talks to be held at the highest level and also that the talks to be held outside India in a third country”, the statement of the NSCN-IM leaders said.
Subsequent to that on July 11, 2002 the Gol recognized the “unique history and situation” of the Nagas. We consider that the decision was a conscious and realistic step taken by the Gol We have witnessed many ups and downs in the political negotiation but reached thus far and nearing 15 years. Today, NSCN is totally upset because after more than 14 years of political talks the government of India is showing a different color that is detrimental to solving the Naga issue on the basis of the understanding and commitment already given by the Gol, and it amounts to hitting the Nagas below the halt
After more than 80 rounds of talks the present stage of talks indicates that it has entered into a challenging situation where crucial decisions must be taken but it anpears that some elements in the government of India have started playing a divisive role. These divisive forces are over-activelv at work now and the government of India is seemingly abetting and assisting them by its inaction.
” All said and done, if the government of India is still serious about Indo-Naga talks it is imperative to make it clear whether it stands by various joint agreements signed with the NSCN and the commitments of its Prime Ministers including PV. Narashimha Rao to the NSCN leadership Isak Chishi Swu and Mr. Th. Muivah when he met them at Paris on June 12,
1995. In that meeting the PM of India proposed political dialogue to resolve the political problems. In response to his proposal the Leadership of the NSCN said: “Okay, Mr. Prime Minister why don’t you talk with Khaplang Group and NNC? We will not stand in the way, but we will not be a party to it”. The Prime Minister of India replied: “Why should I talk with them, the issue is not with them. The issue is with you. You have proved yourself The people are with you and so if we talk with you, we believe solution can be worked out. I will not talk with others,” the NSCN-IM said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/do-not-toy-with-the-peace-dialogue-nscn-im/