NE India - Cultural, Political & Historical Issues

[Guest]

xposting Bharatvarsh's message

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Christians in NE states may lose minority status

Our Correspondent

New Delhi, July 07 : The very concept of minority status may soon change diametrically with the proposed 103rd amendment to the Constitution making minorities like Christians lose their exclusive status in states of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland where they are numerically in majority.

Interestingly, Hindus in these states would be treated as minority and enjoy the status, the proposed amendment that is bound to create a storm said.

The amendment approved in the Union Cabinet recently is likely to be brought in the coming monsoon session of the Parliament next month, as per the report of the National Commision for Minority Education.

The 103rd Constitutional Amendment seeks to have state-wise minority status rather than national status, as is the norm now. Minorities in states will be decided through a presidential notification in consultation with the state government.

Incidentally, the National Commission for Minority Education says the amendment will make Christian students from Meghalaya , Mizoram, Nagaland ineligible for admission in Christian colleges like St Stephens, as they will not have domicile minority status.

Likewise, Sikhs from Punjab and Muslims from J&K will not have minority status. Christian-run institutions in Kerala and other states may also lose their minority tag.

Commission Chairperson, MMA Siddique has written to HRD Minister ArjunSingh and Minority Affairs Minister AR Antulay saying the constitutional amendment that the Cabinet approved in May first week is against the spirit of Article 30 of the Constitution. Articles 25 to 30 guarantee protection of religious, cultural and educational rights to both majority and minority communities.

Meanwhile, the All India Catholic Union, the All India Christian Council and the United Christian Action have reacted strongly to the decision of the Center and decided to go ahead with a national consultation on the issue in collaboration with major organisations of other religious minorities. This decision of Cabinet had serious ramifications for all denominations of Christians in every part of the country as it had for Muslims, and indeed even for Sikhs.

"The cabinet decision if made law would take away minority status from theChristian community in Goa, Kerala, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram, seriously compromising activities in Education," Dr John Dayal, leader of the Christian Unions said. He appreciated the views of the Commisison and wanted wider consultations all over the country over this very important issue.

Another provision gives Parliament the final say in the matter of defining 'minorities'. Parliament will be empowered to enact laws to include or exclude any section of citizens from the list of minorities, Dr Dayal said in a sttment.

http://www.tripuranews.co.uk/link%20page/n...iew.php?id=1259<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Look how the bastards are panicking as soon as they heard that they will be treated on par with Hindus and these idiots have the guts to demand secularism.

That John Dayal SOB has been involved in all sorts of anti Hindu actitivies

[Guest]

Assam is in dire straits - terrorised by christoterrorists, islamics <i>and</i> the Pak-supported communist ULFA. And there's the KLNLF which I personally hadn't heard of before. I wonder whether that one's red, islamic or christo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070716/wl_st...ZtGaGQAZBHuOrgF
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Second kidnapped official found dead in India</b>
1 hour, 55 minutes ago

A local official kidnapped by rebels in the northeastern Indian state of Assam was found dead, the second state representative to die in militant hands in a week, police said.

Security officials recovered the body of Kailash Jha, who worked with the state-run Cement Corporation of India, from a densely forested area east of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

"We suspect Jha died of a heart attack, unable to withstand the pressure of being made to walk through jungles by his abductors," police official B. Purkayastha told AFP by telephone.

"There was no visible injury mark and now we have sent the body for an autopsy."

Jha and 10 others were taken hostage Sunday from Karbi Anglong district by militants of the banned Karbi Longri North Cachar Liberation Front (<b>KLNLF). The group is fighting for a homeland for the majority Karbi tribe in eastern Assam.</b>

The rebels released eight of the 10 hostages early Monday, Purkayastha said, adding that police and soldiers were hunting for the remaining two hostages.

Jha's death come after P.C. Ram, a senior official of the federal Food Corporation of India, was killed Thursday in crossfire between security forces and another separatist rebel group.

Ram had been kidnapped by the United Liberation Front of Asom (<b>ULFA</b>), which has been fighting for an independent homeland in oil, tea and timber-rich Assam since 1979.

Police also said they had recovered the bullet-ridden body of government engineer Ajay Deka, kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on Sunday, from the outskirts of Guwahati.

Police officer Rajen Singh said authorities suspect Deka had also been snatched by militants.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Bodhi]

How little is a common Indian informed by our media about the history, traditions, culture and the plight of North East India!

Those recently "Padma-Sri" decorated brave Journalists, who cry their hearts out at the assassination of an India-hating Jehad-promoting woman of neihbouring enemy state, and send their converted journalists to report from that rotten country, do not even tell us about what is happening in the North East!

==========
Today (January 26) is Rani Gaidinliu's birth day, the great woman tribal Freedom Fighter from Nagaland, who was awarded life imprisonment by the British at the age of 16. She was given the 'Rani' title by Pt. Nehru and Indira Gandhi awarded her Tamra patra and Padma Bhushan.

None remembers her because she did politically incorrect thing by joining VHP in her later years. She helped Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram in Nagaland and strengthened Heraka movement of Naga youth to consolidate faith in Dharma amongst Nagas. A postal stamp was issued in her honour by A B Vajpayee govt. and an award for women's power was established in her name.

But nowhere in media and on secular/ govt. channels we heard anybody remembering her.

<img src='http://www.indianpost.com/images/1679.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='color:red'>Remembering Rani Gaidinliu</span>

The Zeliangrong Heraka community paid rich tribute to Padma Bhushan Rani Gaidinliu, who had become a legend during her life time because of her freedom fight against British rulers and her deed for the preservation and protection of Naga identify. The function was held on the occasion of the 90th birth-anniversary of Rani Gaidinliu at Jalukie in Nagaland on January 26, 2006.

Speaking at the function as Chief Guest, Prof Gongmumei Kamei of Imphal said Rani Ma was the worst victim of slander spread by Christian missionaries. Rani Gaidinliu was also a victim of British colonial rule and mistrust of Christianised Nagas.

He narrated that Heraka is a pure and perfect religion and terming it as heathen and pagan by Christian missionaries is wrong and with malafide intention to demean it. This was also done to present Christianity as superior to Heraka religion, which is not true, he further said and added that prosecution of followers of Heraka and other indigenous religions of Nagas by NNC and NSCN(IM) is an injustice and it should stop now. Shri C.M. Chang, former Secretary to Government of Nagaland stated that after Independence, Rani Ma was exiled to isolation and complete confinement in Yimrup village of Tuensang far away from her Heraka people. Shri Chang said that she was of rare virtues, exceptionally courageous and fired with zeal for the welfare of Naga society.

At the end of the function, a peace march was organised on the roads of Jalukie, which was led by Prof Gongmumei Kamei himself and Heraka leaders. Above 500 delegates from 35 Heraka villages attended the function, which was conducted by Ku. Tasile Zeliang.

http://www.christianaggression.com/item_di...S&id=1141380947
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

From Daily Pioneer
<b>N-E ultras strike gold with rhino slaying</b>

Syed Zarir Hussain | Kaziranga


Militants in the North-East are involved in a flourishing rhino poaching syndicate at the famed Kaziranga National Park in Assam leading to a sudden spurt in incidents of the giant pachyderms being slaughtered for their horn.

"Our reports indicate a definite nexus between poachers and militants. Hence, we are soon adopting a slew of measures to combat incidents of poaching at Kaziranga," Assam's Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said.

Three rhinos have so far been killed this year at the 430 sq km park -- the latest in a string of brutal poaching of the herbivorous mammals.

"Organised poacher gangs are involved in killing the rhinos. Last year, 18 were killed and in January three were shot dead, including a mother and a calf," park warden Bankim Sarma said.

The growing demand for rhino horns and its barter for arms by militants has turned into a big business. Rhino horns are bartered by militants with the poaching syndicates for purchase of arms.

"Karbi tribal militant groups (from Assam) and the NSCN-IM (Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland) are directly involved in the flourishing rhino poaching racket," Durlav Gogoi, a former poacher and now actively helping park authorities in combating the menace, said.

Saikia and another former poacher Motka Gogoi killed at least a dozen rhinos between themselves before they gave up poaching of rhinos a couple of years back.

"The NSCN-IM helped us with sophisticated weapons, including carbines and rifles, to hunt the rhino. We used to get Rs 3,000 at the most for shooting the rhino," Saikia said.

"There are suggestions to take the help of police and even the Army in combating poaching, especially to deal with the militants involved in such a racket. We would take stern measures after we get a report from a committee set up to review the situation," the Minister said.

This is the first time in a decade that the number of rhinos killed in a year has touched the double digit inside the 430 sq km park.

As per the latest figures, some 1,855 of the world's estimated 2,700 herbivores lumber around the wilds of Kaziranga -- their numbers ironically making the giant mammals a favourite target for poaching. Such was the pressure that between 1980 and 1997, some 550 rhinos were killed by poachers in the wilds of Kaziranga -- the highest being 48 being slaughtered in 1992.

There was a downslide in rhino poaching between 1998 and 2006 with just 47 rhinos being killed -- the decrease being attributed to intensive protection mechanisms and a better Intelligence network, coupled with support from villagers living on the periphery of the park. "The demand for the rhino has always been there and with the rhino population decreasing in other sanctuaries, especially in Nepal, the pressure is increasing on Kaziranga," the warden said.

<i>For any comments, queries or feedback, kindly mail us at pioneerletters@yahoo.co.in </i>

[Bodhi]

Not a single Arunachali supports China's claim

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Member of Parliament Tapir Gao from Arunachal east constituency discussed China's claims on Arunachal Pradesh, the development in the state and other issues during a chat with rediff.com readers on Thursday. Following is the transcipt: <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->biku asked, indian govt has done nothing for arunachal pradesh and still india is claiming that arunchal pradesh is a part of india.

Tapir Gao,MP from Arunachal II answers, India is not claiming Arunachal Pradesh,AP is an integral part of India.Rome was not built in a day.The development will reach AP ona day very soon because we are in 21st century ...modern technology is reaching AP the same way!! <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->gfjhjh asked, How is the RSS work going on in Arunachal

Tapir Gao,MP from Arunachal II answers, After 1962 war,RSS is the organisation that reached first AP to impart moral boost of nationality to war ridden citizens.RSS is not a communal organisation, they are imparting nationalism.Today in the feild of education,health and social developments; the RSS has covered the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh especially in the tribal social identity preservations. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BHARI asked, HI COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHY HINDI IS NOT AS THE SUBJECT LANGUAGE IN THE SHOOLS AND COLLEGES.....BECAUSE MOST OF MY NORTH EASY FRIEND TOLD ME THAT WE DOESN'T GIVE IMPORTANCE TO HINDI........IF WE ALL ARE INDIAN THEN WHY WE ARE IGNORING HINDI..

Tapir Gao,MP from Arunachal II answers, Hindi haamaai raashtriya bhaasha hai.Hum Hindutan ke saacha naagrik hai!! You are most welcomed to northeastrn states ,esp AP where innocent citizens of Chinese border can speak hindi.JAI HIND!! <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Guru Prasad asked, How India convince China that AP is inseperable part of India
Tapir Gao,MP from Arunachal II answers, How can you convince that one of your leg as a part of your body? Likewise,why can't we convince China that AP is a part of India????


abhishek asked,  Hello Tapir, Which is major religion being followed in Arunachal Pradesh and how serious is the probelm of Bangladeshi migrants in your state and what are you doing as a MP to deal with it?

Tapir Gao,MP from Arunachal II answers, Abhishek,Donyi-Poloism ,Buddhism,Christianity and Hinduism.Regarding Bangladeshis it is a great threat not only to the north east but for the nation.As an MP,I roar like a lion against the Banladeshi issue where UPA Govt. is keeping mum!!
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[Guest]

<b>70% voting in Nagaland state poll</b>

Kohima: An estimated 70 per cent voting was recorded in Wednesday's election to the 60-member Assembly of the north-eastern state of Nagaland.

The Congress and regional combine led by the Nagaland People's Front were the main challengers In the election.

"The turnout of voters was encouraging and we estimate that some 70 per cent had cast their ballots. We are still getting inputs from remote areas and the poll percentage could be higher," an election official said.

The voting ended peacefully, barring some stray incidents of snatching of voting machines and a few clashes between supporters of rival political parties. "By and large the voting passed off peacefully," the official said.

A total of 1.3 million voters have decided the fate of 218 candidates--60 from the Congress, 56 belonging to the NPF, 23 from the BJP, 25 from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and eight from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) among others.

The votes will be counted on Saturday. Although the two main Naga rebel groups--the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)--are observing a ceasefire with the Central government, the authorities are not taking any chances to ensure security and law and order.

"We have deployed 168 additional paramilitary companies for election duty and have also kept two MI-17 helicopters ready to rush personnel of the Rapid Deployment Force to remote areas, if necessary," a police spokesperson said.

The Congress is making a desperate bid to come back to power because the regional NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) was in power in the hill state until the government of Neiphiu Rio was dismissed and president's rule was imposed in January.

The Congress is trying to capitalize on Naga sentiments by promising them in its election manifesto that if voted to power, it would push for their demand for integration of Naga-inhabited areas of adjoining states with Nagaland.

This demand for `Greater Nagaland' is the rebel NSCN (IM)'s main demand now, but the governments and activist groups in adjoining states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh re opposed to it.

The NPF on its part has been telling the voters that the Congress rule in the country is on the wane.

[Guest]

<b>China emerging as main source of arms to N-E rebels</b>

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Thu, May 22 02:33 AM

China has replaced Cambodia and Thailand as the main supplier of weapons to insurgent groups in India's Northeast and Myanmar, the Jane's Intelligence Review (JIR) has said.

In an analysis of the Asian weapons black market, the defence think-tank says that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) rebel group in Myanmar acts as the "middleman" between Chinese arms manufacturers and insurgent groups in the Northeast, with most weapons routed through China's Yunnan province.

Pointing out that the arms market in India is extremely lucrative, JIR says that a Chinese automatic rifle that is available for $500 in eastern Myanmar can command a price of $2,500 by the time it reaches the Northeast.

Referring to an arms seizure by Myanmar authorities in 2001 that first brought out the trend, JIR says that "a consignment of several hundred Chinese assault rifles" were recovered while being transported to the Indian border at Tamu and were meant for "Manipuri UNLF and possibly other factions".

Confirming the trend, officials in the Indian security establishment say that Chinese origin weapons are increasingly being seized from Northeast insurgent groups and have even reached the illegal arms market in Uttar Pradesh.

"It is definite that most arms are coming through the Myanmar and Bangladesh route. While there are no markings on the weapons to link them with the country of origin, it is clear from the design that they are of Chinese origin," a senior security official said.

JIR reveals that the UWSA - a 20,000-strong outfit operating in eastern Myanmar, which has a shaky ceasefire agreement with the ruling junta - receives the maximum volume of arms and has emerged as the principal supplier to Indian insurgent groups.

"The volume of munitions reaching the UWSA from across the Yunnan border has permitted that group to develop a role as a middleman in the traffic to insurgent groups in India," the Janes assessment says.

Interestingly, while China has increased legitimate weapon supplies to Myanmar and Sri Lanka, Janes says that its illicit arms trade with rebel groups operating in these countries - the LTTE and the Kachin Independence Army (Myanmar) - is also on the upswing.

"The case of the UWSA in Myanmar appears to afford strong evidence, albeit circumstantial, of the overlap between small arms sales to a non-State actor and China's 'second track' foreign policy goals in a country of crucial strategic importance," JIR says.

The disturbing trend once again underlines New Delhi's concern over growing Chinese influence in the region. Sources say that in the weapons black market in the Northeast, a typical T 56 assault rifle (a Chinese rip-off of the K-47) is available for Rs 2.5-3 lakh. A used one costs just Rs 1-1.5 lakh. The magazines come cheap at Rs 100 a piece. Chinese pistols - the M 20 pistol or the .30 Marcos pistol - are available for Rs 1-1.5 lakh each.

While the trend had been growing over the past few years, the seizure of a massive arms consignment in 2004 in Chittagong brought things out in the open for the first time. It was one of the biggest-ever arms seizures in Bangladesh and it raised alarm bells throughout the region, especially India, after it came to light that the Chinese-origin weapons were meant for Northeast insurgent groups.

Over 1,700 assault rifles, 400 Uzi submachine guns, 150 rocket propelled grenade launchers and a large quantity of ammunition originating from Hong Kong had been seized by Bangladesh authorities.

<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<b>Bangladeshis pose a threat to Vaishnavas</b>

Press Trust of India
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 (Guwahati)
Illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam were encroaching land of nearly 900 Vaishnava monasteries across the state threatening the existence and safety of the people there, a former director general of museums claimed.

The 16th century monasteries set up with land provided by the Ahom and Koch kings now had most of their huge estates <b>encroached upon by the migrants resorting to forcible taking away of idols and valuable antiquities, dacoity, molestation and other criminal activities, said former director general of museums Rabin Choudhury.</b>

<b>He added that even some religious heads had been killed by them who has been engaged in the protection work of the monasteries since 1984.</b>

Quoting a report, he said that <b>about 32 monasteries land were under encroachment threatening the past glory of these Vaishnava institutions of culture, literature, music and religion</b>.

In another judgement of the Board of Revenue, Choudhury said that land belonging to a particular religious institution and people belonging to another religion cannot encroach upon people belonging to other religions.

Despite this, he asserted that the government ignoring all these directions was yet to take any measures or issue instructions for the monasteries protection.

<b>Himalaya Convener Shiladitya Dev also asserted that recently some churches had been built on monasteries land in the world's largest river island and Vaishnavite centre Majuli in Jorhat district</b>.

[Guest]

<b>Behind the surge in Naga violence</b>

Namrata Goswami
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
The last few months have seen much violence in the Naga-inhabited
areas of India. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim led by
Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu, or the NSCN(I-M), spilt on
November 23, 2007, and a new armed outfit emerged from within its
fold: the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Unification), or
the NSCN(U). The violence between these factions has led to more
than 40 deaths in April-May alone.

This surge in violence compelled Naga civil society groups led by
the Joint Forum of Gaonburahs (village headmen) and Doaibashis
(elders), or the JFGBDB, supported by the Naga Hoho (Council), to
convene several peoples' consultative meetings to garner support for
an overarching ceasefire between the underground outfits.

Subsequently, on May 20, an eventful day for Nagaland, tens of
thousands of Naga people took out a "peace march" across the State
demanding that the insurgents withdraw from civilian areas and
respect the ceasefire between different outfits as declared by the
JFGBDB on July 24, 2007.

Surprisingly, the wishes of the common people have been brushed
aside by the NSCN(I-M), the NSCN(U) and the NSCN(Khaplang), and
their incessant factional fighting has vitiated the atmosphere. On
April 25, the residents of Diphupar `B,' a village about 10 km from
Dimapur, Nagaland's commercial hub, were hit by clashes between the
NSCN (I-M) and the NSCN(U). This evoked a strong response from the
residents, and village council chairman Kakiho Sumi and headman L.P.

Therie appealed to all the underground factions to respect the
sentiments of the civilian population and refrain from resorting to
gunfights in populated areas.

Though civil society bodies such as the JFGBDB, the Naga Hoho, the
Naga Peace Centre and the United Naga Council, to name a few, have
openly rallied around efforts for peace, their calls appear to be
largely ineffective in the face of the growing factional violence.
Worse still is a situation that shows the absence of the "rule of
law" due to a weak state structure in these areas. The state
security forces have remained either aloof or inconsequential when
it comes to enforcing law and order. And the local administrators
appear to have little or no influence on either the insurgent
outfits or the social base from where they draw their recruits.
Rather, in the context of the March 5 Nagaland State Assembly
elections, politicians such as Niphiu Rio, who went on to become the
Chief Minister, sought the support of the NSCN(I-M) in order to
ensure the electoral success of his party, the Nagaland People's
Front (NPF).

The increasing violence and social divisiveness in Naga society is
advocated by insurgent groups aligned along tribal lines: the NSCN(I-
M) is mostly made up of Thangkhuls, the NSCN(U) of Semas, and the
NSCN(K) of Konyaks, while the Naga National Council (NNC) comprises
Angamis. The other major tribe, Ao, oscillates between the three
factions, but mostly leans towards the NSCN(I-M).

In this context, what explains the inter-group violence plaguing the
Naga-inhabited territories that has claimed a growing toll of lives
in recent months? Currently there is no violence between the
security forces and the NSCN(I-M) or the NSCN(K), thanks to
ceasefire agreements signed by the Union government with both of
them, in 1997 and 2001 respectively.

Theories of violence


Interesting insights can be drawn from three contending theories of
ethnic violence. According to the rational choice theory advocated
by David Lake and Donald Rothchild, "information and commitment to
peace problems" between ethnic or tribal groups leads to a situation
of "security dilemma" or "uncertainty" over the other's intentions
and can lead to violence. Thus, ethnic or tribal groups view
violence as rational, propelled mostly by an incentive to maximise
security.

Violence is also caused by the fact that in such an uncertain
situation, ethnic or tribal groups overestimate an adversary's
hostile intentions and escalate pre-emptive or preventive violence —
call it what you may. Negotiations between insurgent groups or their
social base becomes unthinkable at this stage as there is a credible
commitment problem.

An alternative theory advocated by Rui de Figueiredo and Barry R.
Weingast, also based on rational choice, argue that predatory ethnic
or tribal elites, and not uncertainty, is the prime cause of ethnic
violence because these elites deliberately provoke violence as a
means to maintain their hold on society and dubiously mislead their
supporters and sympathisers into believing that the other side is to
be blamed for the violence. Hence, elite predation coupled with mass
uncertainty creates violence.

An equally powerful and contending theory to explain violence of
this nature is the socio-psychologically propelled theory of
symbolic politics put forward by Stuart J. Kaufman. According to
this theory, the critical causes of ethnic or inter-tribal or clan
violence are "group myths that justify hostility, fears of group
extinction, and a symbolic politics of chauvinistic mobilisation."
Hostile socio-cultural myths about the "other" and exclusivist
historical narratives can produce emotion-laden symbols, resulting
in group hostility and "other" driven violence.

Significantly, as identified by Anthony Smith, each group has
a "myth-symbol complex," which creates subjective narratives binding
a group vis-À-vis others.

Incidentally, elite manipulation of the social base for violent
assertion is rather limited if such subjective discourses do not
exist in a given society prior to violence. This theory posits that
emotions, and not rational calculations, motivate people's actions.

Indeed, the most important finding of the symbolic politics theory
is worth mulling over if one wants to derive a specific explanation
for ethnic conflicts in general and the Naga inter-group violence in
particular. And that is: the sources of ethnic conflict are
ultimately a struggle for relative group worth.

Security dilemma


If one studies the present Naga inter-factional violence from the
notion of a "security dilemma," there is a situation of uncertainty
existing in the Naga areas relating to both the intentions of the
rival insurgent groups and their social base. In interviews with the
author in July 2007 and January 2008, leaders of the NSCN(I-M),
including self-styled Brigadier Phunthing Shimrang, said that though
the outfit respected the ceasefire declaration by the JWGBDB, it was
impossible to abide by it as they were uncertain about the
intentions of their rival faction, the NSCN(K). NSCN(K) leader Khole
Konyak offered the same argument about the NSCN(I-M)'s intentions.

A situation of uncertainly also prevails amongst the social base of
the NSCN(I-M) around Diphupar in Nagaland, Ukhrul and Tamenglong in
Manipur, and the NSCN(K) strongholds in Phek and Mon. Both staged
violent ambushes in each other's territory in order to pre-empt or
prevent violent surprises by either.

However, when one views the Naga conflict from the elite predatory
model, there is reason to believe that the NSCN(I-M) leaders have
upped the ante in recent months following its split in November
2007, in order to demonstrate to its target population who is in
charge. Also, the newly formed NSCN(U) is trying to establish itself
in NSCN(I-M) territory, mainly in and around Dimapur. Therefore, it
makes sense for the latter to step up attacks against both NSCN(U)
cadres and civilians, to instil fear in the population and its
support base. This will automatically rally the population towards
the NSCN(I-M) as the only force capable of controlling violence. It
also develops a pathetic path dependency: if the population does not
support the outfit, they might face coercion of the worse kind —
sometimes even death.

This happened on May 2 and 3 when three NSCN(U) cadres and a
civilian were killed in Dimapur by NSCN(I-M) cadres in a show of
power. Interestingly, Mr. Muivah and Mr. Swu argue that the NSCN(I-
M) has been forced to use force due to the irrational and violent
behaviour of its rival factions, effectively creating mass
uncertainty about the causes of the violence.

The third explanation based on the symbolic politics theory is
revealing. Naga social mores and history indicate that individual
tribes have been rather exclusivist in their behaviour in the pre-
colonial and colonial times, and this continues after Independence.
Each tribe, Ao, Angami, Konyak, Maram, Sema, Tangkhul, and so on,
lives in areas marked by single-tribe domination and little inter-
mixing. This exclusivist social behaviour was, or is, informed by
fears of group extinction and hostile myths, leading to more or less
unfavourable attitudes to tribes that are not one's own. In this
context, it was, or is, rather easy for predatory insurgent elites
to utilise emotional and symbolic hostile narratives to mobilise
social support for violence. "Others" in individual Naga tribal
historical narratives include not only other tribes but the larger
Indian society, frequently viewed as posing a threat to their
individual existence, resources, and identity. Therefore, though
there is an existing cohesive Naga narrative across tribes against
Indian subjugation, this unity no longer holds when tribes start
fighting against one another.

Three propositions


Depending on the three explanations of growing ethnic tensions and
violence, a resolution to the conflict has to be informed by three
propositions. First, if the Naga conflict is based on the notion of
a "security dilemma," the state forces must negotiate between
outfits, not only to remove the information and commitment problems
but to broker a peace deal. This will resolve the "uncertainty"
issue. If the cause of violence is elite predation, then the
leadership structure of that particular society as well as of the
insurgent outfits must be brought to heel. Since both outfits have a
ceasefire arrangement with the Union government, state negotiators
must firmly assert to the outfits' leadership their aversion to
social violence. This is the least the state forces can do for a
ravaged Naga society in these circumstances.

If the violence is based on symbolic politics, then the problem is
rather rooted and requires an alternative discourse aimed at
deconstructing social Naga myths and hostile attitudes. Indeed, all
three theories offer genuinely important explanations for the
ongoing Naga inter-group conflict. A resolution mechanism must
factor in a simultaneous process based on all the three factors —
the security dilemma, elite predation and symbolic politics — if the
violence is to be realistically ended.

<i>(Dr. Namrata Goswami is an Associate Fellow at the Institute for
Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.)</i><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<b>Fire in the Northeast</b>

[Guest]

<b>Bangladeshis in Assam have become kingmakers: Court</b>

[Guest]

<b> ULFA-HuJI combine may strike in Assam </b>

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->GUWAHATI: The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is planning to outsource terror by hiring foreign mercenaries or Islamist terrorists to carry out violent strikes in Assam ahead of Independence Day, says a top police official.

"It may be possible that the ULFA could hire mercenaries or take the help of jehadi elements, including the HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami), to carry out terror strikes in Assam ahead of Aug 15," Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, inspector general of Assam police (Law and Order), told IANS.
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[Bharatvarsh]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Shoot orders in 3 Assam districts

Sushanta Talukda

Guwahati: The Assam government on Monday directed the police to issue shoot-at-sight orders in the three northern districts of Udalguri, Darrang and Sonitpur in the wake of clashes between Muslims and the Bodos.

Violent clashes in the affected districts has claimed five lives since August 14, while armed miscreants shot dead a couple in Chirang district of lower Assam.

Tension continues to grip the three districts as thousands of people belonging to the two communities have fled their homes in Udalguri and Sonitpur districts and taken shelter in schools and market places. Police said a group of miscreants dragged two persons from a vehicle near Tangla in Udalguri district and beat them up. While one person managed to escape, the assailants took away the other. Details were awaited.

On Sunday, miscreants set ablaze about 40 houses in Sonitpur district and shot at villagers injuring six of them.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mahillary, Home Commissioner Rajiv Bora and Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) D.K. Pathak have been camping in the worst-hit Udalguri district.

The State government divided the three affected districts into four sectors and 22 zones and ordered deployment of security forces in adequate strength to prevent recurrence of violence. It also ordered the arrest of rumour-mongers and requested telecom operators to track down mobile phones from which rumours originated. The police have also been directed to resort to preventive detention of those inciting violence or fomenting communal tension.

Clashes began following the killing of a Bodo youth by supporters of the bandh called by the Muslim Students’ Association on August 14.

The bandh was called to protest harassment of genuine Indian citizens in the name of identification of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. The clashes that day left seven others injured. The incident led to a backlash and outbreak of violence in different parts of the three districts which claimed four more lives.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/...411000.htm<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->