THE SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 10 Jan, 2005
Custodial killing slur on commandos
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 9 : The suspected underground activist whom the State Police Commandos claimed to have shot dead during an encounter near DM College Boys' Hostel yesterday afternoon had in fact been allegedly killed after being arrested from near Khuya-thong Pukhri Achouba.
The deceased has been identified as Longjam Jeet alias Jitendra alias Jolly (32) s/o L Ibosana of Kakwa Pheijaleitong.
According to family members, Jeet was doing tailoring work in Manipur Tailor at Dimapur till last year.
He came back in May last following the death of his grandmother. Jeet was a married man having two daughters.
Mother of Jeet, Momon alias Bilashini said that although there is the possibility of her son being close to some PREPAK activists, Jeet was not at all an armed underground activist.
Jeet had gone out from home yesterday driving a Honda Activa.
According to reports, Jeet quarrelled with two police Commandos who were not in uniform and driving a Pulsar at Khoyathong at around 1.15 pm yesterday. Jeet alerted a woman passer-by who intervened and tried to stop the Commandos from taking him away.
When the Commandos replied that Jeet was being taken for having some talks with their higher up officials, the woman insisted on going along with them. Subsequently, the woman was brought along by one of the Commandos on the bike till DM College Campus where she was told to wait while taking away Jeet along the road leading to the DM College Boys's Hostel.
As the Police Commandos nor Jeet reappeared for a long time, the woman sensed some foul play and decided to inform the Meira Paibis of the area. While she was going to call the Meira Paibis, Jeet had been shot dead, the report said.
The post-mortem was conducted at RIMS today and the body was later handed over to the family members.
Meanwhile taking serious note of the killing of a youth inside the campus of an educational institution, the All Manipur Students' Union has appealed to all concerned not to allow such bloodshed in the vicinity of students. In a statement, the student body said that there are student hostels inside the DM College campus and such killings are sure to disturb the academic atmosphere of the students, it added.
THE SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 9 Jan, 2005
ZSU condemns
IMPHAL, Jan 8: Zeliang-rong Students' Union, Ba- rak Valley Zone has strong-ly condemned the atrocities committed by 26 Assam Rifles to the innocent people of Namdailong village in Cachar district of Assam on January 7. In a statement, Union president Jacob Pan-mei informed that personnel of 26 AR arrived at the village at around 7.30 am yes- terday and started beating up the youths without giving any reason. The chair- man of the village was also given third degree torture and he has to be hospitalised, he said, while demanding punishment of the guilty AR jawans.
THE SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 10 Jan, 2005
Fitting tributes paid to Maharaj Gambhir on death anniv
Memorial complex of Maharaja Gambhir mooted
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 9: As in the previous years Recon-solidation Day was ob- served today to commemorate the regaining of sove- reignty of Manipur after the Seven Years Devastation (1819-1826) at Khuman Lampak.
The observation jointly organised by Ethno Heritage Council (Hericoun), International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) and United Peoples' Front (UPF) was graced by president of HERICOUN, Moi- rangthem Joychandra, president of UPF, Y Devdutta, vice president of IPSA, Yumnamcha Dilip-kumar, secretary of AMCO P R Khungshong Koireng, general secretary of All Manipur Bar Association Abdul Qayum and other leaders as presidium members.
Prior to the function at Khuman Lampak, floral tributes were paid to Gambhir Singh at his tomb at Langthabal.
A public meeting held at Khuman Lampak as a part of the observation resolved to urge the State government to develop the tomb complex of Gambhir Singh as Reconsolidation Complex to facilitate obser- vation of Seven Years Devastation anniversary.
Further it resolved to maintain mutual respect of all ethnic groups in the State, harmonious co-existence and to urge the authority concerned to construct an exclusive market complex for hill peoples at Khwairamband Bazar.
Installation of life size statues of patriotic national heroes at different public places with a view to instill a sense of patriotism in our youths was another point agreed upon in the meeting. Further the meeting decided to change the names of markets now in alien languages to our indigenous nomenclature.
Before the meeting, a public rally by various ethnic leaders in their traditional attires and students of Thang-Ta including horse borne was undertaken from Langthabal to Khuman Lampak through Pishumthong, Keishampat, Nagamapal and Khuyathong. Under the able leadership of Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba (Gambhir Singh) with Nara Singh and Herachandra, the invading Burmese soldiers were ousted from Manipur right upto Ninghti river to end the dark period of Seven Years Desertation following which the Treaty of Yandaboo was signed on February 24, 1826 between the British Government and the kingdom of Burma whrereby it was agreed to pay 500 sica anually by the Burmese to Manipur for Kabow valley quid pro quo. The untimely death of king Gambhir Singh on January 9, 1834 was impelled by this arrangement made between the Britishers and the Burmese without any knowledge of the king of Manipur.
Speaking on the ocassion, vice-president of HERI-COUN, Rev Rengshong Chothe emphasised on the importance of Reconsolidation Day observing that it's time to unite hills and valley in the fight against the common enemy as was done during the campaign to regain the lost kingdom of Manipur after Seven Years Desertation.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 13 JAN, 2006
Sit-in-protest denounces AR excesses
IMPHAL, Jan 12 : A sit-in-protest was staged at Cha-rangpat Mayai Leikai Keithel today to denounce alleged atrocities committed upon Sorokhaibam Basanta of Cha-rangpat by personnel of 34 Assam Rifles after the person was arrested on the intervening night of January 3 and 4, informed a press release of Manipur Forward Youth Front (Mafyf). The protestors put up banners against the Assam Rifles, it maintained. While Mafyf president Sapamcha Kangleipal called upon the womenfolk to raise their voices against human rights abuse by security personnel programme executive of Human Rights Alert Joykumar Meetei expressed resentment that people are indulged in poll related activities inspite of critical phase the state is passing through.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 14 JAN, 2006
Indefinite Moreh bandh called
MOREH, Jan 13 : Even as the Assam Rifles authority has dubbed the report pertaining to the killing of one Jangkhotinmang Haokip by 24 Assam Rifles in the night of January 11 at Chavangphai in Moreh as fabricated and false, three organisations have clamped an indefinite Moreh bandh from today to protest the killing.
The bandh was imposed after two rounds of talks with AR authority and the three organisations failed to arrive at any consensus.
The decision to impose the bandh was taken during a meeting convened by the Hill Tribal Council and it is being imposed by the KSO, Moreh Block, Chavang-phai Administration Committee and Kuki Women Movement for Human Rights.
The meeting was held at 8 am and discussed the killing of Jangkhotinmang Haokip by AR personnel in civvies.
Following the sudden imposition of the indefinite bandh, all shops at Moreh remained closed for the day and all vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh route remained suspended.
The main demands of the protestors include immediate relief to the bereaved family members, a public apology by Assam Rifles and a customary trial of the accused.
Following the imposition of the bandh, Assam Rifles authority held talks with the representatives of the bandh enforcers at the office of the Hill Tribal Council at 8 am then again at 12 pm at the residence of the late man at Chavangphai. The two rounds of talk however failed to arrive at a consensus.
Another round of talk will be held tomorrow at 10 am.
Meanwhile Assam Rifles authority have hotly denied the news story carried in this paper under the caption, "Another killing rocks Moreh."
In a statement, the PRO of Assam Rifles said that in the night of January 11, troops of 24 AR were pressed into service following specific inputs about the presence of militants at Chavangphai area. All the personnel were in uniform and not in civvies as alleged, said the PRO.
Enroute to Gate number 4 at about 8.30 pm, the troops saw a group of 7/8 persons near Chavangphai, said the PRO and added that three persons were carrying weapons.
On being challenged the persons started running, said the statement and added that this prompted the troops to open fire. One person was seen falling down while the other two managed to escape under cover of darkness.
The injured person was not beaten as alleged, said the statement. The injured man was handed over to the civilians and a Tata Sumo was hired to move him to RIMS at Imphal, said the PRO and added that all possible co-operation was extended and all AR posts were intimated not to stop the vehicle carrying the injured person, claimed the PRO.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 14 JAN, 2006
UPF condemns
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 13: United People's Front (UPF), Manipur has strongly condemned the shooting Jangkhotinmang Haokip of Chavangphai who subsequently succumbed to the injuries by personnel of 24 Assam Rifles.
In a statement, UPF president Y Devadutta asserted that the deceased was an innocent person who earned his livelihood from doing carpentry works.
There are obvious reasons why the people run or hide on seeing the security personnel but it does not mean that the law enforcing agencies can simply shoot at innocent persons and violate human rights.
Such inhumane act of the security forces can be never compensated with their Military Civic Action programme, UPF said.
Further expressing its strong condemnation over the incident of indiscriminate firing by unidentified armed persons at North AOC on the night of Dec 31, 2005 which left two persons dead and another seriously injured, UPF maintained that there is strong suspicion for possible involvement of State police personnel in the said incident. So the State Government should probe into the matter and take up appropriate steps to ensure such incidents do not recur in future, UPF suggested while announcing its support to the bandh being called by the JAC against the brutal killing of L Gobind, Simthar Tangkhul and injuring A Langamba with effect from January 18 evening.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 15 JAN, 2006
Manorama's family to appeal against ruling
IMPHAL, Jan 14 : Amidst a bunch of writs pending on the Thangjam Manorama Devi case, family members of the deceased woman are all set to file a fresh appeal before the Gauhati High court.
Thangjam Khumanleima and Th Dorendro, mother and younger brother of Ma-norama have completed necessary paper work to file an appeal challenging a section of an earlier single bench ruling issued by Justice D Biswas pertaining to institution of the C Upendra Inquiry Commission.
Counsel for the petitioners, advocate Meihoubam Rakesh disclosed that the appeal would be filed before a Division Bench of the Gauhati High court within the next few days.
It may be recalled here that on June 23 last year Justice D Biswas had ruled that AR personnel involved in the slaying of Manorama should be punished and the inquiry report must be sent to the Union Home Ministry.
Peeved with a certain portion of the Court order disregarding institution of the inquiry by the State, the latter had already filed an appeal before the High court. Interestingly, the Assam Rifles too had challen- ged the single bench ruling and had filed a petition.
It would be worth mentioning that family members of the victim had filed a contempt case against the Government for non compliance to the same order earlier. Multiple bullet ridden body of Manorama of Bamon Kampu who was picked up by 17 AR from her residence was recovered from Yaipharok Maring village on the morning of July 11, 2004 that sparked off an unprecedented movement against AFSPA with its repercussion felt all over the country.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 15 JAN, 2006
Meet endorses plebiscite call
IMPHAL, Jan 14: A public meeting held today at Khongjom Shamphabi ground made serious deliberations and in-depth study on the ways to resolve the ongoing Manipur-India conflict.
The meet after analysing the issue on various aspects came to an under- standing that plebiscite is the only feasible way to resolve the conflict.
For this it was agreed upon to strive together to conduct plebiscite in the issue. Secondly it was deci- ded to rope in the United Nations to ensure free and fair plebiscite and to intimate the United nations, the Indian Government and the Manipur Government about the resolutions adop-ted during the meeting.
The meeting was organised by the Khongjom Circle Meira Paibi Forum, Shamphabi Memorial Trust, Pioneer Youth Club and Phundrei Makha Leikai Popular Youth Club.
Speaking as a resource person, lecturer of Kha Manipur College, K Kene-dy remarked that even though the news of violence occurring in the State are covered in the National media there has been no instances of any media cove- rage concerning the plight of Manipur in the fields of underdevelopment . Such coverage of only violence projects an image to the outsiders that all the problems are own creations and that we are trouble makers.
The forced annexation of Manipur to the Indian Union some 55 years back has cultivated a sense of dependency in the minds of our people and of the inability of the Manipuris to survive without the Indians, he added.
Addressing on the occasion, Prof of Economics, Manipur University, Ch Priyoranjan observed that we need to delve into the matter as to why 40 percent of the population of Manipur are under poverty line while it is only 29 percent for all India.
He further pointed out that during the last 50 years the sector wise allotment of five year plans is 74 percent for payment of salaries of State employees and construction of transport infrastructures, 12 percent for agriculture and only 8 percent for industries. Such policy of the Government leaves no room for self employment or any progress in the society, he noted.
Over and above these ploys, the successive leaders of Union Governments have been putting all efforts to bankrupt the State on all fronts, the professor alleged.
National awardee Tek-cham Rameshwar also spoke on the occasion as a resource person.
The Imphal Free Press, 15 Jan, 2006
Plebiscite meeting
IMPHAL, Jan 14: A public meeting on the theme " Plebiscite is the only means to solve Manipur-India conflict" was held today at Khongnang Shamphabi ground, Khongjom Sapam Mayai Leikai.
The meeting was jointly organised by Khongjom Circle Meira Paiba Forum, Shamphabi Memorial Trust, Sapam, Pioneer Youth Club, Phundrei Makha Leikai Popular Youth Club and Ideal Youth Club, Langthabal.
Prof. Sh Priyoranjan, Department of Economics MU, Ksh Kennedy, lecturer Kha-Manipur College, Kakching and T Rameshor, national awardee teacher were the resource persons of the meeting, which was attended by hundreds of people.
The meeting had unanimously adopted three resolutions. Firstly, the meeting unanimously approved the holding of plebiscite as it is the only means to solve the Manipur-India conflict. Secondly, it was also resolved that the United Nations should conduct the plebiscite so as ensure fair play and thirdly to send a copy of these resolutions to the UN, the Indian government as well as to the Manipur government.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 10 JAN, 2006
Student bodies to agitate against North AOC firing
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 9 : The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) and Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) have announced their decision to launch a joint agitation to protest the December 31 indiscriminate firing incident at North AOC by unknown armed persons which left two persons dead and another critically injured.
Announcing the decision jointly during a press conference held at the office of DESAM at Keishampat here today, AMSU vice-president E Ratankumar, DESAM general secretary PC Newton and MSF secretary general Ananta Chongtham said the incident should be condemned in the strongest term by all the people.
PC Newton asserted that the unknown armed persons, who killed Simthar Muivah of Somdal, Ukhrul who worked as an Agriculture Extension Officer in Agriculture Department and Canoeing & Kayaking player N Govind, who was also a student of Imphal College and injuries caused to autorickshaw driver A Langamba could not be underground activists.
North AOC area is security zone and there is strong suspicion that the killers might be security personnel, he said, contending it is impossible for UGs to carry heavy weapons like AK-47 openly in such sensitive area. The attitude of the Government in maintaining stoic silence over the whole matter instead of taking up steps to track down the killers caused suspicion in the mind of the people all the more, he said.
E Ratankumar said AMSU, MSF and DESAM would be extending full support to the protest rally being organised by the JAC formed in connection with the killing on January 13 and the general strike called on January 15 and 16.
If the State Government continues to remain indifferent inspite of all these protest agitations, AMSU, MSF and DESAM would be compelled to take more intense agitations, he warned.
Ananta Chongtham said the North AOC incident which occurred within 0 Km of capital Imphal should not be taken lightly. Killing of innocent people which have become a routine affair greatly perturbed the minds of the students, he added.
REGIONAL NEWS
Nagas awaiting next round of talks with abated breath
Newmai News Network
Dimapur, Jan 8 : With 23 days to go for the expiry of the current cease-fire term between the government of India and the NSCN-IM, it is the Naga society who are now all-focussed on the next round of talks between the NSCN-IM represen-tatives and that of the Government of India.
The proposed mid-January talks between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM will decide the matter regarding the cease-fire terms, according to top NSCN-IM sources who informed Newmai News Network today in Dimapur.
As of now, the popular speculations doing the round among the Who's Who of the Naga circle is that the current cease-fire term is definitely going to be extended again for another term after it expires on January 31.
The recent salvo thrown up by no other than NSCN-IM supremo Th Muivah threatening to pull out of the ongoing peace process, has been the reason for the panicky striking the public psyche that the days of turmoil in Naga areas are not far behind.
Th Muivah had given the threatening statement in an interview with Subir Bhaumik, a BBC journalist in Bangkok on November 3 last year.
But the people heaved a sigh of relief when NSCN-IM home minister Rh Raising said two days ago that interim solution is on the card.
The NSCN-IM leader had said this while talking to a Dimapur media establishment adding that interim solution was the corridor to permanent settlement of the Naga issue.
The various Naga Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) including the Naga Hoho, the Naga Mothers Association and the Naga Students' Federation have been running against time campaigning not to abrogate the ongoing peace process.
The government of India had, on various occasions, expressed optimism that the NSCN-IM would not call it quit regarding ongoing cease-fire.
But the the comments of frustration spew- ed out by the NSCN-IM's collective leadership from time to time owing to the snail's pace of the peace talks, had put the government of India in an uncomfortable situation.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 10 JAN, 2006
IM-GoI gear up for crucial 3rd round talk
Both parties rule out involvement of third party in peace parleys
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 9: With the ceasefire between Government of India and NSCN (I-M) due to expire on January 31, the two parties will be holding the next round of talks to decide the fate of the current peace process in the third week of this month at Bangkok.
Contrary to speculations doing the round, the two parties have also ruled out involvement of any third party during the talks.
In a telephonic conversation with The Sangai Express, deputy kilonser (home) of the outfit, V Horam informed that though a definite date has not been finalised, the next round of talks between the NSCN (I-M) and the Government of India to find a solution to the age old Naga political problem and to see if the current ceasefire can be extended or not would be held at Bangkok in the third week of this month. The talk this time would be a crucial one and the main focus would be on the ceasefire, he said, adding that there has been no official intimation as to who would be taking part in the talks from the side of the Government of India.
It would be too early to say what would be the outcome of the talks, he said, adding that what the NSCN (I-M) wants is to bring about an early solution to the Naga political issue.
Replying to a question on the remarks made by general secretary of the outfit Thuingaleng Muivah on the uncertainty of extending ceasefire, Horam asserted that NSCN (I-M) had agreed to sign the ceasefire pact with the main purpose of creating a conducive atmosphere towards bringing about a solution to the vexed Naga issue and India is taking more time to consider the matter.
Nonetheless, both the sides have agreed to work out a solution, he added.
He further said the opinions of the International experts are taken into account in the ongoing peace talks.
However, there has been no suggestion of including a third party in the talks nor has the outfit proposed such a move to the Indian Government, he clarified.
To another question, the deputy kilonser said the final judgement on James Kuki, the main accused in the Lungnila Elizabeth murder case, who is on parole of the outfit, is yet to be delivered.
The third round of talk assumes great significance in the backdrop of the recent ultimatum served by the NSCN (IM) general secretary that the current ceasefire will not be extended if a tangible solution is not worked out within January 31, the date the cease fire period ends.
The main demand of the NSCN (IM) is the integration of all Naga inhabited areas under one political unit.
This has been strongly opposed by the neighbouring States of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
A number of Naga civil societies, particularly, the United Naga Council has of late taken a hawkish stand on the demand of Naga integration.
The other significant demand of the NSCN (IM) is a federal relationship between Nagalim and India where a joint defence team may be set up, to protect India's interest as well as to protect Nagas' interest.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 10 JAN, 2006
K lays down rider for talks with GoI
Newmai News Network
Mon, Jan-9: Making its stand clear for the first time, the NSCN (Khaplang) on Saturday announced that it would not enter into any political negotiation with the Government of India as long as the talks between rival NSCN (IM) and the Indian Government continue and maintained that it entered into the present ceasefire with India only due to pressure from Naga NGOs, according to Dimapur based newspapers.
Interacting with a team of senior journalists from Nagaland at its Mon town headquarters, top leaders of the NSCN (K) made a startling revelation when they stated that no agreement to have negotiations was made when the ceasefire agreement was signed and claimed that this was just a ploy to facilitate the talks with the NSCN (IM), said the dailies in today's editions.
"We had no intention to enter into a ceasefire with the Indian Government. We were pressurized to do so against our will by Naga NGOs", senior leader and MIP Kilonser AZ Jamir told the visiting journalists.
"The ceasefire between the NSCN (K) and the Indian Government is very different from the one with the NSCN (IM). While the NSCN (IM)'s ceasefire with India has political obligations, we have no such obligations", Jami asserted.
"This is the NSCN (IM)'s time as they are having negotiations with India and at this stage we prefer the wait-and-watch policy. We are merely watching the progress of the ongoing talks between the NSCN-IM and the Indian Government and we will not enter into negotiations while the dialogue between them is on", the senior leader said.
Some of the NSCN (K) leaders also commented that the talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Indian Government were still going on at an eye-to-eye policy rather than a heart-to-heart policy, reported the newspapers.
"If sovereignty is brought about, we will join. However, Muivah has openly declared that he has given up the demand for sovereignty and is instead harping only on integration – so much that he let the integration issue supercede sovereignty in the talks", Jami, who defected from the NSCN (IM) just recently, maintained.
Taking another dig at NSCN (IM) supremo, Thuingaleng Muivah, NSCN (K) firebrand leader Kughalu Mulatonu, who is also finance Kilonser, said Muivah had lied when he had declared during his last visit to Nagaland that he would never betray the Nagas and their cause and accused him of playing games through Naga NGOs without a thought for the future. He also accused the NSCN (IM) of trying to impose its will forcibly, said the newspapers.
Terming Muivah as a dictator, Jami claimed that Muivah was trying to impose his will forcibly among the Nagas and even using NGOs to realize his ends. Jami, who occupied top posts including Kilo (Home) Kilonser and Convenor of the NSCN (IM)'s Steering Committee before he defected to the NSCN (K), insisted that he had abandoned the NSCN (IM) camp after being disillusioned with Muivah's dictatorial policy and lack of transparency and trust.
"Apart from Muivah and chairman Isak Chishi Swu and perhaps Rh Raising and VS Atem, none of us were taken into confidence about the progress of the peace talks with the Indian Government. In fact, I can challenge any leader in the NSCN (IM) camp now if they claim to have some knowledge about the real position of the talks", he asserted.
Ruling out any reconciliation between the two groups, the NSCN (K) leaders pointed out that the NSCN (IM)'s stand is ‘settlement then unity' whereas the NSCN (K)'s stand is ‘unity then settlement'.
Also, claiming that the NSCN (K) is exercising maximum restraint, Jami stated that the NSCN (IM) is also on the offensive while the NSCN (K) is always forced to be on the defensive, added the Dimapur based dailies.
Meanwhile, Jami also appealed to the Nagas not to have any apprehensions about the leadership of chairman S.S Khaplang stating that he is an understanding man who knows what is going on. "Contrary to what some think, Khaplang hails from Shangnyu village under Mon and he has real Konyak blood and not otherwise", he stated.
Among the NSCN (K) leaders who participated in the interaction included Finance Kilonser Kughalu Mulatonu, convenor of the Council of Kilonsers, Tangpan Konyak, other kilonsers, deputy kilonsers, tatars and secretaries.
The visiting journalists and the NSCN (K) also held a mass prayer for peace and unity in the Naga homeland and wisdom to the Naga leaders to bring about a solution, reported the dailies.
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 15 JAN, 2006
15 Myanmarese soldiers killed, claims NSCN-K
GUWAHATI, Jan 14 : At least 15 Myanmarese soldiers and six anti-India tribal separatists were killed and dozens wounded in weeklong fighting between the two sides inside Myan-mar, a rebel leader said today.
There is no independent confirmation of the clashes from the Myanmarese authorities.
But a spokesman of the SS Khaplang faction of the NSCN said guerrilla fighters were engaged in heavy fighting since Jan 7 with soldiers of the junta in the thickly forested Myan-mar's northern Sagaing Division.
"So far we have killed 15 Myanmarese soldiers and lost six of our cadres. It is no longer mere fighting, but a full scale battle, with the junta using mortars and heavy weapons on us," senior NSCN-K leader Ku-ghalo Mulatonu said on telephone from somewhere close to the India-Myanmar border. The NSCN-K, an influential rebel group fighting for independence, has at least 50 camps with some 7,000 rebels entrenched in fortified bunkers in Myanmar.
"Myanmarese soldiers have managed to demolish and burn down at least 50 of our makeshift shelters hou-sing some 500 cadres al- though they managed to escape," the rebel leader said. "We are getting reports that the junta is plan- ning a massive strafing operation with helicopter gunship on our camps. We have in place several heavy machine guns to challenge low flying helicopters."
Myanmar in December launched a massive milita-ry offensive to evict anti- India separatists based in the Sagaing Division.
Chances of survival of many of our injured cadres are indeed remote as there is no medical support available with the terrain very hostile and rough," Mulatonu said.
The NSCN-K had claimed to have lost three of its cadres in the first round of military assault last month, besides two of its camps being demolished by advancing soldiers. "They had also captured three of our leaders in a raid last month. We do not know if they are dead or alive," Mulatonu said.
The NSCN's Khaplang faction has been observing a ceasefire with New Delhi since 2001 although peace talks are yet to begin. Myanmar in January last year killed at least 20 anti-India rebels, most of them from the NSCN-K, in a similar military offensive in the same area.
Myanmar had repeatedly assured New Delhi that the junta would not let Indian rebels operate from its soil.
The first time Myanmar launched a military operation against the Indian rebels was in 2000 when at least a dozen separatists were killed. There were similar operations last year as well. (Agencies)
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
SANGAI EXPRESS DAILY, 6 JAN, 2006
Editorial
The eastern front
The border town of Moreh has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons with the latest being the allegations raised by the Kuki Movement for Human Rights accusing the Assam Rifles of killing a carpenter after arrest. Moreh town has all the features of a cosmopolitan settlement with different communities living together. Meiteis, Kukis and non-locals such as Tamils have made this border town their homestead and not without reason. With the border trade booming and with the opening of Namphalong market on the side of Myanmar, Moreh is a veritable shoppers' paradise. The trade and commerce along the Imphal-Moreh route is booming like never before and with cheap but dependable goods easily available across the border, more and more people are depending on the goods brought in from across the border. Regulating the trade between Myanmar and India has also helped to a large extent in increasing the commercial activities benefiting people on either side of the border. With India adopting the Look East policy, the importance of Moreh will only grow in the years to come and it is precisely because of the huge economic, social and political impact such a policy will have that the Look East policy announced by the Government of India has generated so much interest amongst the people of Manipur. Historically too, Manipur had close contact with Myanmar locally known then as the Avas. The history of Manipur can never be complete without the seven years devastation and the efforts being made to revive the memory of Maharaj Gambhir only goes to prove how important the seven years devastation and the subsequent liberation of Manipur from the Avas by Gambhir Singh is to the people of Manipur.
It is with the future potential and the historical importance in mind, that one has to look at any new development at Moreh in the coming years. The first point that has to be noted is the inter-community relations between the people at Moreh town and of course the political development too at neighbouring Myanmar. Care should also be taken to ensure that the benefits of opening the trade between the two countries do not miss the local people who live along the Imphal-Moreh route. For the people to really reap the economic benefits that the new policy will bring about, what is needed is a holistic approach that should include all aspects, social, political and economic. Infrastructure should be developed and a congenial atmosphere too need to be created for economic development of the border town. Only then will the real benefits percolate down to the common people. The last few days have seen Moreh being in the news for all the wrong reasons and it is these new developments that should be studied closely and monitored by the people for it can have far reaching consequences if not tackled properly on time. Let the people keep vigil by being on the alert so that the Look East policy of the Indian Government is not turned into an instrument of pushing the people into the global village without preparing them to face the globalised world.
