Insurgency – Manipur News

Priyanka slammed over Sikkim ‘insurgency’ comment

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who has produced a Sikkimese film, came under attack after calling the hill state insurgency-troubled. She has apologised to the Sikkim government, which sought another apology in more “clear-cut terms”. Netizens on Thursday slammed Priyanka for being “politically illiterate” after she spoke about Sikkim in an interview on the sidelines of […]

Assam, Manipur can now decide on AFSPA

Home Ministry to give up its power The Union Home Ministry is set to give up its power to impose the ‘disturbed areas’ tag on Assam and Manipur, both ruled by the BJP. The move effectively means it will be the States’ decision to either continue the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) or revoke […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/08/assam-manipur-can-now-decide-on-afspa/

CM mulls lifting DAA if L/O improves

Imphal, July 28 2017: The State Government would discuss whether Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 could be repealed from the State by reviewing the prevalent law and order situation. This was stated by Chief Minister N Biren in response to a query raised by Congress MLA Kh Joykisan during the discussion of a […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/07/cm-mulls-lifting-daa-if-lo-improves/

Manipur killings: Seeking justice for hundreds of ‘unlawful deaths’

Human rights activists in India – on behalf of the country’s Supreme Court – are investigating more than 1,500 alleged unlawful killings. Last year the court took the unprecedented step of empowering civilian investigators in the north-eastern state of Manipur where the Indian army and police have been fighting an insurgency for four decades. Later […]

Khaplang’s death may change the insurgency theatre in Northeast

While opinion is divided on how the insurgency situation will evolve in the Northeast, Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said a peace dialogue with the NSCN-K is possible if the organisation gives up violence and secessionist activity. The death of NSCN-K chief SS Khaplang may pave the way for peace talks with […]

Army men involved in extra-judicial killing in Manipur must be punished : SC SC to first probe 3 cases of rape and murder

NEW DELHI, Apr 18 : Rejecting Centre’s plea that cases of extra-judicial killings allegedly by armed forces in insurgency-hit Manipur should not be re-opened as more than a decade has passed, the Supreme Court said that when Bangladesh could prosecute war criminals for atrocities committed in 1971, the Indian Government should also not shy away […]

Manipur: A time for Positive Bargaining and Abandoning the Zero Sum Game

v Manipur is a failed state riddled with insurgency, under-development, glaring ethnic divide and gargantuan corruption. From the point of the hill tribes the Government of Manipur has always been valley centric, much like the map of the state, and the hills subsist in oblivion. When the Naga-Kuki clashes rocked the hills in the 90s, […]

Together for terror: Northeast rebels find shared enemy in nationalism

In more than 60 years of insurgency, armed groups in the Northeast hardly stepped into each other’s territories except for use as passages to and from hideouts across international borders. They seem to have broken that unwritten rule now to help each other fight a common enemy — a “nationalistic, colonial India”. Take the case […]

Former lecturer wins award for helping create 15,000 jobs in Nagaland, Manipur

A former college lecturer who helped create over 15,000 jobs across the north-east states of Nagaland and Manipur by training youths to become entrepreneurs has won an award by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Neichute Doulo, a former lecturer in Economics at Baptist College in Nagaland, won the ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award […]

From Framework Agreement to joint statement Making good progress

Closer than ever to a final settlement. This is the joint statement issued by NSCN (IM) general secretary Th Muivah and Government of India Interlocutor to the ongoing peace talk between the outfit and Delhi, RN Ravi. Maybe this is the first time that an Interlocutor to the peace talk and the top leader of […]

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ON THE QUESTION OF THE ALIENATION OF THE NORTHE EAST AND THE PROBLEMS

Interview by Bhoopesh, Associate Editor, the Tehelka Weekly, New Delhi. Respondent: Dr. Malem Ningthouja, the Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur). 10th June 2015 1 After more than

Interview by Bhoopesh, Associate Editor, the Tehelka Weekly, New Delhi.

Respondent: Dr. Malem Ningthouja, the Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur).

10^th June 2015

1 After more than 60 years, there seems to be a feeling of alienation for the North East? What do you think the reason for this? How the Indian mainland’s attitude has contributed to this?

(a) Experts say that the Indian neo-liberal political economy system functions through perpetuation of caste, tribe, communal and racial differences, consciousness and corresponding sectarian assertions at various levels. In this scenario, certain sections of the ‘mongoloids’ in the Northeast, for various historical reasons, identified themselves with differently imagined ‘nations’. They perceive that their respective ‘nation’ have been racially discriminated, subjugated and oppressed by the Indians whom they depicted as a homogenous entity and identified with a different nation. Many ‘mainland’ Indians too perceive and treated the ‘Northeast’ with racial otherness and doubt the latter’s loyalty to India. But the so called ‘mainland’ is a metaphor; it is not a homogenous ‘nation’ freed from sets of complexities, constraints, rebellions and unrests within itself. Therefore, the alienation of the Northeast vis-à-vis India, if there is, is a reflection of the structural constraints of the Indian political economy.

2 Now different groups have come together under the umbrella of united liberation front of western south East Asia. How far do you think this association be able to represent the different social sections of the society of the North Eastern region? Will this sign a new phase in the insurgency?

(a) Recently, a common platform called the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW) was formed by some rebel parties in the Indo-Myanmar border regions. I don’t know exactly the terms and conditions agreed upon among the member organisations. To me, it seems to be a mere casual defensive tactics vis-à-vis counter-rebellion and for propaganda purpose. On the one hand, I am not sure, if the parties have any common revolutionary perception and strategy. Over the decades we have seen sporadic protracted armed guerrilla assaults in different times in spaces. But I have not seen, other than sectarian and mutually exclusive patriotic campaigns, any effective revolutionary programme across communities. There is comparative absence of consistent and collective mass democratic movement for a revolutionary change. On the other hand, I believe, the societies or communities or nations that these parties claimed to represent, in the ground reality are perplexed with political confusions, mistrust, complexities, and exclusive assertions. When the peoples are not being organised on common revolutionary goal; I am not sure how effective the UNLFW will be in either striking defeats to the Indian army or overthrowing their ‘enemy’ regimes. I am equally uncertain about how long the mechanically anchored tactical collusion will last.

(b) The past substantiates my doubt. What had happened to the tactical alliances that were formed from time to time: (i) the Revolutionary Joint Committee (1990) formed by the Revolutionary People’s Front, the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the Kangleipak Communist Party; (ii) the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front (1991) formed by the United National Liberation Front, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) and the United Liberation Front of Assam; (iii) the United Liberation Front of Seven Sisters (1993) and the Self-Defence United Front of South-East Himalayan Region (1994) formed under the leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM); the Manipur People’s Liberation Front (1999) formed by the United National Liberation Front, the Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the Revolutionary People’s Front; (iv) the Joint Coordination Committee (2009) of the United National Liberation Front and the Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup; (v) the Coordination Committee (2011) formed by the Kangleipak Communist Party, the Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup, the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive), the Revolutionary People’s Front, the United National Liberation Front, and the United People’s Party of Kangleipak. Why were they formed, what they did and how they ended?

3 The Indian state seems to have viewed problem of North Eastern people as a law and order problem? Do you think the negotiations that the government had with different groups can be started again? And how the laws like AFSPA has contributed to the worsening of the situation?

(a) Various problems exist in the Northeast. Among these, the government views the armed rebellion and democratic assertions against the ongoing neo liberal ‘projects’ by the affected peoples as law and order problems. Arbitrarily superimposed projects are being protected by military and paramilitary forces. Democratic protests are being ruthlessly suppressed by the police. In the past, even the demand for Manipur Statehood within the constitutional framework was viewed as law and order problem. Anything that is deemed obstruction to the immediate interest of the rulers is termed a threat to the nation and law and order problem.

(b) For some years the Government have been successful in entering into peace negotiation with some rebel groups in the Northeast – separate ceasefire agreement, memorandum of understanding and suspension of operation have been signed with different rebel groups. This has reduced armed conflict and casualty amongst them. I want to term it tactical peace. However, I am not sure, if the tactical peace have reduced the structural constraints of the political economy, which is largely responsible for various forms of grievances and unrests. On the contrary the tactical peace have not reduced the onus of subjection and terror on the people. My point is, I am more concern about the peace, security and development of the people. If the tactical peace do not address the legitimate issues of the people, I don’t care at all about either extension or abrogation of the tactical peace.

(c) AFSPA, created State terror and supress many in the name of counter rebellion. The blame of State terror is on the Indian army or any forces for violation of human rights with impunity under the provisions of AFSPA. However, AFSPA is an effective political instrument of killing and torture to supress in order to ensure that there is no resistance against the constraints created by the system. AFSPA is a mere legal surrogate to fulfil the objectives of rule of law, which is founded on the basis of the ideological framework of certain relation of production. The ‘rule of law’ has been comparatively fulfilled by AFSPA, but there continues the constraints of the political economy. AFSPA deals with syndrome and became a syndrome of the system; but it is not an appropriate means to root out the material foundation of unrests and armed rebellions. My understanding is that if the Indian nation exists at all, AFPSA is a threat to the peoples that constitute the ‘nation’. In that sense AFSPA is anti-national. Relatively, those who intentionally hold on AFSPA are anti-nationals. Those who blindly hold on AFSPA are misguided peoples. The fight against AFSPA, therefore, in reality, is a fight against the anti-nationals who use legal camouflages and propaganda tools to cover up the crimes they committed in the name of ‘national security.’

4 What do you think should be the democratic way to solve the problems of the North Eastern people?

(a) The big stakeholders of the neo-liberal regimes have exposed India to the global finance capital. They are reluctant to make India stand by its own economic feet in the global economic order. They discourage ‘national’ industrialisation as this will take time, require lots of efforts and could be at the cost of their quick profit. When India is on sale by a few powerful, leading to the inequality and underdevelopment of the productive forces; the question is – are the rulers really concern about the development, equality and welfare of the peoples ruled by them? Aren’t they using communal and divisive tactics to divert the attention of the people, so that they retain control over the politics and economy? In this scenario, if there is a democratic model that can solve the problems faced by the peasants, workers and minorities in North India; I think, that same model can be effectively applied in the Northeast as well. When the problems of those who are ‘loyal’ to India have not been democratically addressed, how will the problems of the ‘disloyal’ will be democratically addressed? The rulers know the problems and the democratic solutions as well. The problem is: they are in power, they enjoy it and they know how to govern undemocratically in the existing manner. Are they ready for a democratic solution? When democratic voices are ruthlessly suppressed the desperate sections will automatically look for other modes of rebellion. This is what is exactly happening in India. My puzzle is whether there will be a magical divine intervention, to change the mind-set of the rulers, so that they voluntarily uphold a democratic solution or should they be forced upon to do it. History will tell.

17 soldiers killed, 16 others injured in ambush claimed by NSCN, KYKL and KCP

IMPHAL, June 4: Heavily armed militants ambushed an army convoy in Chandel district this morning, killing atleast 17 personnel including an officer and injuring 16 others in one of

manipur ambush claimed by NSCN, KYKL and KCP

IMPHAL, June 4: Heavily armed militants ambushed an army convoy in Chandel district this morning, killing atleast 17 personnel including an officer and injuring 16 others in one of the deadliest ambush since the attack on the Sikh Regiment by a hill-based militant outfit some years ago along the Imphal-Ukhrul road which killed 21 personnel.

Meanwhile, the NSCN/GPRN, KYKL and the KCP have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The convoy of the 6 Dogra Regiment was ambushed in between Charlong Village and Paraolon Village, 35 kms from the Tengnoupal Police Station along the New Somtal Road in Chandel district.

An unsigned joint statement of the three outfits said `A combined team of the Elite Strike Unit of Naga Army, KYKL and KCP assaulted five vehicle convoy of the 6thDogra regiment on June 4 at Tengnoupal `“New Somtal Road under Chandel district of Manipur and slain 20 personnel including one JCO and critically injured more than a dozen soldiers.`

`The assault started around 6 am and lasted till 9 to 10 AM.`

`The joint offensive has been launched in sync with each corresponding assertion for self determination and sovereignty.` the statement said.

According to the police, the 6 Dogra Regiment of the Moltuk post was being replaced by the 4 Assam Regiment and they were moving towards their Imphal divisional headquarter when the attack happened.

The personnel were in four vehicles and came under the sudden powerful ambush from the militants just 5 km far from their Moltuk post, police said.

The militants first triggered a powerful Improvised Explosive Device to damage the first vehicle of the convoy and block the way of the other vehicles and then fired RPG shells damaging two other vehicles, according to the police.

The attackers also used sophisticated weapons killing 17 army personnel including a Junior Commission Officer on the spot. Another 16 personnel were injured during the ambush.

Police also said some of the 6 Dogra Regiment personnel retaliated for sometime killing a suspected militant.

The bodies of the killed and the injured personnel were shifted to the Leimakhong Military Hospital in three helicopters.

It is also said that the militants took away weapons from the army, although the exact number of weapons and ammunitions is yet to be officially confirmed.

Soon after recieving information of the ambush, a Chandel district Police team rushed to the spot. Assam Rifles personnel from the nearby post also arrived at the scene.

Manipur attack: Two Assam Rifles personnels, one UG killed in ambush by suspected PLA cadres

IMPHAL, March 31: A convoy of 44 Assam Rifles came under attack from suspected PLA cadres this early morning at around 6 at Konkan Thana in Kamjong Sub-Division of Ukhrul

IMPHAL, March 31: A convoy of 44 Assam Rifles came under attack from suspected PLA cadres this early morning at around 6 at Konkan Thana in Kamjong Sub-Division of Ukhrul District which is under the jurisdiction of Chasad Police Station.

A brief gunfight broke out between the two groups leaving two Assam Rifles personnel killed and one injured. One UG cadre was also reportedly killed in the gunfight.

According to information received by IFP from the Police, a team of 44 Assam Rifles of Kamjong post who were heading towards Kashom Khullen in two vehicles were ambushed by suspected PLA cadres who were already waiting hiding in the bushes at a place which is about 5 km away towards the east direction from Chasad Police Station.

An improvised explosive device (IED) was first triggered followed by heavy firing using powerful automatic guns towards the AR team from two directions by the suspected PLA cadres.

The AR personnel also retaliated by firing towards the UG cadres and a brief gunfight broke out between the two groups.

But after some time the UG cadres left the place and vanished into the jungle.

The two AR personnel who were killed in the ambush have been identified as Havildar NK Doli (‘F’ Coy) and Havildar BN Chhetri (‘B’ Coy). The injured AR personnel have been identified as Rifleman RV Shastra.

He was rushed to Military Hospital at Leimakhong using a Helicopter.

Later, Police along with AR personnel conducted a thorough search of the incident site and recovered the lifeless bodies of the two AR personnel along with the lifeless body of a suspected PLA cadre.

The bodies have been deposited at Chasad Police Station and it will be taken to RIMS morgue tomorrow for post mortem examination.

The identity of the deceased suspected PLA cadre could not be ascertained till the filing of this report. He was wearing combat dress, has pierced ears, 5’2” tall and seems to be between 30 to 35 years of age. No document was recovered from his body to ascertain his true identify.

Two live IEDs were also detected during the search, however as there was no bomb expert in search team, a bomb disposal team from Imphal have been arranged to assist them in disposing the bombs.

Wokha bomb blast in Nagaland seriously injured three women, one nine-month old baby

By Oken Jeet Sandham KOHIMA, Mar 26 (NEPS): Another bomb blast this morning at the heart of Wokha Town has inflicted injuries to three women and one nine-month old baby

By Oken Jeet Sandham

KOHIMA, Mar 26 (NEPS): Another bomb blast this morning at the heart of Wokha Town has inflicted injuries to three women and one nine-month old baby boy.
The bomb, which was reportedly placed near a shop at the PWD Junction, Wokha Town by two unidentified men who came in a bike this morning, went off at about 9 AM, injuring three women and one nine-month old baby boy.

nine-month old baby boy victim of wokha bomb blast

The two seriously injured women and the nine-month old baby boy have been brought to Naga Hospital Kohima while the other woman and the mother of the baby boy was under treatment at Wokha Civil Hospital as her condition is not that serious.
The nine-month old baby identified as Yanrenthung, son of Mhonpamo Khuvung, is from Sonkiton Village. His mother, Lina, who also received injuries, is undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital Wokha, as her condition is not that serious. The right hand of the baby boy was damaged while the splinter of the bomb hit his left stomach and his intestine came out.

The other two ladies who received serious injuries are identified as Thosano Ezung, 55, wife of Nymthungo Ezung of Longsachung Village and Benchilo Kikon, wife of Simon is from Lakhuti Village. Benchilo Kikon is the sister Dr M Kithan, Additional Director, H & F W. Legs of both the ladies were badly damaged.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Y Patton has strongly condemned the blasts – the one exploded at Dimapur yesterday at about 7:30 PM and the one exploded this morning at PWD Junction, Wokha at about 9 AM.

victims of wokha bomb blast

Terming as “cowardly and dastardly” the acts of the miscreants inflicting serious injuries to women and child, the Home Minister said all sensible people should condemn the acts of “terrorism.”

“It is very unfortunate that when the Naga people and various agencies have been making their concerted efforts to see that the Naga peace process reaches its logical conclusion, there are still some elements hell-bent on creating confusion and disturbances in the society,” the Home Minister said.
Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured Wokha bomb victims, Patton said the state government would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to see that “peace and tranquility is not disturbed in the state.”

BJP MLA Dr TM Lotha also condemned the bomb blast at Wokha.
Stating that the incident was very unfortunate, the BJP MLA from Wokha said such incidents had been taking place in Wokha Town including the recent one on February 24 and further urged the State Government to constitute a High Power Committee (HPC) to thoroughly investigate into the incident to know the facts and bring those responsible to book.

Urging the District Administration and Law Enforcement Agencies to ever remain alert, so that such unwanted incidents do not occur again at Wokha Town, Dr Lotha also requested the Chief Minister to pay ex-gratia to the bomb victims who had been undergoing treatments at Naga Hospital, Kohima and District Hospital, Wokha.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

After ‘leave camp’ demand, locals raise ‘cancel URF SoO’

IMPHAL, May 30: The JAC formed demanding the immediate shifting of the URF designated camp from Loitang Khonou, Spinning Mill has warned to launch several forms of agitation in case

IMPHAL, May 30: The JAC formed demanding the immediate shifting of the URF designated camp from Loitang Khonou, Spinning Mill has warned to launch several forms of agitation in case the government failed to provide positive response to the demand by Saturday 10am.

In this regard, the JAC president Kh Ibeton Devi said the JAC and family members of the two URF cadres whose bodies were found buried inside the storeroom of the designated camp have already submitted a memorandum to the minister concerned yesterday evening.

While declaring the incident as heinous, a family member of one of the two dead cadres urged the government to take proper action and to cancel the SoO signed with the outfit.

Addressing the media at the Manipur Press Club today, Kh Ibeton Devi said the memorandum has warned that the JAC and the family members are ready to launch several agitations including a State wide general strike in case the government fail to take any positive action on their demand.

She said yesterday, locals of several villages staged a sit in protest near the Loitangkhunou Spinning Mill and later took out a rally around the camp.

The memorandum has also demanded the minister to arrest the culprits involved in the killing of the two at the earliest and to punish them accordingly.

Even though the memorandum had demanded the government to take some positive steps during the deadline set by the JAC, till now there has been no such response from the government, she said.

The JAC and family members will join hands with the various civil society organisations of the State and launch agitations.

A family member of one of the dead cadres said, the act is highly condemnable as the cadres had joined the peace process by signing a memorandum with the government with an aim of returning to the mainstream, she said.

She lamented after the two were reported missing, the family members had contacted the leaders of the outfit who told them repeatedly that the two had deserted the camp during the intervening night of March 18-19 and on May 28 their bodies were recovered buried inside the store room of the designated camp.

She called on the government to take proper action against all involved in the crime and to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the outfit.

Armed movement caused by oppression of innocent people: RK Meghen

IMPHAL, Feb 21: The chairman of the proscribed UNLF, RK Meghen has stated that the armed separatist movement prevalent in Manipur has evolved out of the oppression of innocent people… Read more »

IMPHAL, Feb 21: The chairman of the proscribed UNLF, RK Meghen has stated that the armed separatist movement prevalent in Manipur has evolved out of the oppression of innocent people carried out by the Indian forces.
RK Meghen stated this to media-persons today while he was produced before the special NIA Court at Guwahati along with other top leaders of UNLF including M. Joy, S. Rakesh, M. Ibohal, M. Landhoni and Maniton.
He further maintained that the Government of India does not have any policy for having negotiations with unarmed organizations, but it has been negotiating with various armed organizations.
The UNLF wants solution through democratic means and this has been supported by United Nations. The people have to play vital roles in bringing solution through democratic means, Meghen enjoined.
He also appealed to the people of Manipur to stand united and form a unified force regardless of caste or community to crush all external influences.
The leaders of UNLF were produced before the special NIA court today after the NIA has submitted the charge-sheet against 19 leaders of the outfit.
Only six of them were produced today while the rest of 13 members of the UNLF will be produced before the NIA court on March 7.
On the other hand, the bail application for M. Landhoni will be heard on February 28.
Meanwhile, a large number of people from Manipur, Assam and Mizoram numbering about 200 held a demonstration today near the complex of NIA court at Guwahati. They shouted slogans such as `We want plebiscite`, `UNLF not waging war against India`, `Chairman Sanayaima and other members of UNLF are not criminals`, `They are defenders of the right to self-determination of Manipuri people`, `NIA should transfer Sanayaima and other cases to Government of Manipur`, `We want permanent peace in Manipur` etc.
A release of People for Self-determination of Manipur also said that the UNLF is not a terrorist organization. It is just fighting for the right to self-determination of the people of Manipur which has been deprived by the Indian government by forcing the then Maharaja of Manipur Budhachandra to sign the merger agreement in 1949.
The organization also demanded plebiscite through which the lost freedom of Manipur can be restored.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/MkjXZLuEfN4/

India’s design will be defeated with its money: UNLF

IMPHAL, Feb 20: Reacting to the false charges leveled by NIA against the arrested leaders of UNLF, the proscribed UNLF has asserted that the defeat of India will be brought… Read more »

IMPHAL, Feb 20: Reacting to the false charges leveled by NIA against the arrested leaders of UNLF, the proscribed UNLF has asserted that the defeat of India will be brought with its own money.
A statement of UNLF signed by senior publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba said that the NIA is plotting to jail the arrested leaders of UNLF by leveling false charges of extortions and waging wars against India.
India is taking up various policies to suppress the Manipuris in all fields. So far there has been no policy from the side of the Indian government to uplift the socio-economic condition of the people of the region. The cost for freedom movement of the outfit has to be collected from the people as well as colonial loyalists, it said.
The National Economic Policy (NEP) of the outfit has benefited lots of people. One important programme under NEP is the movement for food sustainability through which thousands of farmers of the region have benefited. Moreover, the outfit also provides micro-financial assistance to the economically backward people so as to improve their livelihood, the statement mentioned.
Further, it said that India should give compensations to the people for the losses incurred due to colonial exploitations in the region, and added that the sole objective of the outfit is to defeat the colonial forces of India with its money.
The UNLF also lauded the people for their support towards the demand for holding plebiscite through which the freedom of Manipur can be restored.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/1SgIWzD1jpg/