Insurgency / Northeast

GUWAHATI, Jan 23: A whole bunch of militant groups of the North East and North Bengal have given a call to boycott the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. They have also called a general strike on that day. Among the militant groups are the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).

ULFA ?foreign secretary? Shasha Choudhury, in an e-mailed statement, on behalf of the Arunachal Dragon Federation (ADF), Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Manipur People?s Liberation Front ? MPLF (PREPAK, RPF...

Dimapur/ Kohima, Jan 22: If the Centre were to make peace with Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, it would have dealt a body blow to insurgency in the region. Because the NSCN (I-M) is today the pivotal force behind insurgent groups operating in Assam, Manipur, Tripura and even those creeping into Meghalaya.

Officials engaged in counter-insurgency operations have reason to believe that the NSCN (I-M) has ‘‘contributed in good measure’’ to the activities of outfits in states across the N-E, training and arming them and drawing from an extortion pool to fill its coffers.

‘‘Other ethnic...

New Delhi, Jan. 22: The NSCN (I-M) today appeared peeved at Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh?s claim that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had assured him of not altering the state?s boundary, seeking a clarification from New Delhi on the issue.

However, the talks, which were extended by a day, remained unaffected.

The fact that the negotiations did not fall through was a breather for both sides, indicating that they were committed to a negotiated settlement. The NSCN (I-M) leaders, however, were not at all charitable to Ibobi Singh?s claim on the Prime Minister?s assurance.

Real...

NEW DELHI, Jan 22 ? As the Centre-NSCN (I-M) peace talks resumed on Tuesday, Manipur upped the ante demanding a Constitutional amendment to protect its territory even though Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee assured an all-party delegation from the state that its boundaries would not be affected in search for a solution to the vexed Naga problem, reports PTI. Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh, who led the delegation to Vajpayee, told newsmen later that the Prime Minister has assured them that the territorial integrity of Manipur would remain unaltered while discussing a solution to...

GUWAHATI, Jan 22 ? The External Affairs Ministry has no objection to deployment of SSB personnel along the Bhutan border. This was disclosed by the External Affairs, Minister Yaswant Sinha in a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. An official release said that Yaswant Sinha has made his Ministry?s stand on the issue to the Union Home Ministry. The release said that Chief Minister had requested the Centre for deployment of Central paramilitary force personnel along the Assam-Bhutan border to check the activities of the militants. In the letter to Sri Gogoi, the External Affairs Minister...

Imphal, January 21: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday assured an all-party delegation from Manipur that the boundaries of the state will not be affected in the wake of the ongoing peace talks between Centre and Nagaland. The delegation leader and Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh told newsmen that this assurance was given when the team met Vajpayee to discuss the impact of the talks on the state. Singh said Manipur also wanted a constitutional amendment for the maintenance of territorial integrity of the state. "We welcome Centre's peace talks with Nagaland but the...

IMPHAL, Jan 21 ? The oldest regional political party in Manipur, Manipur Peoples? Party (mpp) and ruling Secular Progressive Front (spf) alliance partner Democratic Peoples? Party (dpp) have cautioned the Government of India against adopting measures detrimental to the interests of the people of Manipur.

MPP president and Opposition leader O Joy Singh and party leader Dr Nimaichand Luwang, addressing media-persons at the party office on Monday, said the Centre should accord maximum respect to the State Assembly resolution on territorial integrity of Manipur.

Stating that in a democratic...

GUWAHATI, Jan 19 ? Bhutan?s Ambassador to India Lyonpo Dago Teshring today said that it was in the interest of both the South Asian neighbours to strengthen peace and stability in both Bhutan and Assam. He said there is scope for mutual operation between Bhutan and Assam.

Ambassador Teshring, who was speaking at the Rabindra Bhawan here this evening while attending the launch function of the Assam chapter of the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association, said that Bhutan and Assam have common interests and common concerns. Refraining from commenting either on militancy in Assam or on the presence...

DIBRUGARH, Jan 18 ? Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today warned that the Assam government would not accede an inch of States territory to the greater Nagaland demand of the NSCN (I-M). ?Inclusion of any territorial part of Assam in the greater Nagaland as proposed by the NSCN (I-M) will be opposed by our government,? Gogoi thundered. Gogoi was speaking to local mediapersons here today. Deliberating on a wide range of subjects, Gogoi welcomed idea of issuing citizens? identity cards to keep a tab on illegal influx.

On the issue of sending back illegal Bangladeshis from the country, he shot back:...

Imphal, January 17: Unlike the ceasefire extension imbroglio episodes of June 2001 and other past social unrests with regard to the question of the state's territorial integrity, the Naga hoi-polloi dwelling in Imphal view the present renew Manipur territorial integrity slogans in different ways, at least this time. In a random survey conducted by Newmai News Network in the last two days indicates that Nagas in the valley are not going to the repeat the 2001 anti-ceasefire agitation days when they had fled to the hill districts. Miss Awon of Dewlahland, a school teacher by profession told this...