Assam Blockade Holds up 300 Trucks

AASU wants ‘guilty’ naga cops handed over to assam


Trucks stranded in Golaghat district on Sunday.

Nagaon, Sep 20 : More than 300 trucks bound for Nagaland were halted on National Highway 39 near Rangajan after All Assam Students Union (AASU) imposed an indefinite economic blockade.

According to Golaghat police, the snake-like queue of goods-loaded trucks started in Numaligarh, causing congestion in the approach road to the bordering district.

The blockade, begun by the students’ organisation from 3pm on Saturday, was to demand immediate steps to hand over the accused Nagaland armed police officials to the Assam government after the officials caned school students for blocking the highway on Wednesday, punishment of the officials according to law of the land and an unconditional apology for the misdeed.

More than 500 AASU supporters blocked the national highway all through the day, preventing plying of goods vehicles from Nagaland.

“We will continue this blockade till our demands are fulfilled.

Unfortunately, our local administration fails to listen to our repeated requests for a joint sitting of the administration of Golaghat and Dimapur, where video footage of the Wednesday incident could be demonstrated to identify the culprits,” said AASU’s Golaghat unit general secretary Ranjit Bora.

Golaghat administration today ensured free flow of passenger vehicles on the highway.

“There is a congestion-like situation on NH 39. But it does not deteriorate free flow of passenger vehicles,” said Golaghat superintendent of police Madan Chetia.

Deputy commissioner of police H.N. Bora said discussions with his Dimapur counterpart regarding the issue was on.

“We are trying our best to find a solution to the matter through a joint meet,” Bora told The Telegraph over telephone.

Accusing the Assam government of being a “weak” one, because of which Nagaland police could beat up Assamese students on Assamese land, AASU general secretary Tapan Gogoi told The Telegraph over phone from Titabor, “The students’ body has demanded compensation from the Assam government for those students who were brutally attacked by Nagaland policemen. The blockade would continue unless the culprits responsible for the incident were punished.”.

Top AASU leaders, led by Gogoi, today visited several places in Golaghat and Jorhat districts where activists of the organisation, in batches, were carrying out the road blockade round the clock for the second day against vehicles coming to and from from Nagaland.

At Mariani and Titabor, AASU members on Saturday had prevented vehicles from going to Nagaland. AASU general secretary of Jorhat district unit, Dhruba Jyoti Hazarika, said over six trucks, including tankers, were stopped at Titabor.

He said vehicles coming from and going to Nagaland were stopped. Other vehicles plying on the road were not blocked by the agitating members.

He said the team, comprising education secretary Mani Madhab Mahanta, publicity secretary Pulak Chetia, assistant general secretary Nilufar Rahman, also visited the Golaghat government hospital to know about the condition of those injured by Nagaland police attack on Wednesday. He said the team had then headed to the adjoining Jorhat district.

Titabor sub-divisional officer (civil), Jadab Saikia, told The Telegraph that the administration was keeping a “close watch” on the situation.

Saikia said police patrolling near the places where protesters were staging a blockade had been intensified.

He said the situation was peaceful with vehicular traffic, apart from vehicles from Nagaland.

AGP to Continue Movement Against Mega Dams

Guwahati, Sep 20 : The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today decided to continue the movement against the construction of mega dams, while, the party will finalize its election strategy in the meeting of its general house tomorrow.

AGP sources said that the executive committee of the party, which met today, strongly reacted to the reported statement of the NHPC Chairman cum managing director regarding the construction of the Lower Subansiri dam project and alleged that the State Government failed to play its desired role on the issue.

The AGP strongly opposed the assault on AASU members by Nagaland police personnel in Golaghat district recently and observed that the Assam Government totally failed to take up the issue strongly with the Government of the neighbouring state.

Sources said that the success of the “mass contact programme” of the AGP was discussed in detail and the party decided to continue such programmes covering all parts of the state in the days to come. All the senior leaders of the regional party will take part in such programmes to bring the regional force closer to all sections of the people. As the AGP is completing 25 years of its formation on October 14, the party is making preparations to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.

The issue of electoral alliances of the AGP was also discussed in today’s meeting and party sources said that majority of the executive members were opposed to continuing the alliance with the BJP as they are of the view that the votes of the BJP supporters were not transferred to AGP candidates in the last Lok Sabha polls. The steering committee of the AGP had earlier decided to discontinue the alliance with the BJP, but the final decision in this regard will only be taken by the general house, which is the all powerful body of the regional party. “The decision to forge an alliance with the BJP was approved by the general house and only the same body can take the final decision on whether to continue the alliance or not,” party sources said.

The general house of the AGP will meet tomorrow at the Haryana Bhawan in the city tomorrow and the party is likely to take the final decision on electoral alliances in the meeting. More than 600 delegates from all over the state are expected to attend the meeting where the party’s strategies for the Assembly elections in 2011 will be finalized. AGP sources said.

An Appeal - Sinlung Peoples Movement Against Dams

INHRIETTIRNA LE NGENNA

Only when the last tree has died
And the last river has been poisoned
And the last fish been caught
Will we realize we cannot eat money
- Cree Indian Proverb


Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Don't give up the fight! - Bob Marley

Aizawl, Mizoram

Pathien mi pek ram, tiena-tlanga inthawk ei hluo le ei pi ei pu hai in himtaka an min thlasawng pek ram hai chu vawisun hin, sawrkar, corporation le company hrang hrang haiin hmasawnna hming chawiin suk chereua, mi hluosuok dingin thrang an khaw mek. Nu le Pa ang hlawla milo thruoitu le mi chawilien ve tu, ei rama ei tui, ei vadung achien alien aum popo chu khuopa Dams siemna ding hmalakna hai chun mihriem le hnam ei nina le ei hnam ro popo chimral dingin tha an suo mek. Chuong vadung hai chu Tuiruong le Tuivai (1500 MW), Tuiriel (60 MW), Tuivawl (60 MW), Tuivai (210 MW), Serlui (12MW), hai an nih. Tuta Dams project in a suoksiet lo ding hmun ahim sun ding, khuo pali (4) (Palsang, Zohmun, Mauchar, Khawdungsei) hai ram chu sa huon (Pualreng Wildlife Sanctuary) a siem dingin riruong aum nawk a. Tuta khuo pali hai chu sawrkarin sum tlawmte peka an khuo le tui maksan dingin an nawr mek bawk. Pualreng Wildlife Sanctuary chu aum hma deiin Mizoram inchuklaibu a hai chu zieklutin alo um der tah.

Tuta project riruonga um hai bawlna ding leiin ei ram sunga khuo tamtak chu hluo nawk thei talo dingin inremna lekhaa (Memorandum of Understanding) hai ziek fel alo ni tah. Tuta project hai hin Sinlung Hills (Mizoram) a ringawt khawm hin Vai nuoi hnih neka tam sinthaw dingin thruoilutin um an tih. Chubakah, sipai singtelin belsa bawk atih. Chanchinthra mansapui bangnaa ei nei rama hai chun zinga chu milem biekna in, temple le mosque haiin an hluo sip ta ding anih. Ei inring hma in "Ei Ram" le ei rohlu popo chu ei chan ding um meu loin ei en liem el thei ding ani tah.

Inhrietthiemna Thuthlung (Memorandum of Understanding) an zieka hin ei ram le ei tui kama tiena tlanga inthoka muong taka lo cheng tah, Sinlung suok Hmar mipuihai an rawn hmasa naw bakah an remtina lak a ni bok nawh. Hi Thuthlung (MoU) hi Dam an bawl tumna le a se vel Vangai Tlang (Manipur), Sinlung Hills (Mizoram), a vadung hnâr tienga um le a vadung suo tieng Barak Valley (Assam) a cheng Hmar mipuihaiin an hrietpui bawk nawh.

Inthukop le chan insema Dams bawl dinga thuthlung ziektu hai hin a rama cheng Hmarhai zalenna chanvo an namnul bakah, an thilthawin a suksiet ding an ram leilung le vadung, a thing le ruo le a sunga hnuoi hausakna inphumhai chu an sut lawk naw a, hril khom an hril sa naw hrim hrim. Chuleiin, hi Thuthlung (MoU) hin India Danpui a bawsiet a, hlei a nei a, indikna a pai naw a, mipui ro inrelna thuthlung a kal bok a nih.

Ei ram leilung le a hausakna nasa taka an suksiet bakah a rama chenghai chu hmun thar khuorna ding le an inbengbelna ding iengkhom siem mumal si loin, ei piengvo le ei zalenna chanvo chu suosampek le hnot suokin um ei ta;a hmun le hmain a dier le dier lo ding chieng taka en fel hmasa si loa an bawl ding ani leiin, nasa takin sietna intlun bawk atih. Hmun tam takah, danin a phut angin, hieng Dam an bawlna hrim hrimah khawtlang le a mi chenghai chunga nghong a nei dan ding en chiengna, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) le Social Impact Assessment (SIA) nei ngei ngei hlak a nia chu ei ram sungah Dams um ding hai ruok chu abawltu ding haiin enfelna le enfiena sin a thaw naw a, a tuortu ding mipuihai kuomah thil ngirhmun indik tak a phor lang nuom bok nawh. Sorkarin dan a zamhai chu zawm nekin bawsiet a hau lem leiin a ram le mipui chunga sietna rapthlak tak intluntu a hung inchang ta lem a nih.Khawtlang le mihriem, a ram leilung himna le sik le sa chunga sietna rapthlak a hung intlun ding hi ieng khomin a man zo nawh.

Tu lai hnai ela Thuthlung (MoU) an ziek hi a ram pheka sietna intlun theitu ding thil a ni leiin pom thei a ni nawh. Ngaituona hmang lo le lunginsietna thrang loa insuosamna hmangruo a ni ding a ni nawh. Ei tui ei vadung hai hi Sawrkar dang dangin ramri a hmangin ei mipuihai ram bung hrang hrangah mi thre dar sienla khom, hi hmun hi Hmar hai histawri intranna trobul, ei Ruonglevaisuo, ei mipuihai hnam khata thlung khawmtu, ei hmun thienghlim a nih. Hi hmun hi ei phalna thrang loin tu khomin an suosam ding a ni nawh. Hi hmun humhal le vong him hi ei hnam damna le hringna le inzom tlat a nih.

Mani hlawkna ding ringot hnot ngar ngar ram dang miin mi hung rûn a, ei vadung hai, ei ram leilung le a sunga hausakna hai nuom nuoma an hung suosam le rok phal thei naw mei niu.Mipui lungril thu hnè tuma a tawtawrawta thrang, thu khingbai khekpuituhai hi kut fai lo, thil thaw pei lo le bulthrut nei lo an ni leiin mipui aiawtu rawl an ni thei nawh. Thu lai zong loa thu khingbai hmanga indawr tumna hi a kakhawk tuortu ding aram neitu haiin thudik an hriet ding dangna chauh a nih. Hienga indik lo taka insoisakna hi a fe pei phal ding a ni nawh.

Tu lai hnai ela a rûk a ràl anga Thuthlung (MoU) an ziek hin a ram hluotu le neitu Hmar mipuihai le an chanvo le khuo le tui an nina an uksak nawh ti an suklang. A sukpuitlingtu dinga ruothaiin iengti kong zawngin am hma an lak ding ti khom a ram mipuihaiin hriet lawkna ieng khom an nei nawh. Hi Thuthlung hi ‘hlawkna’ le ‘hmasawnna’ ringot hisapnain an mit sukdel a, a rama chenghai chunga sietna bur khum tum tuhai hmalakna a ni leiin beiseina pam puom, tak ram le inzawlna nei lo, muong taka a rama chenghai khawsakna le an fakzongna thing le ruo le an vadung hai sukcheureuna ding a nih. Hi Dams hai hin thil thra lo a hung nghong suok dinghai chu thuthlung ziektuhai hin an hmu threl duoi a nih. Hi Thuthlung hi Hmarhai ta dinga hliemna, hlei nei, an zalenna le khuo le tui an nina laka hnawchepna a ni leiin thuthlung ziektuhai hin inrang taka thupha an chawi a ngai.

Hi Thuthlung hi a tuor nasatu ding tak, Dam an bawlna ding ram hluotu Hmar mipuihaiin ei hrietpui lo, ei remtipui lo, ei ring zo lo le ei hnawl chu a nih. Chuleiin, theinghila um Hmar mipuihai chu to trawkin ei um ahun ta nawh. Hi thu le inzawmin hungtlung ding September 28, 2010, 11:00 AM khin ei ram le ei hnam humhalna ding, ei lungawinawna inentirna leh ei chan sie tah siem thrat na dingin Aizawla (Chanmari- Assembly House) lam hrawna (Peaceful Protest Rally) ei nei ding anih. Hi rally a ding hin Committee, Sinlung Peoples Movement Against Dams, indin anih. Tlawmnngaina insangtak insuoa hi hun pawimawtak a hin hung thrang ngei ding leh atrulna kawng tamtaka thrangpui dingin fiel le inhriettir in nih. Ei hun pawimawtak ei hlawtling theina dingin Pathien thrangpuina mi ngen puia trongtrainaa lo san dingin ngen in ni bawk.

Pathien zara ram le hnam ta ding in ditsak


Sd/- Sd/-

(DAVID BUHRIL)
Chairman

(KHAWLREMTHANG)
Convenor

Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation SIPHRO/ Sinlung Hills

Top Leaders of 3 Naga Groups Meet, Vow to Reconcile

Kohima, Sep 19 : Top leaders of three Naga underground organizations have met for the first time and vowed to work towards ending hostilities among themselves and consolidating understanding.

NSCN(I-M) general secretary Th Muivah, NSCN(K) general secretary N Kitovi Zhimomi and NNC/FGN president S Singnya held a meeting organized by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) at Dimapur on Saturday.

"We commit to cessation of all forms of hostilities, including any territorial expansion (supremacy of one group over other in geographical term), and for this the joint working group (of three factions) will meet from time to time," the three leaders said in a joint declaration.

The joint declaration was made honoring the spirit of "Covenant of Naga Reconciliation" signed at Chiang Mai in Thailand in June last year by the three groups.

The "Covenant of Reconciliation" was only signed by the top underground leaders at the initiative of the FNR but they never met face-to-face.

The FNR, comprising representatives of Churches, NGOs and civil society groups, has been insisting on the top level meeting for consolidating peace and reconciliation process.

"In the spirit of love and respect with each other facilitated by the FNR, we are reconciled based on the historical and political rights of the Nagas; and henceforth, we commit to working out our differences as outlined in the Covenant of Re-conciliation," the declaration said.

The leaders "emphasized the need for Naga reconciliation and to end all forms of violence and bloodshed amongst the Nagas, an FNR statement said, adding "this historic meeting" was the beginning of a new phase in the reconciliation initiatives.

Since the FNR initiated the peace and reconciliation move among the warring Naga underground groups, Nagaland witnessed substantial reduction in violence for past two years.

Mary Kom Wins 5th Consecutive World Title

MC Mary Kom boxes clever

Indian boxer MC Mary Kom wins her fifth consecutive world title at the Women's World Boxing Championships in Barbados

MC Mary Kom has won a fifth consecutive world title by out-punching Steluta Duta of Romania 16-6 in the final of the under 48kg category of the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Barbados.

The win also means that the mother of twins from Manipur, India has won a medal at all six of the World Championships.

In a high-scoring match, Steluta Duta started the brightest but MC Mary Kom came from behind to dominate the Romanian.

Stela Duta and Mary Kom were equally determined to establish the rhythm of the match in their favour leading to an energetic first round. The Romanian proved to be more effective though, returning to the corner 4-3 ahead.

At the start of the second round, Duta tried to keep up the pressure but Mary Kom landed a heavy hit that levelled the scores. Duta struggled through the rest of the round as Mary Kom, in contrast, finally hit her stride.

After adjusting to the initial onslaught, Mary Kom had found both her rhythm and her range so that by the end of the round Mary Kom was dominating the bout 9-5.

In the third, Duta was unable to match Mary Kom's intelligent counter-punching and powerful combinations. The Indian was accurate, balanced and equally effective with both hands, building up a 12-5 lead.

MC Mary Kom was ferocious in the final round and despite Steluta Duta's attempts at a final rally, the woman they call "Magnificent Mary" won her fifth consecutive world title 16-6.

Mizoram Students Beat up 2 Cops, 11 Arrested

Pune, Sep 19 : A dispute between students in Aundh turned ugly when two policemen who tried to intervene were beaten up by them.

Eleven students from Mizoram and two hotel employees have been held on charges of rioting, attempted murder and causing grevious hurt. They have been sent to police custody till September 20.

The Chatushrungi police received information around 10 pm that some students were involved in an altercation behind a shop near Bremen chowk. Constable Tanaji Takle and police naik Balkrishna Dalvi, who were patrolling the area, rushed to the spot and appealed to the students to calm down. While some students fled, others picked up an argument with the policemen.

Assistant police inspector M S Vichare told TOI that when Takle took a student aside after he refused to heed his warning, another student pushed him from behind and he fell to the ground. One of the students also allegedly hit Takle on the head with a stone, but since he was wearing a helmet, he escaped serious injury, said Vichare. Dalvi, who came to Takle's rescue, was hit with a stick and has fractured his right hand, added Vichare.

The students then allegedly fled in the direction of the Spicer Memorial College men's hostel, while some took shelter at a nearby restaurant.

When the policemen, in pursuit of the students, went to the restaurant, its owner Abdul Kadavat and employee Suresh Ande allegedly prevented them from entering the premises and threw stones at them.

A police team from the Chatushrungi police station, which had rushed to Takle and Dalvi's aid, barged into the restaurant and took Kadavat, Ande and some students into custody. Other students were later picked up from the hostel.

"Dalvi was carrying a lathi. We did not expect the students to attack us," Takle told TOI. "The incident happened all of a sudden and we did not retaliate as there were around 12 students. It was dark in the area."

The students arrested are Michael Loya (19), Helnalfakuyia Enellu (22), Luckyutfufa Sejiya (20), David Mitra (19), Rosang Pua Tulah (20), Vanlekon Mulla (20), Laren Pachao (18), Shivaveyumal Lejing (19) Lalwan Purya Pacho (20), Zoramchana Sharma (19) and Prohen Ali (30).

All of them live at the Spicer Memorial College hostel. Spicer Memorial college officials were not available for comment.

Naga Blockade of Manipur Resumes

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Imphal, Sep 19 : The United Naga Council has said the blockade would continue till the demands relating to the Naga issues were conceded

The United Naga Council, (UNC), a frontal organisation of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah group), imposed an indefinite blockade against Manipur from Saturday morning. This follows the expiry of the 113-day blockade spread over three phases.

In a press release, the UNC said the blockade would continue till the demands relating to the Naga issues were conceded. It said the Autonomous District Council elections in the hill districts were held against the “wishes” of the tribals. The ADCs would not be allowed to function in the “Naga areas.”

Other demands include the institution of a judicial inquiry into the May 6 firing in which two tribal students were killed at Mao Gate and withdrawal of the state forces from the “Naga areas.”

Sources said the government was not thinking in terms of instituting a judicial inquiry into the firing since a magisterial inquiry had already been ordered.

Wildlife Parks in Assam Inundated

Guwahati, Sep 19 :  Monsoon regenerates wildlife parks but when the sanctuaries are flooded, it puts the animals at greater risk of being poached and shrinks their food supply. 

The forest guards keep a tight vigil at the Pobitora Sanctuary in Assam. With the tributaries of the Brahmaputra flowing above danger level, the wildlife park is inundated.

The animals, mostly rhinos, have moved to highlands but they are running out of food.

There is no flood relief available for wild animals but in times like these they are more vulnerable than people.

Rhinos, for example, are valued for the price they carry on their horns and that's why the park authorities must work overtime not only to supply food but also protection.
"It is not possible for other national parks but in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary we provide some extra foliage, trees etc as food," said a ranger.  

Pobitora has the highest concentration of the one horned rhino and has a record of zero poaching in the last five years. But the threat is always there.
Former poachers have also been roped in to keep vigil. But with the rising water, the wildlife parks across the state may need more support.