Agitation in Manipur

The release of 13 NSCN-IM cadres arrested on October 6 in Senapati district was interpreted by various Manipuri organisations as a compromise of the territorial integrity of the State. The Imphal Free Press (October 10) however gave credit to the Chief Minister for his skilful handling of the issue. Its editorial “Chief Minister’s Action’ called upon the central government to ‘publicly acknowledge that what it asked Ibobi to do was not a question of giving the NSCN(IM) more importance than the Manipur government, but a request to keep the peace process going.’ The Sangai Express (October 15) in its editorial, ‘Waiting for Atalji’ expressed similar hope: ’We can only hope that the Prime Minister gives something concrete that can dispel the apprehension of the people.’

Earlier the Sangai Express (October 13) in its editorial, ‘Polarised integrity’, commenting on the impact of the latest development, wrote ‘the chasm between the hill and valley people over the question of a Greater Lim is indeed deep and it is time we acknowledge this fact for we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to the reality surrounding us.’ In an editorial on October 14 the newspaper, titled ‘Cultivating Friends’ called for an effort at the international level to protect the Manipuri interest. ‘We can carry on with our protest on the streets of Imphal, we can continue to burn the effigies of those individuals who are working overtime to break up Manipur, but we also need to seek the support of the international community.’

Militancy in Tripura

The call given by the Tripura Peoples Democratic Front (TPDF), the political front of the proscribed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) to observe October 15 as a black day received prominent coverage in the regional media. The news portal, Tripurainfo (October 13), detailed the ATTF efforts to make the call a success. ‘Large numbers of posters and pamphlets have appeared in interior areas of Sadar (north) and Khowai subdivisions. Already the ATTF militants in their areas of hegemony like the Sadar (east and north) and Khowai subdivisions have sent letters to all schools and government offices directing controlling authorities to put up black flags on the day in their institutions. The markets in interior areas have also been directed to be closed on the day.’

Trouble in Assam’s tea industry

Great unrest prevails in the tea estates of upper Assam over the payment of bonus to the labourers and the subsequent extortion demand of Rs. 2 crores by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on the Hindustan Liver Limited. Assam Tribune (October 1) editorial ‘Autumn of Discontent’ opined ‘No doubt the industry’s condition is not as good as it was only a couple of years back, but tea estates with fairly good yield and production of high and medium quality leaves are still earning profits.’

Newspapers prominently covered the objection of the State government to the Union Defence Minister’s direction to the army to provide security to the HLL in the wake of ULFA’s extortion demand. The Telegraph-Northeast (October 15) quoting the State government spokesperson reported ‘The army is already operating in the state under the unified command. For that, the Defence Minister does not have to issue any instruction. It was very immature on his part to do so.’

ULFA’s extortion bid has also led to the killing of three Hindi-speaking traders in Tinsukia district on October 11. The Assamese daily, Asamiya Khabar (October 14) in a lead news item ‘Arakhi Dayi: Bharaprapta Mukhyamuntri’ in which the officiating Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Bhumidhar Barman blamed the district police for ‘having failed to provide security to the traders even after the extortion demands were brought to their notice.’   

Peace process in Meghalaya

The official peace initiative with the insurgent outfit, the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) appears to have suffered a serious setback following encounters on September 26 in which eight ANVC cadres were killed in the Garo hills. The Shillong Times (October 1) quoted the Chief Minister who maintained that the government is ready to hold talks with the ANVC even though the later refused to take part in the peace process. He further said: ‘If kidnappings and killings by the militants continue, it puts a question mark over their seriousness about the dialogue.’ In the same issue the State Home Minister R G Lyngdoh said: ‘Since the ANVC was not interested in the proposed peace process, the police operation to track down its cadres in the entire Garo Hills would continue.’

China’s recognition of Sikkim as an Indian State

The weekly Gangtok Times (October 13-19) provided prominent coverage to the Chinese removal of Sikkim’s name from its official website as a separate country. The report quoted the Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling as saying ‘China’s latest move will surely pave the way for strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries and peaceful resolution of decades-old border dispute.’ The newspaper in its editorial ‘China reconciles with Sikkim reality’ said: ‘China always used some reservations on Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh as bargaining counter to silence the Indian demand that China should vacate 40,000 sq. miles, illegally occupied by China in Ladakh region. By recognizing Sikkim as a part of India, China has removed the Sikkim irritant. The process of conciliation has started and if Indian government would legalize the Chinese occupation of Ladakh region, China would surely remove the problems created in Arunachal Pradesh sector.’