Prime Minister?s Visit to Kohima

In context of the continuing peace process, the three-day visit of Prime Minister Vajpayee to Kohima assumed significance. On the day of his arrival, October 27, The Nagaland Post in its editorial ?Height of expectation? summed up: ?For the State and its people, the focus of attention will remain on the likely economic or financial packages that Vajpayee is likely to announce. In this, what is needed is to ensure that there is effective implementation of whatever schemes or projects granted by the centre.? Commenting on the Rs. 520 crore peace bonanza announced by the Prime Minister, the newspaper (October 29) praised the Central government in the following words. ?When it comes to generosity, the NDA government at the centre has once again shown that it believes in translating its concern into deeds.?

 

Issue of Territorial Integrity in Manipur

The NSCN-IM demand for the integration of all Naga-inhabited areas has caused a lot of agitation in Manipur. The Sangai Express (October 22) reported that the United Committee Manipur (UCM) would be launching a campaign under the theme ?Eina Iramdam kanjanabagi pangthokpa thou? on October 23 and 24. The report further quoted a statement of the All Manipur Students? Union (AMSU), which cautioned ?the general public of the moves of the centre and self-seeking organisations to lend communal colour to the people?s movement.? The Imphal Free Press (October 27) on the other hand reported that ?a team of more than 6000 people belonging to different communities under the initiative of Naga People Organisation (NPO) is preparing to leave Senapati for Kohima on October 27 to take part in the reception ceremony of Prime Minister.?

 

The Imphal based newspapers carried the speech of Vajpayee and his comment on the Greater Nagaland issue. The Sangai Express (October 30) in an editorial ?United we stand? reminded that ?disunity plagues the society with resultant effect also taking a hard toil on the Government. It is high time that all mull seriously on prevailing problems and chalk out a united solution to give peace and development a chance.?

 

BSF and the BDR meet in Shillong

Senior officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) held a four-day meet at Shillong to discuss about common security problems. Assamese vernacular daily, Asamiya Khabar (October 23) in a lead item ?Ugrapanthi sibir utkhatar pratisruti dile Bangladesh rifles? reported that Bangladesh has decided to shut down the militant camps by the north-eastern outfits in that country. However, previously the Shillong Times (October 22) in a lead item ?BDR denies presence of N-E ultras? camps in its soil? had reported that ?Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Muhammad Ibrahim Khaleel denied the presence of Northeast militant outfits? camps in Bangladesh even as India maintained that there were at least 155 camps belonging to the said ultras in that country.?

 

Trade route with China

The possibility of the opening of the trade route with China through Nathula has given rise to considerable debate in Sikkim. The weekly Gangtok Times (October 20-26) quoted the Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) spokesman in a lead news item who feared that ?the reopening of the Nathula Trade route will encourage influx which they believe will cause displacement of Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) people from their ancestral land.? The weekly ?Now? (October 15-21) published an article, ?View point? in which the author Tashi Wangyal Bhutia commented, ?the average BL realizes that the stance taken by SIBLAC could boomerang on the people of the two communities and is needlessly vitiating the peaceful atmosphere of the state.? The Gangtok Times in its editorial, ?They overlook the obvious? however, dispelled such doubts and commented ?Trade with Tibet was an important aspect of Sikkimese economy at one time and can become the major revenue and employment generator for Sikkim now.?

 

State of Insurgency in Assam

Assamese vernacular daily, Aji (October 23) in a lead item ?Asom Abhimukhe Dusha Bidrohi? reported that two hundred armed cadres of the ULFA and the NDFB have entered Assam?s Goalpara district through the East and West Garo hills. The report predicted that the cadres are expected to indulge in large-scale insurgency.

 

Elections in Mizoram

Preparations are on a full swing for the elections to the State legislative Assembly on November 20. Poll related news item dominated the regional and local media through out the fortnight. The vernacular newspaper, Aizawl Post (October 21) reported that ?a vigilante outfit calling itself Mizoram Thianfaitu (Cleaner of Mizoram) has decided to eliminate 11 corrupt persons who intend to run for office in the coming elections if they file nomination papers.? The Telegraph-Northeast (October 27) reported that ?fifteen additional companies of central paramilitary forces will reach Mizoram to help the authorities in the remote tribal state maintain order.? Quoting the Chief Electoral officer the report said that ?the troops would be in addition to three battalions of Mizoram Armed Police, a few companies of the CRPF and one battalion of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) deployed in the state?s eight districts.?

 

Mobile Services in Nagaland

During his visit the Prime Minister Vajpayee launched the mobile phone services in Nagaland. The Nagaland Post (October 27) however reported ?Inside sources within the BSNL disclosed that the phones will be given only to the VVIPs. But the problem is that there are still more than 500 VVIPs even in Kohima. This only heightened suspicion about the usual questionable practices within the department that rings an old tune.?