Bhutan launches military operations

The launch of military operations by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) on the camps of the terrorist outfits like the ULFA, the NDFB and the KLO on 15 December dominated the media headlines through out the region. There was a common complaint among the media personnel of the lack of information from the battlefield. This probably was a reason behind a number of imaginative reports produced in a number of newspapers. For example, ?The Northeast Tribune (21 December) in its lead item ?ULFA?s ideologue Buragohain?s body arrives in native village? and The Sentinel (21 December) in its front page item, ?Last rites of Mama today? produced inventive stories of the ULFA founder Bhimakanta Buragohain?s death and reports of his last rites in his native village in upper Assam. Defying all such prophecies, on 26 December, Buragohain surrendered to the Army.

?

Political instability in Manipur

Manipur appears to be heading towards another phase of political instability. Whereas the opposition, DPA is trying to effect a split in the ruling SPF by enticing some of the ministers to its camp, the insurgent groups have also joined the chaos by asking some ministers to switch camps. Imphal Free Press (27 December) reported: ?Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh blasted the opposition Democratic People?s Alliance for playing toppling game to oust his government. The chief minister alleged that opposition is having nexus with some of the insurgent outfit members and anti social elements who are serving warning to some of his council of ministers for leaving the ruling party.? In a bid to prevent the opposition?s move the Chief Minister was reported to have shifted a team of his loyalist ministers to Kolkata and kept them in a hotel. Reporting this The Sangai Express (30 December) said: Even as Chief Minister and his band of faithfuls have been strongly denying that several Ministers have been shunted off to Kolkata and kept in a ?safe house? somewhere there to prevent the DPA from weaning them away from the coalition Government, reports have come in that a second camp has been opened at the CM?s bungalow since last night to keep the potential defectors under a tight leash.?

?

Tripura demands a la-Bhutan in Bangladesh

The military operations in Bhutan led to vociferous demands in Tripura for a similar action against the militants camping in Bangladesh. The Tripura Legislative Assembly, passed a unanimous resolution on 27 December, to that effect. The Northeast Reporter (28 December) said: Cutting across political lines all the members present in the house stressed the need for initiating a Bhutan type operation in Bangladesh to flush out the militants camping there. The Sentinel (28 December), quoting the Chief Minister said: ?Reciprocating contribution of India, particularly people from Tripura and West Bengal, during its liberation war, Bangladesh Government should not allow the insurgents to use its soil for anti-Indian activities.?

?

Peace talks with militants in Meghalaya

The initiative of the Church to establish peace received prominent coverage in the media. The Assam Tribune (30 December) quoting Bishop Purely Lyngdoh, President of the Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders Forum (KJCLF) reported: ?Leaders of the banned outfits should seriously use the opportunity given to them for holding negotiations with the government.? Separately, the Shillong Times (29 December) reported that ?differences within Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) leadership have surfaced over the peace process with the Government. One hardcore faction led by Commander in charge of Southern Command and Tura Area Sohan D Shira has threatened to breakaway if their top leaders agree to come over ground..?

?

Fake currency notes in Sikkim

Arrest of three people by the State Crime Branch on 19 December, with more than Rs.4 lakhs fake currency notes created panic among the public in the hill state. Weekly Gangtok Times (22-28 December) reflected the mood in a cover story, ?Fake Currency Notes made in Sikkim.? Meanwhile, the State government?s decision to effect changes in the job reservation policy for various communities received prominent coverage. Gangtok Times (15-21 December) reported: ?In this latest policy revision, total reservation remains 74 per cent as before. But a change is done by way of 2 per cent increase in reservation for STs, re-categorisation of the Other Backward Classes into Most Backward Classes with 21 per cent reservation and Other Backward Classes with 14 per cent reservation.?