Concern over 40,000 northeast women hired for CWG services

Concern over northeast women hired for CWG services

An estimated 40,000 women from India's northeast were recruited by various escort services for the Commonwealth Games, sparking fears that a vast majority of the women could be engaged in a prostitution racket in New Delhi during the 12-day mega event, rights groups and a minister said here Tuesday.

'We are indeed worried with girls from the northeast, numbering somewhere around 40,000 recruited by various agencies, luring them of good money and job opportunities... it has all the possibilities of being engaged in an organised prostitution racket,' Hasina Kharbih, chairperson of Impulse NGO Network, a rights group working in rescuing women trafficked from the northeast, told IANS.

According to inputs with the Impulse NGO Network and the Meghalaya government, gullible girls from the eight northeastern states, including Darjeeling and Siliguri in West Bengal, were wooed by smart operators by putting out newspaper advertisements - promising lucrative remuneration and good assignments during the Games.

'It is not just girls from Meghalaya, but across the northeast who were being recruited. We have alerted and appealed to the public to be vigilant, to keep us informed in case they have any information on such a racket,' Meghalaya Social Welfare Department Minister J.A. Lyngdoh told IANS.

'We don't have concrete details or information, but then we are apprehensive.'

Questions are asked as to why northeast women are preferred by escort services.

'Northeastern girls are generally fair and have good features and are fluent in English and hence in demand,' Kharbih said.

'Today northeastern girls are in demand in the flourishing prostitution racket in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, and even Bangalore and Pune,' another rights leader said.

Most of these women, trapped by organised rackets, come from middle class families.

'Seedy operators also scout for good looking girls from poor families. We have come across and rescued girls in the past belonging to families living below the poverty line who were sold to the traffickers,' Kharbih said.

The Northeast Support Centre Helpline, a New Delhi-based NGO, too is apprehensive about such a design.

'We are extremely concerned with thousands of northeast girls lured by placement agencies for the Games and our fear is that they might be misused and fall into wrong hands,' said Madhu Chander of the Helpline.

'We appeal to all student leaders of the northeast based in New Delhi to look out for girls from the region already trapped in this dirty racket,' she added.

Kisanji ask Naga IRB to defy orders in West Bengal

Maoist leader Kisanji ask Naga IRB to defy orders.

A top Maoist leader Wednesday appealed to Naga troopers of the Indian Reserve Battalion to defy orders and not take part in the ongoing security operations against the ultra left rebels in West Bengal’s Junglemahal region.
In an open letter to troopers of the Nagaland Indian Reserve Battalion -- who are on duty in the mountainous terrain of Purulia district to fight the ultras, Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) politburo member Kisanji asked them to “revolt against the orders to battle against the people, desist from pumping bullets into the bodies of your brothers and sisters and defy all orders to dispatch you from one place to another at the diktat and whims of superiors to kill people and get killed”.
“The government considers you as ambush expert Nagas who can easily kill and get killed in the battle zone of the Ayodhya Hills of Purulia district,” Kisanji observed.
Two companies of IRB troopers were deployed in the Ayodhya Hills of Purulia district recently to flush out the ultra left rebels from the area as part of the anti-Maoists operations launched June 2009 in Junglemahal (forested Maoist-affected areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura).
It may be mentioned that 10 NAP (IR) battalion apprehended two hardcore Maoists September 12 last during a joint operation with West Bengal police inside Jhalda forest in Purulia district, West Bengal.

The Bombile Terror in North East India

The Bombile Terror in North East India
(Police suspects Pakistan ISI)

Manik Sarkar, 23, ‘became unconscious’ following a call from a number which Assam police officials later said had a “Pakistan code". Police sources also claimed many victims received calls from the same number, prompting the Intelligence agencies to suspect the Pakistan ISI behind the Bombile terror in Assam.

Bombile' is the latest phrase terrorizing Assam with reports of mobile phones suddenly exploding, causing the user to become unconscious.

An estimated 40 “Bombile” cases have been reported so far with more than 30 people admitted to various hospitals in Assam during the past one week. Similar incidences of  bizarre occurrences are also reported from other North Eastern States of India.
According to witnesses and victims, the explosions took place soon after receiving calls from numbers that appeared in red on the handset screens. Most of the victims complained of nausea and a splitting headache, and some of them had to be literally wheeled into the hospital unconscious. The incidents are triggering panic among mobile users in Assam with 'bombile' being the word that is in vogue now. " Bombile is terrorizing people to the extent that some of them have literally switched off their handsets and waiting for things to subside or hear some scientific explanation about the cause.

Peace Process in Assam

Peace Process in Assam

Assam government has claimed that 19 commanders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) came on their own from Bangladesh  to join the peace process and are now sheltered at an unidentified location in the state.

Reports suggested that the rebel commanders, led by Anu Buragohain, Bhaiti Baruah, Biju Deka, and Pradyut Buragohain, gave themselves up before Bangladeshi authorities Wednesday. They were arrested on technical grounds and then handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) somewhere along the border with Meghalaya Saturday.

Assam Chief Minister has meanwhile claimed that the rebel leaders are very much in Assam and are not arrested as they came on their own from Bangladesh to join the peace process. Chief Minister also termed the developments as a very good sign that more and more ULFA leaders are realising the futility of an armed struggle and deciding to come and join the peace process.

Earlier reports said 19 ULFA leaders and nine of their family members arrived in Assam Saturday and were in the Assam Police custody.

Meanwhile, self-styled ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah termed the development as a betrayal by some of the senior leaders.
In an emailed statement to Press,the ULFA commander-in-chief said some of ULFA cadres with their family members fled the camp with the help of Indian intelligence agencies and also with the active support of two senior jailed leaders and are now taking shelter in the enemy camp,"
A police official said: "There is no question of the ULFA members being produced before the court as technically they were not arrested as they came on their own."

It may be recalled that Dhaka has last year launched a massive crackdown against the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and got several of their top leaders arrested and later handed them over to India. Among those arrested in last year's crackdown include ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, and finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika. NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary was also arrested in May and later handed over to India.

Bombile Menace in Assam (mobile blast)

Bombile Menace in Assam (mobile blast)
Newmai News Network Reports:

    The technocrats are still clueless about the claimed “explosions” of mobile phones reported from Assam, half a month after the incidents first emerged in the media. Rural folks in Assam, being superstitious, comfort themselves with the “daadima ki nuskhe” (protection of the deities). They seem to have found in lime, turmeric and other grandmother recipes the counter to the ‘devil’s call’. Some are also carrying gourd seeds hoping they would ‘absorb the impact of the debilitating calls.’
According to the “victims,” the mysterious numbers are either in red color or letters in between the numbers. Earlier, Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogi sought a “scientific probe into these cases.” The government later formed a panel for the matter.   Service providers have also begun investigating into the veracity of the reports “made believable” by small-town cable TV operators recording the “ordeal” of the “victims.”
    Experts assigned by the service providers are yet to get to the bottom of the mystery. A cell-phone specialist said most of the incidents reported since mid-September involves low-cost handsets  in the rural areas. “This  could  be a case of handset quality,” he said, not ruling out faulty battery as a reason. However, “victims” claimed  the batteries of their “bombiles” were intact. Last week, a housewife Wahida Khatun of western Assam’s Goalpara town claimed that a call she received last Monday left her with terrible headache and ‘weakness’. On the same day, Ruma Laila of central Assam’s Kamalpur town reported bleeding from ears and nose after a ‘mysterious call made her handset explode’.
    The district hospitals admitted 10 more patients hit by “bombiles” – a term coined for bomb-like or exploding mobile handsets  – in the past few days. The “phenomenon” hit Guwahati last Thursday after one Manik Sarkar, 23, ‘became unconscious’ following a call from a number police officials later said had a “Pakistan code”. Moromi Begum of Rangiya town, 60 km east of Guwahati, was also ‘hit’ by a similar number that day.

DIVIDED MANIPUR: AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT COUNCIL ACT

THE DEADLOCKED BURNING ISSUE

The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 was passed by the Parliament to provide for establishment of Autonomous District Councils in the Hill Areas in the then Union Territory of Manipur, but following the attainment of statehood in the year 1972, the Government of Manipur immediately adopted this Central Act by issuing the Manipur (Adaptation of Laws) Order, 1972 and in exercise of the power vested in him under Section 3 of the Act, the then Governor of Manipur vide Notification dated 14.02.1972 initially constituted 6 (six) Autonomous District for the purpose of constitution of Autonomous District Councils (ADC in brief) under the aforesaid Act of 1971, namely (i) Manipur North ADC now Senapati ADC, (ii) Sadar Hills ADC, (iii) Manipur East ADC now Ukhrul ADC, (iv) Tengnoupal ADC now Chandel ADC, (v) Manipur South ADC now Churachandpur ADC and (vi) Manipur West ADC now Tamenglong ADC.
 

Unlike the ADC created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, this 1971 Act does not provide legislative and judicial powers to the said ADC, but merely provides limited Administrative Powers under the pervasive control of the State Government under the Act of 1971. The ADC can make recommendation to the state government to bring legislation on the matter concerning the members of the Scheduled Tribe namely (a) appointment or succession of chiefs, (b) inheritance of property, (c) marriage & divorce and (d) social customs.

The ADC is not empowered to generate its own revenue but made it dependent on grant-in-aid from the state government. It is therefore evident that no elected ADC under this centralized legislation of the 1971 could function effectively to the satisfaction of the Hills people since its first election in 1973. Despite of calling to safeguard the rights and interest of the Hills people, each political party in power in the State deliberately reduced the ADC to merely an agent of the state ruling party, resultantly, the ADC totally failed to deliver to the backward and illiterate Hills people. Admitting the weakness of the ADC under the above 1971 Act, the first minor Amendment of section 25 of the Act was exercised by the state government in 1975, but the same could not bring tangible results in favour of the Hills people.

Realizing this, amongst others, from late 1970s onwards, the right thinking hills people including the NGOs started a campaign to do away with the ADC altogether and demand for greater autonomy had begun thereafter. Finally, admitting to some extent the unworkable arrangement of the ADC under 1971 Act, the state government though unwilling but compelled to dissolve all the elected ADC i.e. Chandel ADC dissolved on 17.10.1988, Ukhrul ADC, Churachandpur ADC, Sadar Hills ADC and Tamenglong ADC dissolved on 18.03.1989 and Senapati ADC dissolved on 24.11.1993. The state government by misusing the power under the Act of 1971 in discriminately dissolved an extended term of the ADC and thereby the ADC meant for the Hills people were completely brought under the control of the State Government and as a result practically all the functions of the ADC contemplated in the Act have ceased to exist except education.

 

Realizing the failure of this Act, from early 1980's the Hills people started demanding for extension of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India in the Hill Areas in Manipur. Denying the merits of the said demand, the Manipur Legislative Assembly without the genuine mandate of the hills people purportedly inacted Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 2000 to repeal the parent Act of 1971 by inserting the word "Autonomous" for the first time in the cause title of the Act without providing true autonomy to the Hills people in the real sense of the term. Fortunately, the said new Enactment of 2000 also could not brought into force.

The Government of Manipur as determined before not to allow the tribal to enjoy autonomy had again amended the Act, of 1971 by Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Second Amendment) Act, 2006 to the extent of inserting sub-Section (1A) in Section 29 (1) thereby conferring power on the ADC to notify any areas in the District Council as Urban Areas for the purpose of formulation of development plan and inserted Section 44A in the Act of 1971 providing therein that no land situated within the ADC shall be allotted, transferred, leased by the Deputy Commissioner, other than for public purpose except with a resolution passed by the ADC at its meeting by a majority of not less than 2/3 of its members. However, this Second Amendment of 2006 also did not bring out vital change in the parent Act of 1971 and the Autonomy remained elusive to the ADC.


Again openly defying the core interest and rights of the Hills people, the Governor of Manipur in exercise of his power under Article 213 of the Constitution of India vide Notification dated 12th May, 2008 promulgated the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2008 and immediately the District Council Delimitation Committee also constituted by the Governor vide Order dated 23rd May, 2008 to expedite the process of imposition of election of the ADC on the Hills people in Manipur. Without wasting any time, the State Government of Manipur finally brought Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Third Amendment) Act, 2008 into existence vide Notification dated 27th October, 2008 with the false pretension by declaring that the wishes of the hills people have been incorporated in the aforesaid third amendment. But on perusing the said amendment it appears beyond reasonable doubt that this Third Amendment Act, 2008 also did not bring major changes in the parent Act of 1971. There are few minor amendments like the strength of the members of the ADC has been increased from 18 to 24, administrative functions has been increased from the existing 17 to 26 by inserting a few more functions like fisheries, co-operative, sports & youth affairs, adult & non formal education, horticulture and floriculture, rural housing scheme, village and cottage industries, small scale industries, non-conventional energy sources, library and culture activities and power to recommend to the State for recognition of villages subject to resolution passed by a simple majority of the Council. This aforesaid powers incorporated in the Act by the Third Amendment are merely an administrative powers to be exercised by the elected MDC as per the dictates of the political party /parties in power in the State. It is correct to assert that conferring more administrative powers/functions on the ADC is not the right approach to safeguard and protect the interest of the Hills people in Manipur but rather this exercise under the present Act of 1971 will open wider doors to State Government to control and misuse the ADC as mere agents/instruments to implement the policy of the State Government instead of tribal policy formulated for uplifting the hills people socially, economically, politically and culturally and therefore, it is very clear that the Third Amendment could not change the nature of the ADC created under the parent Act, 1971.


Admittedly, the present ADC in the Hill Areas in Manipur is only a statutory authority /body created under the Act of 1971 unlike the ADC created under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and is a constitutional authority/body. There is unmatchable distinction between the statutory body and constitutional body in terms of power, status and jurisdiction under the constitution. The present ADC in Manipur is absolutely under the extensive control of the State Government in power and as such it is a part of the State. However, the ADC constituted under the Sixth Schedule is neither absolutely under the control of the State Government nor it is a part of the State, but it is 'a state within a state' under the Constitution.

Basically, the executive, legislative and judicial powers of the ADC under the Sixth Schedule is directly springs from the Constitution of India itself, but the sources of administrative powers of the present ADC in Manipur is only draw from the 1971 Act, as amended in Third Amendment Act, 2008. The ADC under the sixth scheduled enjoy constitutional status and has the privilege of exercising legislative, executive and judicial powers to protect and safeguard the interest of the tribal people and whereas the ADC under the present Act in Manipur lacks such independent power. The urgent needs of the Hills people in Manipur is to have ADC under the Sixth Schedule to restore their tribal autonomy, to safeguard social practices and customary laws, to protect the interest and rights of the tribal over their land, etc.

They do not need to have ADC like the present arrangement which is only a State Agency to implement the Flagship Schemes of the State Government as openly stated recently by Shri. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur.


The fundamental objective of providing Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India is to establish ADC in the North Eastern States where the indigenous tribal is minority to safeguard their culture, land, natural resources etc. from unscrupulous exploitation of the majority or plains people and therefore, infact, being minority, the Hills people in Manipur is socially, culturally, economically, politically and constitutionally deserve to have ADC under the Sixth Schedule, but the same has been strongly objected and denied by the Government of Manipur on behalf of the majority Meitei in Manipur Taking advantage of the simplicity of the Hills people, the State of Manipur has forcibly imposed the present ADC upon the Hills people and the present form of ADC in the Hill areas in Manipur is nothing better than a ploy to control the Hills people by the State Government to enable the Maitei majority for unjust enrichment at the cost of the minority hills people. Every now and then the Government of Manipur is trying to persuade the Hills people by saying that the Government is ready to go for further amendment of the Act, 1971 as amended in 2008.

In fact, the urgent need of the hour is not to go for further amendment of the Act, but complete repeal of the Act and grant Autonomy to the hills people under the Sixth Schedule to the constitution of India. Until and unless the Act is completely done away with in toto, hundred of Amendments of the present Act will never serve the interest of the hills people as because more financial and administrative power as invited by the state government to endorse on the ADC through further amendment of the Act means more control by the state government. Imposition of election on the unwilling hills people is not only runs contrary to the settle democratic norms but arbritarily demolish the democratic existence of tribal autonomy in Manipur.

Therefore the ongoing economic blockade in Manipur called by the ANSAM supported by the hills people and others is the ultimate ultimatum to the state government to constitutionally respect the tribal autonomy. The state government must stop exercising tyrannical forces against the minority hills people to undermine the existence of the hills people in open democracy. Therefore, the central government and the state government of Manipur are constitutionally responsible to the injustice done to the hills people in Manipur under the Act of 1971 and as such onus to respect the cultural, social, religious and political rights of the hills people heavily casted upon the this two governments by immediately bringing the hills areas of Manipur within the purview of the Sixth Scheduled to the constitution of India.


Shri. H. L. Shangreiso
Advocate, Guwahati High Court, Shillong Bench, Shillong 793001

More than 200 women Raped near UN Base

An aid worker says rebels in eastern Congo gang-raped nearly 200 women over four days within miles of a U.N. peacekeepers’ base. Will F. Cragin of the International Medical Corps says aid workers knew rebels had occupied Luvungi town the day after the attack began on July 30. More than three weeks later the U.N. mission says it still is investigating. Cragin told The Associated Press Monday by telephone that his organization was only able to go into the town that is 10 miles (16 kilometers) from a U.N. military camp after rebels withdrew voluntarily on Aug. 4. He said international and local health workers have treated 179 women but that the number raped could be much higher. Cragin said his aid group has been going back to the town and identifying more cases.

JOHANNESBURG, August 23 (AP)

BJP MLA's son attacked Pastor in Delhi

A mob  of  about 150 led by a BJP MLA’s son attacked a pastor and church in Qutabgarh in East West Delhi August 23, it was informed today. The All India Christian Council said one Biju, son of one Chanram, a Bharatiya Janta Party MLA led a crowd, believed to be  members of  Hindutva fanatics  in  attacking Pastor Isaac Jaal. The pastor was returning home after conducting a Sunday prayer service in the church, the AICC said. The said Biju and the crowd came with ‘lethal sticks’ and “trisuls” (Hindu tridents). The mob assaulted Pastor Isaac and also threatened  him with dire consequences if he continued to conduct  prayer  meetings  in  the church. The pastor suffered internal injuries. The   police came later but did not take him to the hospital  for medical treatment  or  even  for  examination.
Rev. Dr. Abraham Sahu, Delhi NCR Chapter President of All India Christian Council reported  the  matter to the local police  and  appealed for  the safety and protection of the pastor and church members. A  written  complaint to the local police  was given but no First Information Report (FIR) was registered  and no action taken,  AICC  said.
A team of AICC members said to be way to meet Pastor Isaac and then to the police authorities to appeal for the registration of the complaint and take action against the criminals.
“The fear is being spread among Christian minorities across the nation including national capital by the organized attacks by the Hindutva fundamentalists. The law enforcement authorities must ensure the freedom of rights, equality and protection must be provided to all communities, particularly the Christian minorities who have been targeted currently by the fanatic groups,” the AICC said.





(Inputs: www.morungexpress.com)

Economic Blockade extended in Manipur

The 20-day long economic blockade imposed on the two national highways leading to Manipur by the United Naga Council (UNC) and  supposed to end at 6:00 am of August 24, has been extended by  25 days. The ongoing blockade began August 4, 6:00 am. A  spokesman of the UNC said over the phone that as New Delhi failed to fulfill the  demands,  the agitation has been extended. The UNC has been demanding from the government to institute a judicial enquiry into the May 6, 2010 incident at Mao Gate, where two students were shot dead and more than a hundred peaceful protestors were wounded by the Manipur  police  forces.   Other demands include immediate withdrawal  of  144 CrPC and ‘demilitarisation’ of the Naga areas by removing  the Indian Reserved Battalion  and Manipur police commandos. The Naga body is also demanding  removal of the  ‘wanted’  tags on  two Naga leaders  and the reward assured for their capture;  and dissolving  the Autonomous District Councils.

(Inputs from www.morungexpress.com)

ONGC to ease power crisis in NE India

The state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's (ONGC) 726-MW project coming up in Tripura will help to resolve the power crisis in the electricity-starved northeastern region by 2012, ONGC officials said on Saturday. India's hydrocarbons exploration major has been setting up the gas-based power project -- its biggest so far -- in south Tripura's Palatana, about 65 km south of capotal city Agartala. The plant is expected to be operational by March 2012.
"The forthcoming power project would be the single largest investment of Rs 9,000 crore ever invested in the northeastern region of India," ONGC chairman and managing director R S Sharma told reporters here. "With the commissioning of the giant power project, the electricity requirement of the seven northeastern states would largely be met up by 2012," he said.
Sharma said that the Bangladesh government has agreed to allow India to use its waterways to transport the turbines and heavy machines for the power project, for which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone in October 2005. He said that India would develop a jetty in the Ashuganj river port in Meghna river in eastern Bangladesh, 31 km from Agartala and expand the road, if necessary, across the border, to ferry the equipment for the project.
"ONGC intends to ship the power generation equipment from the Haldia port in West Bengal to southern Tripura via Bangladesh in order to save considerable transportation time," a senior ONGC official said.
He said dispatching the heavy equipments by surface within India (through the mountainous northeastern states) is extremely difficult.
"A consortium comprising the US-based General Electric (GE) and India's state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has been awarded contract to supply the all-important gas turbines for the thermal power project," Sharma said.
The first unit of the project with a generation capacity of 363 MW is expected to be operational by December next year. The power plant is being developed by the ONGC Tripura Power Co (OTPC), a new company formed for commissioning the project.
ONGC, also a public sector undertaking, has 50 per cent equity stake in OTPC. The balance is held by Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Service (IL&FS) and the Tripura government. According to ONGC officials, the state-run Power Grid Corp of India Ltd (PGCIL), OTPC and the northeastern states would set up a 660-km transmission line at the cost of Rs 1,771 crore to hook Palatana with the national grid at Bongaigaon in western Assam. The much expected commissioning of the power project, a co-generation waste heat recovery power plant and ONGC's first major commercial project, has been delayed due to difficulties in transporting heavy turbines and machineries to south Tripura.

INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN NORTH EAST INDIA

INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN NORTH EAST INDIA

The North Eastern region (comprising the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura) of India, which forms a part of East Himalayan region, is a place of magical beauty, bewildering bio-diversity with exotic flora and fauna. The region is nestled in myths and mysteries, love and legends and houses more than 150 tribes having a cultural amalgamate of ethnic people and races. The location of the region is strategically important as it has international borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

The rich natural beauty, serenity and exotic flora and fauna and untapped mineral deposits of the region can facilitate the sustained industrial development in the areas of;-
1. Food Processing Industries
2. Tourism Industry
3. Agro-based industries
4. Mineral based industries
5. Horticulture
6. Sericulture
7. Floriculture
8. Electronics and IT
9. Pharmaceutical
10. Petrochemicals
11. Bio-tech Industries
12. Handloom and Handicrafts
13. Power Generation
14. Animal husbandry & leather based activities
15. Trade and Commerce
16. Designing and weaving

Any others activities can also be taken up through utilization of the existing resources in order to gainfully exploit the opportunities to generate substantial income and employment avenues.
The region is plagued by the insurgency related problems for the last 4-5 decades which is not congenial for any developmental process. Therefore, the State Governments should strive to create a congenial atmosphere by encouraging investments through provisioning of dedicated State forces for industrial security.

Nagas of Manipur to resume Economic Blockade.

The renewal of Temporarily lifted Economic Blockade by the Nagas of
Manipur is in pipeline in trouble torn Manipur State after the
Government of India and Government of Manipur failed to addressed the
demands made by the United Naga Council of Manipur.
The Economic Blockade will continue for 20 days w.e.f 6am 4th Aug.
2010. The United Naga Council, which is the apex Naga body in Manipur
has earlier submitted its charter of demands to PM of India and
Manipur Government for, (1) Judicial enquiry into the 6th May 2010 Mao
Gate incident where Manipur Commandos killed and wounded hundreds of
Nagas of Manipur who were peacefully staging protest against the
decision to stop NSCN Leader Th. Muivah from visiting his native
village by the Manipur Government.
(2) Immediate withdrawal of imposing Section 144 Cr PC and
demilitarization of the Naga areas by removal of the Manipur Commandos
and IRB Jawans.
(3) Removal of 'wanted' tags with rewards imposed on the Naga Leaders.
(4) Immediate dissolution of undemocratically instituted Autonomous
District Councils (ADCs)
The UNC also further stated that the Nagas of Manipur has decided to
severe all political and social ties with the Manipur Government
during the Naga Peoples' Convention held on 1st July 2010. Therefore,
seeking the intervention of the Government of India to make
alternative political arrangement for the Nagas living in Manipur.
It may be recalled that earlier, the All Naga Students' Association
Manipur (ANSAM) has imposed indefinite Economic blockade in Manipur
demanding the dissolution of ADCs cutting the supply of essential
commodities and life saving drugs into the State for more than 2
Months which was temporarily suspended after Naga Students' Federation
(*NSF) Leaders met the PM and other political leaders in Delhi.

*NSF, the apex body of Nagas is one of the most influencial Students'
Organisation in South East Asia with its wing spread across India and
Myanmar.

Discovering North East India

Discovering North East India

Location 

North-East India lie deep in the lap of easternmost Himalayan hills in north-eastern part of India. Connected to rest of India by merely 20 km of wide land (at Siliguri, West Bengal), the North-East India shares over 2,000 km of border with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. 

States under North East India.

1. Arunachal Pradesh

2. Assam

3. Meghalaya

4. Mizoram

5. Manipur

6. Nagaland

7. Sikkim

8. Tripura

 Area: 2,55168 sq km 

Population: 40 million. Brahmaputra valley (Assam) is the most populated, and houses almost half of the population of North-East India. 

Religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism.
Languages: English, Assamese, Garo, Jaintia, Khasi, Bengali, Mizo, Manipuri, Nagamese, Lepcha, Limboo, Bhutia (Sikkimese), Bhutia (Tibetan), Hindi and several other local dialects.
 

Cultures and Traditions
The North-East India is home to varied number of tribal groups (almost 166). Each tribes has their own distinct culture, which gives them a unique cultural identity. Numerous of art forms and festivals of the region are intrinsic part of its rich culture and tradition of North-East India.

Cuisine
Though North-East India is very rich in its food culture, yet, it differs vastly from rest of the country in its taste as well as flavours. Each of states have almost same fooding behaviours. Normally, inhabitants of the region are non-vegetarian, and fond of spicy foods.
            In most part of North-East India, animals are considered to be good diet. In Nagaland, Green vegetables, birds, animals (Domestic and wild) Bamboo shots and Locally made Rice-beer are some favourite items. In Tripura and Assam, fish are the favourite dish. While in Assam, various forms of rice are consumed. Recipes like Assam Laksa Stock, Koat Pitha, Bamboo Shoot Fry, Fish Fried Rice, Grilled Shrimps and Poora Mach are some of the most famous cuisine of North-East India.

Geographical attractions
Shrouded by mighty Himalayan hills, the entire North-East region is believed to be one of the most beautiful region in South Asia in terms of fetching immense opportunities of eco-tourism. The dense forests lying in foothills of Himalayan hills are stunning in their natural beauty, and are home to many of wildlife parks including Manas National Park and Kaziranga National Park, which are natural World Heritage Site. Besides, numerous of lovely waterfalls and caves are another beautiful attraction of the wonderful land of North-East India.
          Termed aptly as hidden treasure of India, North-East India is one of the most significant region of South-Asia in terms of availability of eco tourism opportunities. As the whole region is abode to majestic Himalayan hills, beautiful valleys and dense forests, the opportunity of nature based tourism is immense. Abundance of eco activities like Trekking, Rafting, Nature Walk, Jungle Exploration and Wildlife Viewing indulge tourists predominantly in discovering the exquisite natural heritage of the region.

Problems and issues.

Northeastern region of India is home to many ethnic groups. These ethnic groups spread across India and Myanmar. There are as many as 40 armed groups fighting for Independence, Statehood, Autonomy and districts.The inter Tribal conflicts, boundary disputes, Tribal and non-Tribal issues, lack of developments and Employment problems are some major issues confronting the Region.

           The States/Provinces like Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland are more peaceful than the other States of the region in terms of external threats, internal conflicts, terror threats and insurgency problems.

Tips for Tourists

While traveling to North-Eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, Tourist doesn’t require any permits for visits except that you need to register upon your arrival and departure. However, due to strategic geographical location, Tourist needs to acquire Restricted Area Permits while entering other North-Eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Purest form of democracy practiced by Naga Society

Purest form of democracy practiced by Naga Society
(The unique Naga Customs and Traditions)

The administration and governance system of the Nagas were unique in nature since time immemorial. At no point of time were the Nagas conquered nor subjected to any authority. Therefore, the origin of the systems practiced by the Nagas were evolved with time or borrowed from somewhere was not known. Every village was ruled by the headman/King of the village. Animism was the religion practised by the Nagas. While the main occupation was Agricultrual.
The Headman/King can be best described as Priest because headman's powers & functions were restricted to Religious and ceremonial activities. ( like Queen/King of UK and the President of India) All the Villages were sovereign Republic and there was no common government or authority above Villages.
One of the most important and peculiar social system of the Nagas was they co-existed harmoniously where the bigger or superior villages discriminating or enslaving the smaller villages or vice-versa never existed.

The harshest punishment/highest degree of punishment involving the justice system of the Naga Customary law was banishment from village for ten years. This shows the Nagas were peace loving and Humane in nature.
The administration & governance of the village rest with the Representatives/leaders elected/selected from every Clan. The Clans will select one member amongst themselves and the elected members from every Clan will collectively make laws, decide disputes and look after the entire administration & governance of the village under the headman. Those elected leaders usually sits together every evening after returning from their cultivation fields. The headman/priest will not involve in decision making or meetings but the village leaders are duty bound to informed/briefed him on any activities. Any decision taken by the village leaders will be consensus or on the basis of the Majority opinion. The general meetings were also convened when
important decisions are to be taken. Thus, the Nagas practised purest form of democracy since time immemorial.

The headman/priest plays  very important role in day to day live. Few example; it was taboo to plant or to reap the crops before the headman finished the rituals. It was taboo to eat or drink anything before the Priest during some festivals and important occasions.
Anybody who went for hunting or fishing will offered the best portion to Priest. It was taboo to clear jungles for cultivations before the Priest performed rituals.
The Nagas are rich in cultures and traditions. They have more than 10 festivals in a calender year. Performing various Religious rituals like giving thanks, ask for blessings etc. from their deity/god by the priest alone or by the entire villagers were very common feature of their daily life. Therefore, the Priest were considered as the father of the village. So also, there used to be Religious activities throughout the year without break, and the
rituals cannot be performed without the Priest.
The unwritten customary laws (now available in written) are still practised by the Nagas. The special provision in respect to Nagaland was incorporated under Article 371 (A) of the India Constitution,
which reads as follow; Notwithstanding anything in this  Constitution,- (a) no Act of Parliament in respect of-
(i) religious or social practices of the Nagas,
(ii) Naga customary law and procedure,
(iii) administration of Civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law,
(iv) ownership and transfer of land and its resources,
Shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides.

The social  systems like class, caste, zamindari, discrimination etc never existed in Naga society. Every individual owns properties and lands sufficient to feed their families. Nagas were living peacefully before the advent of Britishers. Today, the Naga society is plagued with all sorts of corruptions and anti-socials which were alien to them some 200 years back.