ULFA chief claims
“Centre and Assam Govt. lack will to talk”
“No military adventurism can compel ULFA to dilute its resolve for the sovereignty of Assam ,” says Arabinda Rajkhowa.

On the 23rd raising day of the outfit, United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa blamed New Delhi for not having any sincerity or will to sit for talks with the outfit. In a nine-page message released to a section of the press, ULFA chief appealed to the cadres to intensify the armed struggle. He also lambasted the Gogoi Government for ‘shirking away from responsibility’. “Before the election, it went about promising to initiate peace talks and finding a lasting political solution. But now that it is in power, the Congress has conveniently lobbed the ball to the Centre’s court,” opined Mr. Rajkhowa.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had a meeting with the editors of the local dailies in end-March following which a decision to constitute a panel of intermediaries to open up channels for dialogue with the ULFA was taken. However, the oufit had immediately condemned New Delhi’s move to resolve the Assam tangle with a ‘carrot and stick’ policy. “No military adventurism can compel ULFA to dilute its resolve for the sovereignty of Assam,” the outfit has retorted.  Arabinda Rajkhowa also stated firmly that the three conditions set by his outfit for talks were ‘unavoidable’ and that the Centre had failed to see anything on the wall.

Meanwhile, two European human right activists were invited to the central raising day celebration at Marshala in Bhutan. This is seen as another attempt by the ULFA to find a place in the Unrepresented Nations Peoples’ Organisation  (UNPO). The ULFA was formed on April 7, 1979 at the historic Rangghar in Sivsagar to ‘liberate Assam from Indian colonial rule’ and to ‘form a sovereign, socialist Assam’. For the past five years, the outfit has also made several attempts but all in vain to gain entry to the Geneva-based UNPO.

Gogoi denies the charge

In reponse to the allegation that the government is not sincere in holding talks, made by the outlawed ULFA, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi launched a scathing attack on the militant outfit for trying to undermine the initiative taken by his Government to facilitate talks.

The Chief Minister said: “The State government has remained undaunted in its efforts to facilitate peace talks between the Centre and the ULFA despite repeated rejection from the outfit. It is because we firmly believe that only meaningful dialogue with the outfit would lead to a solution to the insurgency problem in the State.” He also criticised the militant outfit for trying to brand his government which was elected to power after getting an overwhelming mandate from the people, as a “puppet one” and questioning its “right” to make overtures to broker peace talks.

The Chief Minister also blamed the previous AGP Government led by Prafulla Mahanta in this context. Mr. Gogoi alleged that the previous regime was more interested in perpetrating “secret killings” than to facilitate talks between the ULFA and the Central Government.

Tripura package for surrendered militants

The Tripura Government recently announced an economic rehabilitation package for surrendered militants, who had completed a year in vocational training. Announcing the package, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar reiterated his appeal to the militants to lay down arms and ammunition and join the social mainstream for an all round development of the State’s tribals. State’s Tribal Welfare Director M Nagaraju said as part of the package announced by the Union Home Ministry, a year-long vocational training had been imparted to surrendered militants at Sikaribari in Dhalai district.

Under the economic package announced by the Chief Minister, 69 ultras, who had taken part in the vocational training programme, would be provided either Government jobs or financial assistance for self employment. Of them, ten would get jobs in the Assam Rifles.

Historic Guwahati-Bangkok flight
Opening new vistas for trade and tourism
With the emergence of Guwahati on the international air traffic map, the NE region becomes an attraction for tourists from abroad.

 April 4, 2002. 1515 Hrs. The date and the time will be etched for ever in the pages of the history of Assam and the North-East. For exactly at this moment Air India’s flight No. AI - 352 took off from Lokpriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati for Bangkok. With a place now in the international air traffic map, the region will now be a gateway to South-East Asia and Far East and will also attract international tourists.

The historic   flight to Bangkok  will be bi-weekly     on Mondays and Thursdays. The service will be on the Mumbai-Kolkata-Guwahati-Bangkok route and back on the same way. The 200 seat Airbus 310 aircraft will be on service here. Guwahati became the 12th city in India from where Air India is launching its operations. The flights to Bangkok will not only enable those wishing to travel to Thailand — a direct service, but will also those travelling to Japan on a business or leisure trip direct connectivity on Air India flights between Tokyo and Guwahati and back after a 24-hour halt. Packages are being worked out by Air India to ensure Japan bound passengers have a comfortable stay while in transit. Bangkok and Tokyo would of course also serve as gateways to travel to several destinations in South East Asia, the Far East and the west coast of the USA on other airlines.

Air India too will be undertaking an aggressive marketing campaign to promote its flights. Besides offering attractive fares and special holiday packages to suit travellers with varied budgets from Guwahati to the Far East. Air India will also organise familiarisation tours for journalists from the Far East to this picturesque region, which has so much to offer to the discerning traveller.

A very proud Minister of Civil Aviation Shahnawaz Hussain was among the first batch of passengers that flied out from Guwahati on this maiden flight. Accompanying him on this historic flight was the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Mukut Mithi, a number of MPs and State MLAs as also some leading bureaucrats and businessmen of Assam.

In fact all the seven Chief Ministers of the region including Tarun Gogoi were supposed to join the others but their plans had to be cancelled at the eleventh hour due to Centre’s intervention. The Centre is understood to have informed the Chief Ministers that Air India’s invitation could be accepted only after consultations with the Indian Embassy in Thailand on the security aspect. The concern for security has arisen out of the fact that several militant outfits of the North-East have safe haven in Bangkok. Being a highly publicised flight, providing security to so many leaders at the same time was somewhat difficult and frought with risks. So only Mukut Mithi was allowed to go but the other Chief Ministers will board the flights to follow.

As girls clad in the traditional costumes of the seven North-Eastern states waved two red banners showing ‘Bon Voyage’, Assam Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S. K. Sinha flagged off the flight. The historic flight was piloted by Capt. Vinod Khosla and was full to its capacity of 201. Four male crew members and two air-hostess from the North-East were also in the flight.

The inaugural function was held in the lounge of the airport before the plane’s take-off. Cutting across all the party lines, the Union Aviation Minister and the Assam Chief Minister exchanged bonhomie and praised each other for the realisation of the historic moment. Among the dignitaries present was Surabala Bordoloi, wife of Gopinath Bordoloi, Assam’s first Chief Minister after whom the international airport is named. Even at her 90 plus age, Mrs. Bordoloi, spoke from her wheelchair, expressing her thanks for the fact that she was present in person to see off the first international flight. “Today is a historic day when the world has become small. This great occasion should inspire our youths to tread the noble path to progress. Had I been young, I would also have been on the flight to Bangkok,” were the words of Mrs. Bordoloi, considered and respected as the mother figure of Assam.

Tarun Gogoi thanked Shahnawaz Hussain and said that air connectivity was a sound basis for development and this flight is sure to open new vistas for tourism. Lt. Gen. Sinha thanked Air India and the Aviation Ministry and also underlined the efforts of the North Eastern Council that was playing a pivotal role in connecting the places of the North-East within the country and the world.

The welcome address was delivered by J. N. Gogoi, managing director of Air India, who said that air connectivity is sure to usher economic prosperity and strengthen the bond of oneness in the North-East region.

However, it was the Union Aviation Minister who delivered the most vociferous and appealing speech of the afternoon. He said that the Aviation Ministry has great plans for the North-East region and promised to diversify the air connectivity of the region to more international venues. He drew the attention of the gathering to the fact that this international flight not only meant direct connectivity with Thailand but also with Mumbai which is the commercial capital of the country and from where many connecting flights to other places like London, New York and Paris can be availed.

To promote air services in the North-East region, the Government had taken a number of initiatives, informed the Minister. The IATT exemption available till now for a travel only within the North-East but has been extended to all travel to and fro from and within the North-East. ATF for turbo - prop aircraft has been categorised as a declared good under Central Sales Tax Act to cap Sales Tax to four per cent, said the Minister. This is in addition to the subsidy in air fares by 25 per cent to 30 per cent in the North-East.

He also announced the allocations for and the progress made in upgradation of infrastructure facilities in other North-Eastern airports like Agartala, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lilabari, Silchar, Tezpur and Dimapur. Union Minister for Water Resources Bijoya Chakraborty was also present on the occasion. Bihu dance performances added colour and lent a traditional festive touch to the programme.

To handle international traffic, the Guwahati airport has also undergone a complete facelift. A 225 feet mural depicting the rich choice of tourist destinations in the country greets one at the entrance. The mural has been set up by the Tourism Department and gives a touch of class to the lounge that matches international standards. Facilities for the passanger has been given first priority. Immigration and Customs desks have come up and a special Maharaja lounge for VIP guests has been designed and set up by Air India. Fully computerised ticket counter at the airport itself is coming up. Food, that will be served to the passengers, will be of highest quality and will include delicacies from the North-East. A section of the cabin crew in the international flights will be from North-East and Air India will be screening films on Assam and other NE states regularly on board all its flights. The decision to launch international operators from Guwahati has coincided with the efforts of the Tourism Department of the Central Government that has launched a massive advertising campaign to promote tourism to the North-East region.

‘B’desh keen to start trade with India’: Delegation

Five-member delegation of the Syhlet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Bangladesh led by its president Mohammad Mohiuddin said that Bangladesh was keen to kick-start trade with India through Mizoram which would be beneficial to both the countries. Mohiuddin said that the delegation came to Mizoram to discuss bilateral issues on trade, find out new sectors and invite foreign direct investment. He said that both the SCCI and the Mizoram Chamber of Industries and Commerce (MCIC) had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding on the trade issues. He, however, admitted that final decision and agreement on the
issue might not be made during this visit where the delegation would meet MCIC and Government agencies dealing with trade and commerce.

Both the sides had identified items for trading, he said, adding while Mizoram would export ginger, citrus fruit, bamboo and other forest products to Bangladesh, it could import ceramics, electric cables, jewelleries, molasses, leather goods and Hilsa fish. He said logistic support from both the governments is required to have formal trade and said that the Indian Government should lift tariff barriers and control on many commodities.

Meanwhile Mizormam BJP requested Sayed Shahnawaz Hussain, Union Minister for Civil Aviation asking him to change the name of Lengpui airport, the only one in the State to Taitesena Airport after a Mizo folk hero. The memorandum said the resolution to rename Lengpui airport was taken at the executive committee meeting of Mizoram Pradesh BJP in the presence of P. B. Acharya, party national secretary for North-Eastern States recently. Taitesena was a brave young Mizo sacrificed his life for his friend and is still honoured for his love for the unprivileged people, the memorandum said.

“We consider it appropriate to have our airport named after him not only as our fond memory but also to instill the great spirit to the young generation,” it said. The copy of the memorandum was forwarded to Arun Shourie, Union Minister for North-Eastern States, Governor A. R. Kohli, Chief Minister Zoramthanga and chairman of Airport Authority of India. Meanwhile, Mr. Shourie, who was scheduled to inaugurate the terminal building of Lengpui airport postponed the programme for May.

Assam gets Rs. 74.52 lakh under water scheme

The Ministry of Rural Development has released Rs 74.52 lakh to Assam under Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission for implementation of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities in four districts namely, Cachar, Hailakandi, Dibrugarh and Nalbari of the State. This is first instalment of funds against total approved cost of Rs 149.04 lakh, to the State, for the activities during the year 2001-02. For the same programme in four districts of Sikkim, namely North, East, South and West districts, the Ministry has released Rs 42.45 lakh, as first instalment. This is against approved cost of Rs 84.90 lakh to the State.

The Ministry has also released second instalment of funds for Central Rural Sanitation Programme Rs 1.01 lakh each to Mizoram and Sikkim against total approved cost of Rs 2.03 lakh and Rs 2.01 lakh respectively. With this, the total funds for the programme for the year 2001-02 stands released to both the States. Besides, the Ministry has released Rs 135 lakh to Mizoram as 50 per cent of its share, for strengthening of revenue administration and updating of land records, a centrally sponsored scheme. The State government also has to provide its share to approved project of Rs 270 lakh.

Bodies of 2 Arunachal SSB men arrive

Officers and armed guards of the Special Security Bureau     (SSB) from Arunachal Pradesh recently received the bodies of two of their colleagues killed in the militant attack on Raghunath temple in Jammu recently at Guwahati. Their mortal remains despatched from Jammu on April 1 arrived by the Indian Airlines flights to Guwahati on April 2 from where those would be taken to their respective villages on April 2 for the last rites.

According to the Area Organiser (Staff) of SSB divisional headquarters, the deceased head constable Sureswar Roy and constable Takam Taki from SSB group centre Basar in Arunachal Pradesh were posted in Jammu recently. While Taki hailed from Pangin in East Siang district of Arunachal, Roy hailed from Dhubri in Assam.

They were deployed for security duty at Raghunath temple when heavily armed militants arrived in a vehicle and fired indiscriminately killing two policemen at the gate.

Centre is aware of North-East’s backwardness: Joshi
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi promises all help to Arunachal University in its efforts to make it a seat of academic excellence.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murali Manohar Joshi recently said the Centre was fully aware of the requirements of the North-East region which he said was lagging behind in the matter of rapid development due to historical and geographical reasons. After inaugurating a new academic block at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Dr Joshi assured conferment of a ‘deemed university’ status to the institute, which, he said would make it a seat of excellence for technical education in the country.

A committee of experts of the ‘All India Council for Technical Education’ would visit the institute in April in this regard, he said. Dr Joshi emphasised the need for developing indigenous technology rather than copying the western pattern blindly. “Let us be innovative and develop our ancient glory which still exists in our villages,” Dr Joshi said. He also urged technocrats and scientists to be people and economy oriented to make the country vibrant in all spheres.

Prof B. L. Dhoopar, chairman of the board of the NERIST said, the institution conceived in 1982, is unique because of modular structure with two-year certificate, diploma and degree courses under one roof also having facilities for lateral exit and entry.

Earlier Human Resources Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi has promised all possible help to Arunachal University in its efforts to make it a seat of academic excellence. In his convocation address at the university campus recently, Dr. Joshi appreciated the achievements made by the university in the field of higher education. Dr Joshi announced Rs 1 crore for the development of infrastructure and another Rs 3 crore for bio-diversity projects.

Of the 22 universities shortlisted by the UGC from among 90 others for having the potential of excellence, Arunachal Pradesh was the only university in the entire North-East to achieve this distinction, he said. State Governor Arvind Dave said that the State Government had already submitted a proposal to the Planning Commission and the HRD Ministry to release the one time grant under the non-lapsable central pool of resources for the rapid growth of the varsity. He requested the Union Minister to consider the proposal favourably for a tribal State like Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal Chief Minister Mukut Mithi, who was the guest of honour, put forward his demand for converting the university to a central one since the State could not do justice in the matter of required resources.

Arunachal Cabinet okays ordinance
Capital punishment for organised crimes

Arunachal Pradesh has armed itself against crime syndicates, extremists, and anti-national elements with the State Cabinet approving the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised  Crime Ordinance, 2002, which provides for capital punishment. The Ordinance, given the nod recently, will be notified after the gubernatorial assent, Government spokesman Takam Sanjoy saiday. The Ordinance would be in   tune with Maharashtra’s Prevention of Organised Crime Act was against anti-social and anti-national activities by certain organisations and militant outfits, Mr. Sanjoy,    the Information and Public Relations Minister, said.

The provision of punishment  has been kept between three years  to life imprisonment besides capital punishment and a fine of between Rs. one lakh to rupees five lakh,    he said. Special designated courts would be set up to try the cases and   judges would be appointed with   the approval of the Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court, he said. Sanjoy said it would be presented  as a bill in the next session of the Arunachal Assembly for adoption. Defining the Ordinance, the minister said, communication or association with a person with actual knowledge or having reason to believe that such a person was engaged in assisting in any manner an organised crime syndicate would attract punishment.

According to another clause, passing on or publication of, without any lawful authority, information likely to assist an organised crime syndicate and passing on or publication of or distribution of any document or matter obtained from it would be brought under the Ordinance.
                 
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