Naga travails
No end to citizens' ordeal

Those who had hoped that the ceasefire in Nagaland would pave the way for a final settlement are in for a disappointment. There is little evidence to suggest 16 months of suspension of operations has helped. On the contrary, Governor O.P. Sharma painted a dismal picture in his message on the State’s 35th anniversary when he said "threats, intimidations and coercions are rife", an open admission of insecurity. Extortion is not a new phenomenon, what is disturbing is the dangerous proportions it has assumed during the truce. If anti-socials are taking advantage in the name of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), it is the duty of the cadres to tackle them. The administration also cannot afford to relax just because a few have resisted
the extortionists’ demands. The menace must be checked by strong measures and mobilising public opinion in which the church, NGOs, students and Naga Hoho can participate.

Accusations and counter-accusations of violating the truce look like a ploy to bolster their separate positions. The task of investigating cases has become difficult following refusal by the representatives of the NSCN (I-M) to attend meetings of the ceasefire monitoring cell and not to accept decisions taken in their absence. Their demand for replacement of the chairman of the cell, P.P. Srivastava, on the ground that he, as adviser to Manipur Governor, has sided with the Kukis, should not stall performance. Admittedly, there have been no major clashes between the Army and the NSCN (I-M) but 94 cases of violation recorded till October illustrate the ineffectiveness of the truce. The objective must be to create a congenial climate for peace. But as things stand both the rebel leaders and the Centre seem to be betraying the public trust.

The Statesman

Mr. Mahanta's woes in Assam

Although the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Ministry in Assam survived the no-confidence motion moved by the Congress (I) last week, the beleaguered Chief Minister’s problems are by no means over. The motion was rejected by the 126-member House, by 64 votes to 34. But Mr. Mahanta can draw little comfort from these figures. Buoyed up by its recent electoral victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, the Congress (I) now appears to be more strident than before in embarrassing the AGP-led coalition Government for its "failure on all fronts" since it was returned to power two years ago. To add to Mr. Mahanta’s agony, the AGP has suffered a humiliating defeat in the recent by-elections for two Assembly seats. The Congress (I) has retained the Udarbond seat with a comfortable majority, while the AGP has suffered humiliation in the Bhabanipur constituency where the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) has wrested the seat. The Congress (I) could sail through in Udarbond as the BJP polled over 14,000 votes. Although the BJP was in the fray in the Bhabanipur constituency, its entry made no difference to the main contestants. It may seem that the ruling coalition faces no threat as the Congress (I) is still not in a position to muster enough strength to pose a serious challenge.

But Mr. Mahanta’s problems stem from dissidence in his own party and the continuing depredations of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The suspension of the AGP MLA and former Minister, Mr. Atul Bora, from the House may aggravate the dissensions in the ruling party. The former Home Minister, Mr. Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, continues to be a rallying point for the dissidents though Mr. Mahanta does not appear to be unduly woried about the challenge from them to his leadership. Possibly, quite a few are sitting on the fence watching the developments. The debacle suffered by the AGP in the last Lok Sabha elections has hit the morale of its supporters and emboldened the Congress (I) to intensify its campaign against the AGP-led coalition regime. And the violence by Bodo militants has shown no sign of abating......

The Hindu

Self reliance : A noteworthy emphasis

The new Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga's remark that "we must learn not to depend on the Centre and create our own wealth" suggests he does not wish to be in the shadow of his predecessors. Sensible thinking in the face of the Centre's reluctance to give more funds; it should also serve as a lesson to other hill states. The Chief Minister will succeed if only he can inject a new motivation into his ministerial colleagues. The earlier Mizo National Front in the late eighties, led by the late Laldenga gave many promises but did not keep them. There were allegations of profligacy among a selected few and the weak becoming weaker. Being the most peaceful in the entire North-East, Mizoram has the potential of pushing through economic development based on forest resources. A climate for private and foreign investments can be created if xenophobia is kept under control. Zoramthanga's complaint that there is no proper marketing outlet for Mizoram's produce is not unfounded. The right answer lies in opening the traditional border trade with Bangladesh and Myanmar. If tackled with imagination its hydro resources can usher in economic prosperity.

While the Mizo government's efforts to improve the quality of life is welcome, what should cause concern is its decision to recommend dissolution of the Chakma Autonomous District Council. This is against their poll manifesto and also the 1986 Mizo Accord which stipulates that "the rights and privileges of minorities in Mizoram as envisaged in the Constitution shall be preserved Laldenga did oppose the district council status for Chakmas but the Centre put its foot down. The issue also raises a question mark on the fate of 40,000 Reang refugees, laguishing in Tripura camps since October last year, when the need is to repatriate them to ensure peace along the Mizoram-Bangladesh border. Aizawl cannot be unaware of the possible implications of keeping the issue alive. it should also serve as a lesson to other hill states.

The Statesman