Centre gives go ahead for talks with more militant groups

IMPHAL, Sep 27: The Manipur government is hoping to hold talks with an insurgent group after it got the green signal from the Union ministry of home affairs, a highly placed source said Saturday.

The source further indicated that the state government is planning to invite the underground Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP for peace dialogues. However, it did not specify whether it was with all the groups of the outfit or with some select groups.

Mention may be made that the state government has sought clearance from the MHA for initiating dialogues with certain insurgent groups other than Kuki groups with whom trilateral Suspension of Operations has already been signed.

Another proposal for sending away some hardcore militants to jails outside the state put up to the MHA through the chief secretary could not get clearance immediately, the source added.

Chief secretary, Rakesh who was on a three-day visit to New Delhi to seek the clearance returned to Imphal yesterday and submitted a report on his visit and the MHA’s response on the matter.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi discussed the report yesterday itself with top officials, including the DGP, a source said.

The chief secretary during his stay in New Delhi reportedly met the Union home secretary Madukar Gupta and other officials of the MHA and discussed the two issues with them, the source said.

During the meeting the state government’s proposal for initiating dialogue with more insurgent groups and transfer of hardcore militants currently lodged at the Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa were discussed, the source said.

The chief secretary was sent by the state government after a meeting of the Cabinet under the chair of the chief minister thoroughly discussed the matter of initiating peace talks with some insurgent groups recently and approved the proposal for sending out some hardcore militants to jails outside the state.

The chief secretary put up the matters to the Union home secretary Madukar Gupta and sought clearance on these two matters, the source said.

With regard to initiating talks with the some insurgent groups, the MHA has given clearance to the state for initiating the talks with groups the state government hoped to get a response from.

The state government is, meanwhile, hectic preparations to make a list of government nominees from among the sitting MLAs to initiate talks with the KCP, the source said adding that so far no particular MLA has been picked out for the same.

As soon as the names of the MLAs are finalized the process for peace talks with the KCP will start, the source hinted.

The other proposal for sending some hardcore militants to jails outside the state could not get immediate clearance from the home ministry, the source said.

The source also did not disclose the details on how many hardcore militants the state government wants to shift outside the state.

During the chief secretary’s stay at New Delhi, he also held talks with MHA officials regarding the operation of the suspension of operation with the Kuki based militant groups.

The source said that the chief secretary held consultations on the setting up of designated camps for the militant groups included in the SoO agreement.

Making of identity cards for the militants and financial involvement in implementing the agreement were also discussed during the meeting between the home secretary Madukar Gupta and state chief secretary, Rakesh, the source said.

Imphal Free Press

Mizos tell Burmese to move out of village in Mizoram

September 26, 2008 - In a chilling of relationship between Mizos and Burmese migrant workers in Thanhril village, the latter have been told to move out of the village, 15 miles from Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state in northeast India by the end of September.

The move to force Burmese migrant workers out of the village comes in the wake of a brawl between locals and Burmese nationals on September 7 after the latter allegedly teased Mizo girls while they were bathing in the stream flowing near the village, according to Thanhril Young Mizo Association (YMA) Secretary Pu lalrinsanga.

"They (Burmese) tease local women when they bathe. This apart, some Burmese attacked local youths one night," Pu Lalrinsanga said.

"Social organizations from our village called a meeting and reviewed the situation of Burmese nationals present in the village. The meeting passed a resolution that they need to be driven out of the village before the end of September," Pu Lalrinsanga added.

Participants at the meeting, who decided on the repatriation of the Burmese from Thanhril village, were representatives of Mizo social organizations in Thanhril village such as the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Village Council (VC), the Mizo women group called the Mizo Hmeichia In suikhawm Pawl (MHIP) and Mizoram elder's group called Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) in Thanhril village.

However, the Burmese in Thanhril said that local people attacked three Burmese and a local was supposedly involved in teasing girls bathing in the stream.

"It was not a brawl between locals and Burmese. It was a one side attack by locals on three Burmese and a local who teased the local girls," said a Burmese in Thanhril village.

Three Burmese and a local were said to have received serious injures in the attack and were admitted to hospital, according to the Burmese in Thanhril village.

The deadline for the Burmese to move is September 30. However, it is not clear what action will be taken if they refuse to budge after the deadline.

"We will discuss about what action to take against those who flout the order after the deadline," Pu Lalrinsanga added.

Around 30 Burmese nationals are staying in Thanhril village. Most of them are working in stone quarries, farms, road construction sites and doing other manual work.

Some of the Burmese who are working in the stone quarry said that they received a notice for eviction from local organizations.

Meanwhile some Burmese with their families said that they have a problem moving at short notice. Therefore, they are likely to approach the local organizations and appeal to them for permission to stay in the village beyond the deadline.

Mass deportation of Burmese from Mizoram state by Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), the most powerful social organization in Mizoram state, occurred after a Burmese allegedly raped a local school girl in Aizawl in 2003. The move of the YMA against the Burmese drew criticism from international human rights groups.

KHONUMTHUNG