KOHIMA, March 16: The NSCN (K) has accused the government of India of masterminding the operational strike against NSCN by Myanmar military junta in eastern Nagaland (Myanmar), report agencies. In a faxed statement, 'deputy kilonser (minister) of information and publicity affairs of the GPRN Kughalu Mulatonu said the NSCN held the government of India responsible for treacherously masterminding operational strike against NSCN and its allies in the base area in eastern Nagaland (Myanmar) by duping the Myanmarese military junta. The NSCN summed up the attack on its cadres and allies like UNLF, PREPAK, RPF, ULFA, KYKL, TPDF, CNF and others as an unluckiest follow-up military attack enthused by prejudiced instigations and presumptions. He said the Indian home ministry has of late been publicising fabricated articles in various media claiming that the NSCN and its allies have suffered the attack of the Myanmarese military junta. The deputy kilonser further said that the NSCN and its allies were not going to kow-tow to the minor operations launched by Myanmarese army but will respond befittingly and were prepared to go to any extent. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 17, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 18: The Manipur government will consider if there is any possibility of announcing a ceasefire in the state so as to bring all the 19 insurgent groups of the state to the negotiating table. This was disclosed by the Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh on the floor of the Assembly on Thursday during question hour. Replying to a question raised by the former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Rishang Keishing, Nipamacha said that it would, however, take time as the ground work for the ceasefire is yet to be done. He said, "To contain the insurgency movement in the state an informal meeting with the Mizoram Chief Minister has been held and the Assam Chief Minister will also be approached soon. Answering a barrage of questions from the veteran Congress leader Nipamacha asserted that the process for negotiation will take sometime as the number of insurgent groups in the state is quite big. He also stated that though the feelers has been sent, none of the groups had responded yet. He further informed that there are about eight insurgent groups in the valley. They are PLA/RPF (2000 cadres), UNLF (1000), KCP (100), PREPAK (300), KYKL (O) - 170, KYKL (T) - 50, PULF (50) and NEMF (50). The total number of insurgents in the valley is about 3,720, there are about 12 insurgent groups in the hills. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 19, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 19: Twelve workers of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) were today kidnapped by the insurgents of banned NLFT from Gulakathalarpara in West Tripura district. Police said, a big gang of NLFT insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons raided an ONGC site in the said area and kidnapped the workers. Combing operation has been launched to rescue the workers. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 20, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 21: Identification of the illegal infiltrators from across the border as the main source of supply of fake Indian currency notes that has flooded the Northeastern region particularly Assam, has sent alarm bells ringing at the Centre. According to a report prepared by a security agency which was entrusted with the job of probing the sudden rise in circulation of fake currency in the country and submitted to the ministry of home affairs recently, the Northeast has been identified as one of the most widely affected areas to be hit by the menace. Although the involvement of the various underground outfits including the outlawed ULFA has been confirmed, what has shocked the officials here was unearthing of the role of the illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh in running the fake currency operations in the region, particularly Assam. The main source of inflow of fake currency into Assam is through Sylhet in Bangladesh, the report claimed, adding that illegal infiltrators are acting as couriers are circulating these notes mainly in rural areas. Significantly, the security agency has identified Nalbari as one of the worst affected districts in the state, and counterfeit notes of Rs 100 denomination (3 FV series ) are currently in wide circulation. The currencies are originating from Tamulpur town area, near Bhutan, the report stated. Bhutan significantly is also the operating base of several outfits including the ULFA and the NDFB militants, whose hands are suspected in smuggling of counterfeit notes. Reports from the region indicates that there is an enormous increase in circulation of fake notes in recent years and indications are that these are brought into the country via Bangladesh-Myanmar border, the report, a copy of which was procured by The Assam Tribune said. On the Bangladesh connection and the confirmed involvement of the ISI in the operation, the report says that apart from the illegal infiltrators, fake notes are smuggled in by PLA and ULFA cadres who visit Chittagong hills for training where they come across the Pakistani agency's agents. The NSCN (IM) and Khaplang factions also circulate the fake currencies. The months of May- July period has been identified as the crucial months where these circulations are at their highest, as this is the period when the traders move into Bangladesh for selling their cash crops and they receive these fake notes as advance from their clients, the report alerted. The report said that bulk of the cash crops in Bangladesh lands up in the Northeast through smuggling and the possibility is that these smugglers might have received this fake currency notes as advance from their clients, in Bangladesh. The report pointed out to a recent incident at Tura in Meghalaya, bordering Bangladesh, where all the main bank branches detected fake currency notes, so much so that state Bank of India (SBI) South Garo Hills district, branches at Barangpara, Gasuapara and Baghmara detected fake currencies worth Rs 18,000 during day to day transactions, in the three months period. It was later established that these notes have come to Tura through persons residing or trading in border areas of Bangladesh, the report concluded. In Meghalaya itself the fake currency racket is being supported by two insurgent outfits, ANVC and HNLC. In Nagaland, the report said the NSCN (K) faction's bid to flood Changtongiya town in Mokokchung district was detected last July and foiled by local businessmen, who refused to accept the currencies. In the country, the six Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim have been identified among 18 states affected by the menace. Among the six states in the region, highest amount of fake currencies were detected in Assam followed by Manipur. According to an estimate given in the report, the year 1994 was one of the worst years, as far as smuggling of fake currencies is concerned, as FCNI worth Rs 65.77 lakh, highest in last five years, were detected in Assam. During the last five years, in Assam alone. FCNI worth Rs 71.68 lakh have been detected, the report said. Corresponding, the report said, FCNI seized, all-over the country, has also gone up. While in 1998 it was estimated at Rs 27.47 lakh, last year till July it touched to 27.81 lakh. The report concludes by saying that the involvement of Pakistan in the circulation of FICN has become very clear. Its motive other than to dwindle the Indian economy is also to provide financial support to terrorist groups for buying arms and ammunition.' As a concerted effort it is trying to pump in bags of fake currency into our country, as early as in 1993. It has assumed a large proportions in recent years', it added. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 22: In a major operation, the Army busted the mobile headquarters of Saraighat Anchalik Committee of the banned ULFA and killed five militants including the finance secretary of the committee, Amulya Patowary alias Tariq Ali at Banmaja village, four km away from Changsari in Kamrup district today. According to official sources, acting on a tip-off personnel of the 18 Sikh Regiment cordoned off the village yesterday around 8.30 pm. On seeing the Army, the militants who were hiding in the area started firing at them which ensued a fierce encounter till the wee hours. Five militants were killed in the encounter and they have been identified as Amulya Patowary alias Tariq Ali, Mukut Deka ( action group commander), Gobinda Deka alias Bullet, Lakhi Kanta Rabha, and Mihir Deka. During the operation two AK-56 rifles, one 9mm Browning pistol, one US-made revolver, one 303 pistol and large quantity of ammunition and incriminating documents were recovered from the site, the sources said, adding that the militants also killed one civilian Rebati Bala Kalita when she refused to provide shelter to them. The sources also revealed that Tariq Ali was the mastermind in building the ULFA-ISI link and involved in various extortion cases in and around Kamrup district. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 22: Several Muslim militant groups of late have intensified their activities in different parts of Nagaon district posing a serious security threat. The three main militant groups - Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA), Muslim United Liberation Tigers' of Assam (MULTA) and Muslim Liberation of Assam (MLA): have reportedly consolidated their base particularly in char areas even though strict vigilance is being maintained by the security forces. According to highly-placed official sources, these underground organisations have started mobilising the people to declare jehad against India and to set up a 'greater independent Islamistan covering all Muslims living in the state.' The sources informed that the militant outfits which were formed few years back along the line of Kashmiri insurgent groups have identified the char areas more convenient to expand their activities. 'They are making inroads in char areas taking advantage of poor economic status of the people which help them in accelerating their activities' sources stated. They also revealed that these militant groups have collected funds from the businessmen and the common people having soft corner for the organisations. Most of the funds are utilised for armed training in the neighbouring countries. Giving details about the operational area of the insurgent groups, sources said that the MULFA has a stronghold in Hojai sub-division while MULTA and MLA are becoming active in Manja and Dhing areas. 'All the militant groups are working at the behest of the United Muslim Liberation Front of Assam (UMLFA) which is said to be a common platform of the militants,' the sources said, adding that UMLFA is monitoring ongoing fund collection and armed training. They further informed that about 20 odd youths are undergoing training at Sylhet in Bangladesh with the help of Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The youths were sent last year by UMLFA to get latest armed training. They however denied having any camp of Muslim ultras either in Myanmar or Bhutan. 'Muslim militants are also maintaining a cordial relation with a frontal insurgent group of Manipur called Peoples' United Liberation Front (PULF) which also provides armed training to them', the sources added. Commenting on arsenal power of the militant groups they expressed the view that they are concentrating more on expanding the organisations instead of purchasing arms and ammunition. 'In view of the stepped up activities of the outfits vigilance has been geared up in and around the Nagaon district to contain their activities', the sources informed. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 23, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 22: NSCN (IM) senior leaders have said that the outfit would be forced to review the question of further extension of ceasefire which expires in July next if security forces continued to abrogate the truce. Talking to newsmen at its Oking (headquarters), senior NSCN (IM) leaders VS Atem and Khodao Yanthan alleged that security forces continuously violated the ceasefire ground rules and the government of India remained silent over such actions. NSCN (IM) would review the current ceasefire whether it can be further extended or not after its expiry on July 31 next, they said. But they demanded extension of the ceasefire jurisdiction to all the Naga-inhabited areas of the region, particularly in Manipur. The armed wing chief of NSCN (IM), VS Atem expressed doubt over the sincerely of the Centre in finding an amicable settlement of the vexed Naga political problem while vice-chairman of the outfit Khodao Yanthan insisted that the government should expedite the talk process in all sincerity and seriousness. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 23: The Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has hit out against the insurgent outfits and alleged that the top leaders of the ULFA and the NDFB, who are living comfortably in foreign countries, do not want a permanent solution to the problem of insurgency. Talking to The Assam Tribune here, Mahanta alleged that the top leaders of the ULFA and the NDFB, who are receiving help from the foreign countries and funds from the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), want the problem to continue. He further alleged that the children of some of the top ULFA leaders are studying in schools located in developed countries. The Chief Minister said that time and again both the state and the union government s had requested the insurgents to come forward for negotiations for a peaceful solution to the problem of insurgency. The government, as a good will gesture, also offered a safe passage to the ultras to enable them to visit their relatives. But till date the leaders of the ULFA and the NDFB have not expressed their desire to come forward for negotiation, which prove that they are not interested in solving the problem through peaceful means, he added. He said that no government can talk about sovereignty and requested the ULFA and NDFB leadership to realise the ground reality and not to stick to their 'impractical demand' for a sovereign country. He also said that the top leaders of the ULFA are now totally in the grip of the ISI and they would not be able to come forward for negotiation even if they want to do so. Mahanta revealed that because of the attitude of the top leaders, a number of district level leaders of the ULFA have expressed their desire to come back to the mainstream. In this connection, he revealed that the state government has been requesting the Centre to amend the rehabilitation package for the surrendered militants and to provide jobs to the surrendered ultras outside the state. But till date, the Centre has not given any assurance on amending the rehabilitation package, he added. Commenting on the law and order situation in the state, the Chief Minister said that the situation is under control. However, at the same time, he pointed out that it would be difficult for the state government to fully control the situation till the insurgents continue to receive shelter in the countries like Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh. "Time and again we have requested the Centre to take up the matter with the governments of the neighbouring countries as the state government has no role to play in this regard," he added. He revealed that according to information available with the government, the government of Myanmar have recently initiated some strong steps to flush out militants from the country. But, the government of Bhutan and Bangladesh have not initiated any step in this regard. He disclosed that the ULFA still has a number of camps in the Chittagong area of Bangladesh, while the outfit also has some shelters near Dhaka. "A former jute and industry minister for Bangladesh was the key man for the ULFA in that country. After the Kargil war, the ISI agents are also trying to enter into India through Bangladesh," he added. Commenting on activities of the ISI backed Muslim militant outfits in the state, Mahanta said that the government is well aware of the designs of these outfits and steps have been taken to check the menace. He said that the government has already set up a four member committee headed by the state director-general of police to review the activities of the ISI and to plan strategy to check the menace. Official level meetings between the state and the union government s are also being held regularly to chalk out strategies to check ISI activities, he added. The Chief Minister welcomed the cease-fire agreement between the Centre and BLTF and hoped that it would encourage other militant outfits to follow suit. He revealed that the Centre announced the cease-fire in consultation with the state government. He, however, refused to divulge the details about the talks between the government and the BLTF. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 24: The banned militant outfit ULFA today made an appeal to US President William Jefferson Clinton to 'Use his influence to force Indian government for an East Timor like solution" to the issue of self-determination of the people of Assam. Describing Clinton as a 'leader of peace', who has pursued the policy of peace and prosperity throughout the world," the banned outfit, in a press statement faxed to newspaper houses this evening, said that Kashmir is not the only issue in South East Asia. The situation in Assam and other states is equally dangerous and volatile, it said. Claiming that Assam has never been a part of India, the outfit said that it was occupied forcefully by Indians against the wishes of its people. "The people of Assam are struggling for their basic birth right of freedom. The Indian occupation forces have unleashed a reign of terror in the state of Assam. The violation of human rights by the Indian occupation forces is a daily routine." "Thousands of innocent people have been killed and made homeless in the name of law and order situation. We the people of Assam would like to draw the attention of the US President towards the situation in Assam and appeal him to save us from Indian brutality keeping in view the wishes of the people of Assam," said the outfits' statement signed by Col P Boruah, chief of staff of the outfit. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 25, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 24: At least five Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed in an ambush by the NLFT ultras at Siddhichara in Dhalai district today, says United News of India. Official sources here said the guerrillas sprayed bullets indiscriminately on two BSF patrolling jeeps from dense jungle at the border area of Khowai and Kamalpur sub-divisions, killing the five on the spot. The extremists decamped with three SLR and one carbine. Soon after the ambush, the militants supposedly crossed over to neighbouring Bangladesh, which was only four to five km away from the spot. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 25, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 24: Five persons, including two civilians, have been killed in an encounter between personnel of Assam Rifles and armed extremists in Manipur's Bishenpur district, official sources said on Friday. After being attacked by the underground ultras at Keinou on Thursday, the patrolling security men mowed three militants to death, the sources said, adding, the civilians were killed in the crossfire. Two AK-56 rifles, a gun, 14 cartridges and some rounds of ammunition were recovered from the deceased militants. It was not yet known which group the underground activists belonged to.: (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 26, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 25: A dozen members of the banned ULFA, along with the outfit's "chief political commissioner" Mintu Dutta alias Nagen Haloi, declared severance of their ties with the outfit. Addressing a press conference held at Nalbari on Friday, the former ULFA members alleged that the autocratic attitude of some of the top leaders of the outfit has resulted in the people getting alienated from it. Dutta added that most of the cadres in the outfit had joined it with a missionary zeal but are now confronted with an organisation that has lost direction. "We have sacrificed our youth for the cause but now find that it was all in vain," the former member of the ULFA's top echelons stated. Echoing the opinion of all present, Dutta said that the leaders of the ULFA continued to follow the path of violence and were nonchalant to the repeated appeals by the lower level cadres to declare a ceasefire for some time keeping in mind the opinion of the people. He said that the ULFA has no definite objectives and the lost its revolutionary character. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 26, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 27: Paresh Baruah, chief of the ULFA, a leading militant group in the Northeast, has sought the intervention of US President Bill Clinton to "force the Indian government for an East Timor-like solution," in connection with the rebel group's struggle for an "independent Assam". In a statement issued on Friday, Baruah described the visit of the US president to South Asia as an "important and significant event". In his appeal to Clinton, Baruah said the "situation in Assam and other north-eastern states is equally dangerous and volatile as the one in Kashmir". He urged Clinton to use his influence towards finding out an East Timor-like solution to the problem. Baruah is the commander-in-chief of the ULFA's armed wing and by far the most influential leader in the outfit. The ULFA, which will celebrate its 21st foundation day on April 7, has been under pressure from the security forces of late with most of its cadres unable to leave the safe hideout in the jungles of neighbouring Bhutan. And those who do manage to sneak in are getting killed in encounters with the Indian Army and the police. Indeed in the last one month at least 25 hardcore ULFA militants have been killed in a stepped up offensive by the Indian Army and the police in the wake of the brutal killing of a senior Assam minister, Nagen Sarma. The militant group, fighting for a sovereign, independent Assam since 1979, has seen many ups and downs in its two decades of existence but it is perhaps at its weakest at the moment with two of its important leaders -- vice-president Pradip Gogoi and general secretary Anup Chetia -- under arrest and many of its middle-level cadres leaving the organisation. While Gogoi is lodged in a jail in Guwahati, Chetia is under arrest in neighbouring Bangladesh where he was caught about a year ago. On Friday, 12 important members of the ULFA, led by Mintu Dutta, who held the post of "chief political commissioner" in the organisation and was also a member of the general council, the top-most policy-making body of the outfit, quit the organisation. Dutta said all of them have left the outfit in protest against the "change in revolutionary character of the top leaders, their obstinacy and their lack of proper ideology and organisational acumen". The 12-member group, which "surrendered" to the people at Nalbari about 70 kilometres from Guwahati, told mediapersons, "ULFA is no longer a revolutionary group. It has instead turned into a terrorist outfit. Its leaders have no ideology, no sense of direction." Dutta said he had personally asked the leadership to declare a unilateral ceasefire with the security forces in deference to the wishes of the people of Assam but the leadership failed to heed the advice. Another member revealed that a large number of cadres had asked the leadership not to go against the sentiments of the people of Assam and support Pakistan during the Kargil conflict. "The leadership's open support to Pakistan during the Kargil conflict has cost us dear," Dutta said. ULFA had openly supported Pakistan in that war and had also supplied information to their mentors in the Inter-Services Intelligence about troop movement from the Northeast to Kashmir. A popular upsurge of support for the Indian Army in Assam, however, completely negated the ULFA ploy during the conflict. The outfit has made the jungles of southern Bhutan adjoining Assam as its main base for the last three years. At least 2,000 cadres, both men and women, are holed up in closely bunched camps. It has been sending mobile and heavily armed units to infiltrate into Assam to carry out specific tasks but the Indian Army has laid a strong siege along the international border with Bhutan which makes the ULFA's task very difficult. Invariably these mobile units run into Indian Army patrols and get killed. On March 22, a lethal group carrying five AK-56 rifles and several other small arms got killed when it walked into a trap laid by the Indian Army. Baruah's appeal to Clinton is of course the latest step in trying to internationalise the issue. Earlier the ULFA has taken its case to the Hague-based Unrepresented Nations' Peoples Organisation. The outfit has also refused offer from the Indian government to sit for negotiations until three of its demands are met. The three demands are a) sovereignty of Assam should be on the agenda of the talks, b) the talks should be held outside India and c) that the United Nations must be involved in the negotiations. The Indian government has refused to accept any of these demands although union home ministry officials say the government is not averse to holding talks with the outfit outside India as it is doing with another militant group in the Northeast, the NSCN At the moment, however, there is a deadlock. (Nitin Gogoi; Rediff.com; http://www.rediff.com; March 27, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 27: Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today informed the Assam Assembly that the government is very keen to bring an end to the problem of militancy, which affected the development of the state. Replying to a question by Sheikh Abdul Hamid (Congress) in the state Assembly, Mahanta said that the government repeatedly called upon the militants to come to the negotiating table to solve their problems. He said from time to time, the militants have been giving some preconditions for talks through press statements. As the state government is not in a position to do anything on the preconditions imposed by the militants for talks, the state government has requested the Centre to initiate dialogues with the militants. Mahanta said that the government had given a safe passage offer to the militants from December 21 last year to January 17 this year to enable the militants to meet their relatives and to inspire them to join the mainstream. He said that the safe passage offer yielded the desired results. He further informed the house that altogether 957 militants had surrendered to the government during the period from 1996 to 1999. Financial position : Mahanta admitted that the state government is facing a serious financial crisis. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 28, 2000)

SHILLONG, March 28: A move is afoot to constitute a Northeast Chief Ministers' Forum to adopt a common strategy to combat militancy in the Northeastern region. A meeting of the Chief Ministers of the region, including Sikkim, will be convened at here on April 29 by Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, acting on a suggestion by his Meghalaya counterpart EK Mawlong. The forum will also take up matters of common interest, including the package offered for the region by successive Prime Ministers, official sources said. Mahanta and Mawlong have also agreed to jointly visit Block I and II in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on April 20 next in order to find a solution to the long-pending boundary dispute between the two neighbouring states. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 28 : The Centre is considering the inclusion of NSCN (K) in the ongoing Nagaland peace process. union home minister L. K. Advani indicated as much here today before ending his two-day visit here. Significantly, Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir wants the Khaplang faction of the NSCN involved in the peace talks for them to be more meaningful. Advani said the Centre had no intention of inviting the outlawed NLFT, which is an ally of the NSCN (IM). "This is not possible. The peace talks related to Nagaland alone," he said "As far as Tripura is concerned, the state government has to tackle the situation on its own. It could initiate talks with the rebels," he said. The home minister met the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, senior civil, security and para military officials at the secretariat here this morning. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 28: Union home minister LK Advani said on Tuesday that maximum pressure would be a exerted on Bangladesh to prevent insurgents from using the soil of the neighbouring country. Advani, who is here on a two-day visit, said that the centre has taken up the presence of the Northeast rebels with Bangladesh during different discussions with Dhaka and assured that the subject will figure in future meetings as well. "We had earlier spoken to the Bangladesh prime minister and home minister when they visited India and we will exert pressure at the highest level again so that the ultras from the Northeast are not allowed to use its soil," he said. The home minister said that the massive influx of Bangladeshis into the region and the opportunity for the insurgents to use Bangladeshi soil were hampering the government's attempts to curb insurgency. "Taking advantage of the long porous border with Bangladesh, the insurgents from the region easily sneak into the country and it is difficult for the security forces to combat them," he said. On the situation in Tripura, he favoured planned and proper measures in dealing with the rebels there. The centre has sanctioned some additional battalions, and will assist in raising another battalion of Tripura state Rifles (TSR) and provide security-related equipment in quelling unrest, he said. On talks with the rebels, he said that even at the local level peace process, national interest and sovereignty will not be comprised in any form, Advani said. His statement is a categorical rejection of the state government's proposal to open a dialogue between the centre and state's rebel outfits. Chief minister Manik Sarkar later said, "we had forwarded the proposal with the sole intention of achieving peace in the troubled state." When asked if it was possible for the state to tackle the well-armed militants, Advani said; "It is possible. Take the instance of Punjab. Even without the Army it was possible." "In fact, the cutting edge is provided by the police and a better coordination between security forces can achieve the goal", he said. Advani suggested that top militant leaders should be identified and detained under National Security Act. He revealed that the state government has so far detained three extremists under the NSA and is examining cases of 40 more rebels. Referring to fifty thousand Reang refugees from neighbouring Mizoram who took shelter in North Tripura district in the wake of alleged torture by the Mizos, the union home minister said that he would take up the issue with the Mizoram government. (Correspondent; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 28: Peace talks between the centre and the NSCN (IM) hangs in balance as no Naga leader is prepared to take part in the talks in the absence of their leader T Muivah, union home minister LK Advani said here on Tuesday. The scheduled meeting of the government with the outfit, he said, was postponed following Muivah's arrest in Bangkok. "The NSCN (IM) has refused to continue the talks in absence of their leader." Advani also indicated that the NSCN (K) may be involved in the ongoing peace process. The centre's move comes in the wake of repeated demands by Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir on the subject. Advani said that the Jamir had recently met him and the prime minister at New Delhi to reiterate his demand to involve both the NSCN factions in the peace process. The present peace process covers only the NSCN (IM) and Jamir has been talking of a wider initiative to establish permanent peace in his state. Except Nagaland, the centre does not want to be directly involved in the peace process in the other NE states. It was evident when Advani said, "the centre will not initiate dialogue with the Tripura rebels." He rather suggested that the state government could do the job. When he was told that the outlawed NLFT has links with NSCN (IM) and that the peace process could be extended up to the state, he readily reacted: "The present peace process is related to the state of Nagaland only". (Sajjad Ali; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

BANGKOK, March 28: A peculiar battle of egos has come in the way of early release of NSCN (IM) leader T Muivah, arrested in Thailand two months ago on charges of travelling with a fake passport. The Indian government has taken the position that it will provide assistance in securing Muivah's release only if he formally asks for such help. Muivah has reportedly sworn he would "rather die than seek India's help." India's intervention may help convincing the Thai authorities to treat Muivah's case leniently and let him go free soon. "He has not asked for assistance from the Indian government so far. If he does ask for help from us, he will have to admit that he is an Indian citizen," said an Indian diplomatic source here. Muivah is probably worried about contradicting his outfit's fight for independence from India through such a request. According to Thai journalists who interviewed Muivah following his arrest, the Naga leader has categorically rejected the option of asking the Indian government to help him out. Ironically, Muivah's detention in Thailand has forced indefinite postponement of peace talks between NSCN and the Centre.. While the Indian government's stand on Muivah making a formal request for help is justified from a purely bureaucratic point of view, it is not necessarily a good political option. According to observers of the separatist Naga movement here, the Indian authorities, by helping out with Muivah's release, could build trust between government negotiators and the NSCN leadership. Such a move, they say, will strengthen the process of settling the Naga dispute peacefully.. (Lancy Correa/India Abroad News Service; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

LAWNGTLAI, March 28: You can get anything here, from the smallest handgun to a rocket launcher, from the Russian Kalashnikov to a Chinese version of the AK-47, from the American M-16 to the German HK33," says a Chin Army (CA) member, Laldina. Welcome to Mizoram's southern Chhimtuipui district, a safe haven for foreign insurgents and gunrunners. The insurgents are here because the area is close to the 'no man's land' of India-Myanmar-Bangladesh (called the tri-junction). The gun-runners are here and allegedly have access to Bangladesh's Cox's Bazaar, widely regarded as an arms bazaar. Even some government officials of the district benefit from the business, claims former Chin Independent Army chief J Kiauluaia, now in police custody at Lawngtlai. He told Press Trust of India that he had supplied handguns to many, including officials and politicians. The Chin and Arakanese rebel groups are fighting the Myanmarese military junta for restoration of democracy in that country and autonomy for their respective areas. "Weapons like M-16, all models of Kalashnikovs and Chinese guns left behind in the conflicts in Vietnam and Cambodia have become the main source for the arms merchants in Cox's Bazaar," Rozathanga said. (Press Trust of India; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 27: "The functioning of the ceasefire agreement may be affected if our general secretary T Muivah was detained for a longer time. However there is no question of NSCN going back to jungle again because there are three more months to go with ceasefire." This was disclosed by the army general of the NSCN (IM) Vasnum Wungmatem, popularly known as General Atem during a press conference held at their council headquarter at Nuiland, about 33 km north-eastern side from Dimapur on March 21. General Atem asserted that the India government has accused Muivah of entering Thailand with a false passport this time whereas he (Muivah) has been using the same passport for the last three to four years back while attending many of the international conferences at different places of the globe. Replying to a question one of the steering committee members and governor of the ceasefire group of the outfit said, "We cannot say exactly that Thai government has been withdrawing support to us. The case of arresting Muivah was only dealt by few officials of the Thai immigration office, not the higher ups of the Thai authority." Besides most of the international communities like the UNPO, UN Asia forum and Amnesty International were trying their best everyday in order to release the detained general secretary from the custody of Thai authority with the initiatives from the NSCN (IM) side, he said. The army general, however, suspected that the arrest of Muivah in Thailand recently on January 19 may be the handiwork of the Indian government. Reacting to another question, in relation with the Prime Minister's refusal over the issue of sovereignty during a conference at Shillong recently general Atem claimed that the announcement smacked of political exigencies. He further said that when the negotiation was going on the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was not supposed to say anything beyond the parameter of the negotiation and ceasefire. Participating in the discussion the vice-president of the outfit Khodao Yanthan made it clear that one cannot say that Prime Minister will not negotiate with the NSCN (IM) over sovereignty issue as he never mentioned name of any NE State. Regarding the ongoing ceasefire talks, the senior leader of the outfit also disclosed that if the government of India is sincerely interested to find a solution to the Naga problem then they must demonstrate its sincerity and it must have a political courage. General Atem further said that instead of negotiation in a constructive way, the Indian Authority has been using double standards right from the beginning of the talk with the introduction of armed forces special powers act, 1958 and supplying of arms to some groups. He also strongly criticised the Indian authority, particularly the Army and Assam Rifles for the excessive harassment to the leaders of the outfit and raiding of their houses with false charges in spite of existing ceasefire agreement. Regarding the charges levelled against the Army for harassing the villagers at different places including the Nuiland area where their CHO was located, Atem clarified that there was no such incidents, so far, of course some of the vehicles were stop and check in and around the area. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 28: After the arrest of T Muivah by the Thai immigration authorities on charges of entering that country using false passport, most of the top leaders of the outfit are living amidst tight security arrangements, perhaps because of the high rewards on their heads or factional fights between the rival factions. On the other hand, the people have wholeheartedly supported the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and the NSCN (IM) and stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the 52-year-old Naga problems. At the same time, most of the NSCN (IM) leaders are not ready to recognise the existence of the rival faction. They also alleged that NSCN (IM) is the creation of the Indian government to disturb their activities. Such type of indications were recently found during a press conference held at the Council headquarters of the outfit at Nuiland near Dimapur in Nagaland. This correspondent had the opportunity to visit the Council headquarters at Nuiland for the second time, where the 21st 'Republic Day' celebration of the outfit was held with pomp and gaiety. Council headquarters (CHQ) is located in the jungle of Nuiland, which is about 33 km from the Dimapur town and it takes about 1 hour from the Dimapur to reach the spot because of the pathetic condition of the road. Earlier in the first week of June last, when the two topmost leaders of the outfit, chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary T Muivah, visited their CHQ after a gap of nearly 30 years, the ceasefire monitoring cell arranged the trip to Nuiland. But this time round no such arrangement was made available on way to Nuiland following the personnel of the Assam Rifles allegedly closing the monitoring cell which was locates on the circular road of Dimapur. However, it was reliably learnt that the monitoring cell of the outfit was operating in its own way somewhere in Dimapur itself. On the other hand, some of the check-posts which were earlier guarded by NSCN (IM) cadres with weapons like AK series rifles just at the gate of the Nuiland village, were not seen this time. Most of the check-posts wore deserted looks. Some of the fellow journalist were of the opinion that it might be one of the new strategies of the outfit, as they shifted their check-posts to some other side. However, the whole Nuiland area was minutely manned by the cadres of NSCN (IM) with sophisticated weapons by opening 10 -15 posts in view of the 21st 'Republic Day' celebration of the outfit. When this correspondent enquired over the absence of some of the prominent Naga rebel leaders during the 'Republic Day' celebration, some cadres of the outfit said that they might be engaged in some different tasks at different places in view of the recent developments. (Corespondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 29, 2000)

Agartala, March 29: The outlawed NLFT, which has stepped up its offensive following the announcement of the Autonomous District Council polls, abducted 12 people in two separate incidents today. According to police sources, a large group of heavily-armed NLFT rebels stormed the remote Manikpur market under the rebel-infested Chaumanu police station at 11 am and abducted eight non-tribals. The market was crowded since it was the weekly market day. In another incident, a group of NLFT militants stopped a passenger jeep in the remote Ekjoncherra area under Ampi police station in South Tripura district at 10.30 am and abducted four persons. Those abducted are still untraced. The police have not been able to ascertain the identities of the victims and said more details were awaited. The rebel outfit has been trying to intimidate voters in the ADC areas. (Correspondent; The Telegraph; Calcutta; March 29, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 29: In a volte face prompted by widespread protest against his government's likely participation in the peace talks, Nagaland Chief Minister S.C. Jamir today said the question of being party to the negotiations between the Centre and the NSCN (IM)"does not arise". Various organisations, including the Naga Hoho and the Nagaland People's Council, have expressed apprehension that the NSCN (IM) may back out of the peace talks in the event of the Nagaland government being allowed to participate in the process. In a statement here, Naga Hoho general secretary Vihuto Yepthomi said the Centre's invitation to the Nagaland government could imperil the peace process instead of rejuvenating it. "The Centre and the NSCN (IM) have not held discussions for quite some time now and the last thing Nagaland needs is a complete breakdown of the peace process," the Naga leader said. Yepthomi's statement followed union home minister L.K. Advani's statement in Agartala yesterday that the Centre had agreed to include the Nagaland government in the process of negotiations with the NSCN (IM). The previous day, Jamir told newspersons here that the Centre had asked his government to play a larger role in the peace process in Nagaland and be party to the dialogue with the NSCN(Isak-Muivah). "The Centre has honoured the people's mandate by taking us into confidence," he said. Unnerved by the possibility of the NSCN (IM) misinterpreting the "understanding" between the Centre and the Nagaland government, Yepthomi said any move that might discourage the militant outfit from continuing the peace talks should be avoided. He also urged the militant outfit not to contemplate backing out of the peace talks or breaking the ceasefire, irrespective of the circumstances. "Before the Centre and the NSCN (IM) signed the ceasefire agreement, both sides agreed that the Jamir government would not be involved in the peace process. If the Centre goes back on its promise, the outfit will have reason to back out of the peace talks," the Naga Hoho leader said. The Nagaland People's Council has also taken exception to the Centre's "invitation" to the Jamir government to participate in the peace talks. "If reports on the involvement of the state government in the peace talks are true, it is another mistake committed by the Centre," the regional party said. The statement, signed by four leaders of the party, said the Centre should have taken all political parties in Nagaland into confidence before extending the invitation to the Nagaland government. Reacting to the Naga People's Conference statement, Jamir said the discussions he had with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Advani in New Delhi recently were in the interest of Nagaland and not the Congress. "Discussions of this nature are necessary as the state government represents the people of Nagaland and not a political party," he said. (Correspondent; The Telegraph; Calcutta; March 29, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 29: The union home ministry appears to have embarked upon a strategy of reconciliation with several insurgent groups in the Northeast. The new game-plan is in keeping with the announcement by home minister L K Advani in the Lok Sabha earlier this month that the Centre is willing to talk to any militant group provided they accept that the parameters of such negotiations are within the ambit of the Indian Constitution. In a significant development, Advani, during a two-day tour of the Northeast on March 26-27, announced that a major Naga underground faction could be included in the peace talks that are currently on in Nagaland according to suggestion made by Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir. The SS Khaplang faction of the NSCN has been kept out of the talks so far. The Centre has been in the negotiation mode with the seemingly more powerful faction of the NSCN, led by Th. Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu for over three years. Currently the process has been stalled since Muivah is under arrest in Thailand where he was caught travelling on a forged passport earlier this year. "The Centre is considering SC Jamir and (Nagaland governor) OP Sharma's proposal to invite the NSCN-K to participate in the peace talks. The outfit's involvement in the peace process will be good for Nagaland," Advani said in Tripura's capital Agartala. The home minister said Jamir and Sharma made this proposal when they met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee over the weekend in New Delhi. Along with the decision to include the Khaplang faction of the NSCN in negotiations, the Centre has also announced a ceasefire with the Bodo Liberation Tigers Force, a militant Bodo group which, unlike other insurgent groups in the region, is fighting for a separate state for Bodo tribals rather than seeking an independent country. In fact, a preliminary round of talks have already been held between the top leadership of the BLTF and union home ministry officials. However, there is no word on whether the other armed group among the Bodos called the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, mainly operating out of the jungles of neighbouring Bhutan, has approached the government for negotiations. The decision to include the Khaplang faction in the Naga talks is seen by analysts as the Centre's way of sending a signal to the Muivah faction that it cannot go on dragging its feet. The Muivah faction's leaders are reluctant to continue negotiations until their leader is released from jail in Thailand. Muivah is expected to serve at least one year in jail before he can be set free. Jamir, who has been insisting that all Naga factions must be included in any negotiations, has finally got his way, with the Centre now on the verge of inviting the Khaplang faction. Nagaland has been in the grip of insurgency for over four decades. Another major group, the ULFA, fighting for an independent Assam but currently on a retreat because of a stepped up offensive by the security forces, has however not shown any inclination for talks with the government, although both the Assam government and the Centre have kept the door open for negotiations. (Nitin Gogoi; Rediff.com; http://www.rediff.com; March 30, 2000)

SHILLONG, March 29: Meghalaya home minister TH Rangad (Police) on Monday said a close liaison was being maintained with the state police of all north-eastern states to monitor the insurgency problem in the region. Talking during the question hour of the ongoing budget session, he said various insurgent groups were infiltrating into Meghalaya from neighbouring states. Rangad said that the government was quite aware of this infiltration. A high-level coordination committee had been constituted involving the intelligence agencies of the Central and state government as one of the top preventive measures, he said. Besides, road barricades have been erected at sensitive areas along the state and national highways for checking vehicles and for intensifying counter-insurgency operations, he said. While answering TC Lyngdoh (Congress), the home minister informed the house that the state government got prior information about the presence of insurgent groups before the 'truck seizure' incident had taken place at Borsora on February 20 last. It may be recalled that Achik National Volunteer Council outfits supported by NSCN (IM) members detained about 100 coal exporting trucks for about 90 hours demanding Rs 10,000 per truck as ransom. The minister on Monday said the government had no prior information regarding the incident. Confirming the hand of ANVC and NSCN (IM) in it, Rangad said on receipt of the information, the police outpost at Borsora was further strengthened by deploying of two platoons of Second Meghalaya Police Battalion, three companies of CRPF and two companies of First Meghalaya Police Battalion. Rangad said plying of coal carrying trucks at Borsora in West Khasi Hills district was temporarily suspended which resulted in loss of revenue. The situation was now normal and movement of coal-carrying trucks had resumed with prompt action taken by state police and general security provided through continuous police presence in the area, the home minister said. The home minister said training was complete for the police personnel recruited for the Third Meghalaya Police Battalion (Indian Reserve Police). The headquarters of this MLP battalion (IRP) have been temporarily shifted to Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills to meet the operational requirement only, he told the house adding, the new personnel would be largely deployed in West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills districts. They would also be posted in Jaintia Hills and other districts in the state, he said. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 30, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 29: Nagaland home minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday said the state government has requested the Centre to provide facilities to raise a Village Defence Party (VD) in the state. Replying to the discussion on the budget, Rio said the state government has decided to raise a Village Defence Party of 5,000 personnel equipped with weapons to protect themselves from anti-social elements. He said the NSCN (IM) has taken the ceasefire as a licence to take to arms openly, violating the ceasefire. Rio had earlier stated that the ambush and attempt on the life of Chief Minister SC Jamir on November 29 last year was carried out by the outfit. On the allegation of RL Akamba that 70 per cent of the state employees come to office only to collect their salaries, Rio said some offices had excess staff appointed under pressure from political and public leaders. He urged upon the ministers to give priority to developmental works in the rural areas and said appointment should be made from rural areas. On the 16-point agreement, signed between union government and the Naga People Convention on which statehood was granted, Rio said the Centre has not fully implemented all the points of the agreement. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 30, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 29: Opposition Congress and PDF have demanded the state government to hold unconditional talks with the outlawed ULFA and NDFB outfits to solve the insurgency problem. Both the parties cautioned the state government that "a bullet for a bullet" policy would never solve the problem rather complicate it. The members alleged that the state police force have miserably failed to carryout its primary duty of maintaining law and order in the state. Initiating a discussion in the Assam Assembly on a cut motion on the budget grant amounting Rs 653.15 crore to the state home department, Congress member Ardhendu Kumar Dey accused the state government of pursuing a wrong policy to tackle the insurgency problem. He also demanded that Chief Minister should inform the house whether it was the centre or state government who took the first initiative to declare a ceasefire with the BLTF and whether the state government would take part in the negotiation process. Participating in the discussion, PDF member Devakanta Ramchiary alleged that the police force has lost the confidence of general public due to which it has miserably failed to contain insurgency. He also alleged that the innocent citizens were subjected to police brutality while guilty persons were at large. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; March 30, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 30: Alarmed over frequent targeting of crude pipelines in Assam by the militants, the members from the Northeast have urged the ministry of home affairs to deploy the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) for patrolling the pipelines. The issue of disruption in supply of crude and gas in the state owing to increasing incidents of pipeline blasts mainly by the outlawed ULFA figured at a parliamentary standing committee on home affairs meeting, held yesterday, with members from the Northeast urging the CISF to take-over the patrolling duties from the state police force. It may be noted that OIL and ONGC have officially held the frequent targeting of the pipelines by the ultras as one of the main cause for a slump in crude oil and natural gas production in Assam. The members, yesterday, also urged the CISF to take-over patrolling the boundary walls of the Gauhati Refinery at Noonmati, as the local police has to deploy a considerable number of forces for guarding the outer boundary walls to avert attacks on the Refinery by the ultras. The CISF was also told to enquire into the allegations of harassment of passengers by the CISF at Borjhar airport. The passengers at the airport have been facing serious harassments at the hands of the CISF. The parliamentary Committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee includes several members from the region including Dhrupad Borgohain Jayanta Rongpi and Joyshree Goswami Mahanta, among others. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 30: The Assam Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today stated in the floor of the state Assembly that the Muslim United Liberation Tiger of Assam (MULTA) and the Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) have become very active in the state, and both the outfits have started operating in tandem. Replying to the debate on the cut motion on demand for grant for administration of Police department, the Chief Minister informed that several members of these outfits received training in outside countries as per confession of arrested militants of these two groups. In a significant remark, the Chief Minister today said a section of newspapers of published from the state had been acting as 'agent' of militant outfits by encouraging their activities. He said these newspapers had been encouraging the banned ULFA to kill PWD and Forest minister Nagen Sharma. The Chief Minister remarked that there was a need for a suitable law to take action against such newspapers involved in 'anti-national' activities. He said the state police force got demoralised by such role played by a section of newspapers and certain section of journalists. He informed that the home department was preparing a document on the role of those newspapers which have been involved in inciting the militant organisations. The documents will be tabled before the Supreme Court at proper time. Process has been initiated to bring out a suitable legislation to empower the government to take action against such newspapers and journalists. He also reiterated that the state government never stated that all Madrassas in the state had become dens of ISI activities. He said the government so far had arrested only two Maulvis in the state on specific information about their links with the ISI. The house later passed the demand for Rs 65,315.13 lakh for administration of police. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

DIBRUGARH, March 30: In view of the raising day of the ULFA on April 7 security arrangement has been beefed up in the Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar. The Army, in a joint operation with Tinsukia police, apprehended two ULFA linkmen: Deepen Gohain and Kusumbor: from Makum in Tinsukia district this morning. The two arrested persons, during interrogation, confessed that they had been maintaining a close link with the banned outfit. In another incident, the Army foiled an extortion bid at Pengere in Margherita area when they arrested two persons with cash (Rs 25,000) meant for handing over to militants at a specific point at Tekri village today. The Army handed over the two persons to Pengere police later. Security forces, boost up with the success of "Operation Mouse Trap" launched in the three Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar in early March , has been mounting tremendous pressure on the militants to flush them out. (Staff Correspondent; The Sentinel; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 30: Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today cautioned a section of the newspapers of Assam allegedly involved in anti-national preachings in cahoots with banned, anti-national terrorist outfits like the ULFA, that the government has so long tried its best to avail of the opportunity offered by the democratic process to persuade them to see reason and abandon the dangerous course they have embarked upon to rake up anti-national passion among the readers. But since they have continued to persist with this course, the government has decided to take appropriate legal action against them. It has already initiated the process in this regard. In his reply to the debate on the cut motions on the demand for grants for the state home department, Mahanta also issued the grim warning to the section of the press that if necessary, the government will move the Supreme Court also to book the erring newspapers. Taking strong exception to the opposition members moving the cut motions seeking to blame the police for the killing of PWD minister Nagen Sarma, Mahanta wondered as to why none of them had uttered a word about three newspapers openly instigating the ULFA to kill Nagen Sarma, as he reiterated his charge that it is these newspapers which had created the situation for the ULFA to strike at Nagen Sarma. He said, publicising ULFA's statements from its mouthpiece, even writing patently anti-national editorials in line with anti-national terrorist outfits' preachings have drawn the attention of the home ministry also, which is preparing a detailed dossier on how a section of the journalists had embarked upon a systematic hate campaign against the country. He said, it is a signal achievement of the state government that, thanks to its relentless pursuit of the terrorists and its political campaign against the ULFA, this section of "fifth columnists" have shed their masks of journalists and come out in the open as campaigners of the terrorists. He urged the opposition members not to be a party unwittingly to the game plan of the anti-national forces by seeking to support whatever a section of the newspaper writes. Opposing the cut motion, AGP's Dilip Saikia castigated the Centre for not taking any political initiative to resolve the insurgency problem in the state. The BSMC member, Pramila Rani Brahma regretted that the security forces were unable to stop the unabated influx of Bangladeshis. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 30: "There are no Muslim militant organisations like the MULFA or MULTA operating in the state and it is a conspiracy by a circle with vested interest to tarnish the image of the Muslim population of the state," Abdul Jalil Ragbi, the vice-president of the Assam state Jamiat Ulama said this while addressing mediapersons here today. He alleged that in many cases, dacoits caught by the police were being projected as MULTA or MULFA militants, adding that the police had failed so far to provide a single name of the office-bearers of these two outfits. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; March 31, 2000)