KOHIMA, July 25: The Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), a regional party of Nagaland, has decided to have an electoral alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), for the forthcoming general elections, party sources said. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 26, 1999)

UNDATED, July 24: Zoramthanga, the chief minister of Mizoram, has said that the Mizoram government is not pushing back any Burmese pro-democracy activist to Burma. "We welcome them ... . We are not pushing those Burmese democracy activists at all. The people we pushed (back) are smugglers", Zoramthanga said on July 23 when asked to comment on a reported statement of the Mizoram home minister on the deportation of Burmese nationals from the state. According to a PTI report, Tawnluia, the state home minister had told the state Assembly on July 20 that the Mizoram government had deported 448 Burmese nationals between December 1998 and June 1999. About a hundred Burmese pro-democracy activists have taken shelter in Mizoram since the 1988 military coup in Burma. Moreover, there are estimated 5,000 Burmese immigrants working as handloom weavers, taxi drivers and maids in Aizawl, the state capital. "When the police saw them (Burmese), they took them to the Champhai border and left them at the border river bank. But the Burmese come back (to Aizawl) the next day", said Zoramthanga as it is a usual work of the Mizoram police. Expressing the worry of the state government on the situation of infiltrators from Bangladesh, the chief minister, however, said, "We are really worried about (the people from) Bangladesh. We don't care much about the Burma side because they are our blood brothers and sisters. But we don't welcome Chakmas from Bangladesh". Seventy five percent of Mizoram is an international border with Burma and Bangladesh. The Mizoram government has recently started identifying foreign settlers in the state. It has also approached the central government to provide one battalion of the Prevention of Infiltration Force (IPF) to counter "infiltrators". The central government has provided only one battalion of Indian Reserve Police for Mizoram. The chief minister, moreover, urged the Chin National Front (CNF) to leave arms and live like other civilians in the cities. "I told them that you can live without your arms. You will be tolerated. But when you wear uniforms and hold arms, that is illegal. This cannot be tolerated from the law and order point of view", said the chief minister. Recently, Assam Rifles had attacked CNF mobile camps situated inside Mizoram. The Chin National Front (CNF) is one of the armed groups, which is still fighting against the military regime in Burma. Regarding the opening of border trade between Mizoram and Burma, the chief minister said that there has been no new development though the trade has been more or less going on in the form of smuggling. The Indian government is currently building infrastructural facilities in the Mizoram border for opening the trade between Champhai and Burma. "I think it (trade) will start after one year", said Mr. Zoramthanga. (Staff Reporter; Mizzima; Burmanet; July 26, 1999)

GUWAHATI, July 26: The United Minorities Front (UMF) (Osmani) will merge with the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) before the Lok Sabha polls, according to the APCC president, Tarun Gogoi. He told newspersons here that the party had already held discussions with the leadership of the UMF and final shape would be given in this regard very soon. Gogoi further said the Congress would contest all 14 seats in the state. In all, 40 persons had applied for party tickets. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 27, 1999)

TANGLA, July 26: The All-Assam Koch-Rajbongshi Yuba Chatra Sanmiloni has expressed its concern over the non-inclusion of the Koch-Rajbongshi in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. The Union government, the organisation alleged in the release, has been ignoring the Koch-Rajbongshis. Describing it was a "betrayal", it said political parties, both national and regional, were committed to it. Besides, it said, after the recommendation of the Parliamentary Selection Committee in 1997, the ordinance has not been turned into a Bill. The release said the executive meeting of the organisation at Bongaigaon recently had reviewed the socio-economic, academic and political situation and appealed to the Koch-Rajbongshi people to be alert so that they might not be used by political parties as electoral weapons. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 27, 1999)

GOLAGHAT, July 26: Nagas have established a mini-town in the foothills near Merapani in the 'D' sector of the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat district. The Assam government does not even know about it. A camp of an Assam Police battalion had been stationed in this area long back. After the conflict, the Dimapur Agreement was signed between the two states by which the 'C' and 'D' sectors were created in the disputed area. According to the pact, the Assam Rifles Regiment (???) was installed in place of the Assam Police battalion. After some years, a central "neutral force" was installed but this has been seen working in favour of the Nagas. As a result, Nagas have established a foothills town within 100 metres of the neutral force camp. They even have their water supply system, electricity, schools and churches, NSTC bus station and office of the magistrate of Wokha district. They have also hung a signboard, which reads "Merapani, Nagaland". (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 27, 1999)

GUWAHATI, July 26: The All-Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the All-Assam Tea Tribes' Students' Association (AATSA) on Monday decided to stage a three-hour joint sit-in demonstration on August 12 on a host of issues. Among its demands include a permanent solution to the perennial flood problem in the state, deputation of doctors to malaria-affected areas, supply of essential food items to the flood-affected people, hike in the wages of tea workers and a 50 paisa education cess on every kilogram of tea produced in the state, besides a paid weekly holiday for the tea estate workers. The decision to stage the demonstration was adopted at a joint meeting of the AASU and the AATSA which also demanded, among other things, facilities to the tea garden community students for pursuing higher education, shifting of all tea estate headquarters and registration offices to Assam and a white paper from the tea industry on its investment made for the development of tea garden communities and Assam's socio-economic post-independence. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 27, 1999)

SHILLONG, July 26 - The Meghalaya Students Federation (MSF) has called a 12-hour state bandh on August 3 to protest the ruling coalition government's failure to concede its demands. The MSF's demands include implementation of the inner-line permit (ILP) system, work permits and a comprehensive policy on the indigenous people of the state. A special one-day session of the state Assembly has been convened the same day to elect a new deputy Speaker. Accusing the BB Lyngdoh government of being "obsessed with power," the MSF president, Paul Lyngdoh, said the government has failed to attend to the most pressing issues of the state especially those relating to foreigners and unemployment. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 27, 1999)

ITANAGAR, July 27: The Arunachal Pradesh Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha on Tuesday dissolved the state Assembly on the recommendation of the Cabinet. The state Cabinet which met here on Monday, under the chairmanship of chief minister Mukut Mithi, had recommended the dissolution of the House to facilitate simultaneous elections to the Assembly along with the Lok Sabha polls. The Cabinet spokesperson and information and public relations minister TC Teli said "this decision was necessitated in order to save money and labour, as holding two elections within a six months will cost Rs 10 cr which is not justified for a resource crunch-hit state like Arunachal Pradesh." Teli said, "This was a unanimous decision and all legislators and party functionaries were taken into confidence before the Cabinet recommended dissolution of the Assembly". (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 28, 1999)

NEW DELHI, July 27: The Delhi High Court has asked the Union home ministry to explain its stand on the inclusion of Mizoram migrants staying in the capital in the electoral list for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in September. A division bench comprising Chief Justice SN Variava and justice SK Mahajan directed the central government's standing counsel Maninder Singh to state the ministry's stand on the inclusion of Mizo migrants as voters in the capital before adjourning the matter till August 27. The bench was hearing a petition filed by Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Sangh seeking inclusion of the migrants' names in the electoral list. The argument of the counsel for petitioner was that since the commission had included the names of Kashmiri migrants in the electoral list, the same treatment should be granted to the migrants from Mizoram as they were in no condition to return to their state. The migrants had come to the capital a few years ago when insurgency was plaguing Mizoram. The counsel for the commission stated that the government had passed an ordinance allowing Kashmiris to enrol their names in the electoral list. However, there was no such ordinance with regard to migrants from any other state. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 28, 1999)

GUWAHATI, July 28: The ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is yet to find an issue for its election campaign. Last week, while addressing his first press conference after the election dates were announced, AGP president and Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta simply fumbled when newsmen pressed him to spell out the issue(s) on which his party would fight the elections. "We have so many issues. We will focus on the development activities carried out by our government. We will tell the people about the misdeeds committed by the Congress in the past. We will talk about floods and the Centre's lackadaisical attitude," a confused-looking Mahanta said. (Samudra Gupta Kashyap; The Indian Express; New Delhi; July 29, 1999)

AIZAWL, July 28: The Mizoram government will set up more police posts to prevent Myanmarese rebels from entering the state from across the border, the state home minister, Tawnluia, told the Assembly on Tuesday. He said the state government was aware that Myanmarese Army personnel while chasing the rebels have on occasions illegally entered Mizoram. Tawnluia said the police and Assam Rifles personnel, on receiving reports of such cross-overs, repeatedly pushed back both the Myanmarese armymen and rebels. The Myanmar Army, while in hot pursuit of the rebels fighting against the military junta or trying to arrest rebels fleeing to the Indian side, cross the international border and sometimes terrorise the local people. Tawnluia said the creation of more police posts would help in protecting the people living near the borders. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 29, 1999)

UNDATED, July 28: Home ministry officials from India and Burma began their three-day talks on issues of concern to both countries in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Indian side is led by home secretary Kamal Pandey while the Burmese delegation is led by deputy home minister Brig. General Thura Myint Maung. The two sides will discuss various issues ranging from insurgency problems in the Northeast, drug trafficking and border trade. According to Indian home ministry sources, the two governments will work on ways to cooperate with each other in tackling insurgency along the international border, sharing of intelligence and checking drug trafficking across the border. Moreover, border trade and banking arrangements in border areas will be discussed. India is reportedly concerned about the recent attempts by some Northeast insurgent groups to establish a toehold in Burma. Recent Indian intelligence reports indicate that some Northeast insurgent groups have already set up camps on the Burmese side of the border. India and Burma formally legalised the border trade through Moreh town in Manipur state and Tamu township in the Sagaing division of Burma in April 1995. (Staff Reporter; Mizzima; Burmanet; July 29, 1999)

KOHIMA, July 28: The government of Nagaland has segregated the judiciary from the executive in the state through a notification, placing all judicial officers under the administrative control of the Gauhati High Court. Declaring this at a function here on Tuesday Chief Justice Brajesh Kumar asserted that the rule of law, which was the essence of democracy, could be maintained only when the judiciary was independent. Independent functioning of judiciary was necessary as it was the institute to give safeguard to the Constitution and to dispose of justice to the citizens. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 29, 1999)

NEW DELHI, July 29: With elections round the corner, political parties of Assam, specially the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Congress are gearing up to woo the minorities. The scene of intense politicking to garner the support of the minorities has shifted from Assam to Delhi as both the state Congress and the AGP have rushed emissaries to talk with Muslim outfits. While APCC president, Tarun Gogoi, apparently not willing to take any risks, has posted himself at the capital, AGP has despatched the state irrigation minister and minority leader, Abdul Muhib Mazumdar, to seal a deal. The proposal to merge the AF Golam Osmani faction of the United Minority Front (UMF) with the Congress has been cleared by the party high command, the party general secretary in charge of the Northeast, Ambika Soni said. She said the central screening committee of AICC for the region will meet on August 13 to finalise the list of candidates for the Northeast. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 1999)

SHILLONG, July 29: The crisis-laden Congress-United Democratic Party (UDP) coalition ministry in Meghalaya on Thursday got a fresh lease of life with the Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum (MPF) - the joint parliamentary party of the two ruling partners - reiterating their firm commitment to the principles and provisions laid down in the joint 'agreement' signed by the two parties. The MPF met on Thursday under the shadow of reports in local dailies about the imminent collapse of the coalition government due to inter-party and intra-party differences arising from the emergence of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Reports are rife in the dailies about a fresh re-alignment of forces and a possible new coalition between the regional UDP and the NCP by throwing out the Congress. The meeting, presided over by chief minister BB Lyngdoh, was attended by all legislators from the Congress and the UDP. The Speaker, EK Mawlong, also the UDP president, did not attend the meeting. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 1999)

SHILLONG, July 29: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary and former Lok Sabha Speaker, PA Sangma, has revived interest in the 50-year-old 'Instrument of Accession' by which 25 Khasi states had acceded to India. Sangma has promised his party's support to implement the long-forgotten instrument "even if it required a constitutional amendment." Addressing Syiems, Myntries and Dollois, heads of traditional institutions here on Wednesday, Sangma said he was a strong believer in tribal traditional institutions such as providing them with secretarial assistance and other facilities as a step to promote them. These intentions were cut short when his government collapsed, Sangma said. The NCP leader told the gathering from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills how he had spoken strongly when he was as Central minister to exempt Meghalaya from the purview of the Panchayati Raj Act, as there was already very strong Syiemships, Dolloiships and Nokmaships in the state. He said he had even suggested that the tribal institutions should be directly funded as is done for panchayats. By promising to include the issue in the NCP manifesto, Sangma appeared to be wooing voters in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills where he is yet to secure a foothold. The NCP will has created an impact only in the Garo Hills. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 1999)

GUWAHATI, July 29: The All-Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the All-Assam Deuri Students' Union (AADSU) on Wednesday announced that they would never compromise on the issue of protection of the identity of the indigenous people of the state. A meeting between the leaders of the two organisations here on Thursday demanded that the government should take immediate steps towards the solution of the problems of floods and erosion. They also demanded that floods should be recognised as a national problem and the government should take immediate steps to provide adequate relief to the flood-hit. The meeting demanded recognition of the Deuri language. Regarding the demand for autonomy for Deuri people, the meeting resolved that the issue should be settled through negotiations. The two organisations also observed that infiltration has threatened the identity of the indigenous people of the state. They said foreigners have grabbed tribal belts and blocks and destroyed forest resources. The students' organisations demanded implementation of the Assam Accord and the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 1999)

, July 29: The Congress in Assam is in a dilemma over renominating self-styled lottery king Mani Kumar Subba for the second term from the Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency. Although the state Congress election committee does not foresee a problem in selecting the candidates for the forthcoming elections, in view of the decision to renominate all sitting MPs, the selection of the Tezpur candidate is expected to trigger a controversy. For the lottery king, problems may arise not from opposition within the state Congress but from the party's manifesto which proposes strict code of ethics in distribution of tickets to ensure that candidates with clean image are nominated. With CBI cases, indictment by the CAG in the Nagaland lottery scam and other criminal cases pending against him, state Congress leaders feel it would be difficult for Subba to meet the standards proposed to be set. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 1999)