New Book Describes Crimes Against Civilians During Mizo Uprising

By David Lalmalsawma

The two-decade-long Mizo rebellion from 1966 to 1986 remains the only conflict in which the Indian government used war planes against its citizens. Few written records exist on the conflict in which the Mizo National Front (MNF) revolted against the government, trying to establish an independent country.

A new book by a former militant in the Mizo National Army (MNA), the armed wing of the MNF, recounts the air bombings and the government’s “grouping” policy, under which villages in what is now Mizoram state were burned and civilians relocated to guarded centres called Protected and Progressive Villages.

“Untold Atrocity” by C. Zama deals with incidents in which civilians suffered or were allegedly killed by security forces. The book also assumes significance today because the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which allowed security forces an almost free hand in arresting or shooting anyone during the insurgency, is still enforced in Jammu and Kashmir and some areas of India’s northeast.

Zama in this interview talks about the almost unlimited powers the army wielded during the insurgency, and why the Mizoram Accord, which is touted as the most successful peace treaty in India, has not been fully implemented.

Q: Tell us about your time as an insurgent?
A: In 1965, before the violence started, I volunteered as a MNA member while studying in high school … I was in Class VIII when the [armed] movement broke out, so I left home and school and we started living in the forest. We traded fire with Indian soldiers many times – in Mizoram and (East) Pakistan, which is present-day Bangladesh.

In 1974, I was captured twice, but managed to escape on both occasions before reaching prison. In 1975, I was captured again, and this time, I was unable to escape. I was tortured badly and could not walk. After just two nights in jail, I was transferred to a hospital. After two months there, I was transferred back to jail. In 1977, I got out on bail.

Q: So torture was routine?
A: Yes, definitely. And we could not cope with torture so many fighters gave away the location of friends and our camps, gave away guns and revealed the identities of people [civilians] who helped us. But the level of bravery is different for different people, so we can’t really blame anybody in such situations.

Q: You’ve written 19 books in the Mizo language. Tell us some of the incidents you mentioned in your new book in English that you haven’t disclosed before?
A: The two women who lost their sanity after being raped – this book is the first time I’ve mentioned them. Also, the people of Vathuampui [village] where security forces tortured innocent villagers and killed nine people. They [security forces] just came, lined up people and shot them … They did similar things to other villages. Some of the incidents in the book have been rehashed from my earlier books, but there are also quite a few fresh ones I’ve included.

Q: So they shot people without provocation?
A: Yes, innocent people. Also, a havildar [non-commissioned officer] had more power than a DC [deputy commissioner]. For instance, if a soldier shot dead someone, he can simply say the person was an MNF supporter, and that was justification enough. Or if he raped someone, he just says she is an MNF supporter. Nobody could do anything.

Q: So security forces abused their power?
A: They were really bad. There was hardly any village they did not burn down. Even without getting orders from the government, majors on the ground burnt villages on their own volition. In Chhawrtui, villagers were herded inside their houses and locked up. And the major gave the order to burn the houses with all the people in them. But the captain refused and argued with him. They eventually did not burn the houses.

Q: As a former fighter, were you satisfied with the peace treaty?
A: The accord said Mizoram would have a High Court, which has not happened yet. Secondly, the rent for properties and land occupied by security forces, 90 percent has not been paid 27 years [after the peace accord]. And three of our friends still have [legal] cases. They [government] dishonoured the accord in these three instances.

Q: What message are you trying to send with this book?
A: Nobody talks anymore about the hardships we went through during the time of disturbance. If we don’t write about it, the new generation will not know about it. Also, there are some sections who are saying that the air raids never took place.

Q: Was it difficult to interview people on such a difficult phase of their lives?
A: Yes. Some were reluctant to open up, while some tend to exaggerate a bit. So I had to be very careful. Especially in the case of rape, no surviving victim agreed to personally speak about their trauma.

This Election, Mizoram May Not Vote On Polling Day

By Alok Pandey


Aizawl, Apr 7 : The north-eastern state of Mizoram sends just one Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha. But this election season, the state may witness an unprecedented situation on polling day.

Youth organisations, NGOs and women's groups in the state -- all extremely influential -- are set to enforce a 72-hour-long bandh from Monday morning, which will extend till the polling day on Wednesday, April 9.

In state capital Aizawl, announcements are being made over loudspeakers, urging people not to venture out of their homes till April 10. All government offices are expected to remain shut.

Teams from the Election Commission are scheduled to travel towards polling booths in far-flung and hilly areas of the state from Monday morning, but doing this now seems to be a big headache for both the Mizoram government and the Election Commission.

These organisations are angry over the Election Commission's decision to allow Bru refugees, who escaped from Mizoram to the bordering state of Tripura nearly 17 years ago in the wake of ethnic clashes with the majority Mizo tribe, to cast their votes through postal ballots from relief camps in North Tripura. 

Of the 36,000 Bru refugees living in Kanchanpur and Panisagar refugee camps in Tripura for the last 17 years, nearly 11,500 are listed in Mizoram's electoral rolls and they have already cast their vote through postal ballots this week

Mizo organisations, which are enforcing the bandh across the state, say that all the Bru refugees in Tripura's relief camps should have been sent back to Mizoram ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and asked to cast their vote from the state.

Members of the Bru community left Mizoram of their own free will and failed to return during several repatriation programmes organised by the Mizoram government, they claim.

On their part, Bru refugees in Tripura say the atmosphere in Mizoram is not conducive for their return as they are scared for their lives.

First Train Service in Arunachal Rolls Out

Itanagar, Apr 7 : A passenger train would roll down from Tezpur to Naharlagun through the newly built Harmuti-Naharlagun railway line tomorrow to put landlocked Arunachal Pradesh on the railway map of India, informed Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

While fixed wing aircraft from Itanagar airport and intensified helicopter services to improve air
connectivity, power crisis would end with the generation of additional 3,000 MW of hydropower in next five years, he said ILP would be issued online and an all-tribe cultural centre will be set up at Itanagar. Mr Tuki was addressing a Congress road rally at Ganga, near here this afternoon.

The chief minister's Universal Health Insurance Scheme, 24X7ambulance service in the Capital Complex, a Rs 5,000-crore sustainable development project, medical and nursing colleges, medical tourism, single window system to promote investors with the Centre's support, improved banking facilities, one lakh employment generation within five years to channelize the youth energy for state development as mentioned in the manifesto would be fulfilled, Mr Tuki disclosed.

Congress would repeat the history maintained since 1980 to rule Arunachal Pradesh, he said, adding the state is marching to become a developed state, which is the contribution of Congress. 'Haath hamesha aap k saath hai. Vote your hand for your welfare,' Mr Tuki appealed to the people.

'BJP leader Narendra Modi's warning to Arunachal chief minister at Itanagar amounted to insulting the people of Arunachal Pradesh', said Western parliamentary INC candidate Takam Sanjoy and announced 'to launch bhook hartal (Stir) in Delhi after May 16 till Modi tenders public apology' to the applause of the gathering.

Opposition BJP is yet to release manifesto while the Congress did it 10 days go enlisting its vision for the people and the nation, he said, adding 'Congress fulfills its promises unlike other opposition parties'.

Promising to remove the prevailing ills in the society for the rule of law to prevail, Mr Sanjoy spelt out state's approved projects in the pipeline.

Highlighting few developmental projects initiated by Congress rule government, the MP said, these were the outcome of concerted efforts of the state government.

He, however, assured to build a cremation ground for non-Arunachalees and facilitate issue of ILP at the Banderdewa check gate to promote tourism besides completing the capital development agenda, he has initiated, Mr Kaso said in his emotional appeal to the masses to vote.

With Rs 3,500 in Hand, Arunachal Candidate Fights Crorepatis

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Itanagar, Apr 7 : Arunachal Pradesh, which is heading for simultaneous elections to its 60-member state assembly alongside the Lok Sabha polls on April 9, will see a contest among crorepatis in most of the seats. But while 91 of the candidates are crorepatis, there is at least one candidate who has joined the fray with just Rs 3,500 cash in hand and a bank balance of just Rs 40.44.

“I am a poor man. I do get a pension because I am a former MLA. But that is hardly enough for me to survive,” says Bida Taku, former Congress MLA from Seppa in East Kameng district, who is contesting as a People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) candidate from Lekang LAC in Lohit district.

The Rs 3,500 cash and the bank balance of Rs 40.44 are all the assets, movable or immovable, that Taku, 55, has declared in his affidavit. Taku is a former minister (in the Gegong Apang government during 1995-99). At least two of his rivals in the five-cornered contest for Lekang are crorepatis.

“Yes, I have two wives, but they have their own businesses, in which I have no share. The Mahindra Xylo in which I am moving around for my election campaign belongs to one of my wives, who has bought it with her income,” said Taku. Interestingly, Taku is taking on former minister Chowna Mein on the latter’s home turf of Lekang, eyeing the non-tribal votes which constitute an overwhelming majority in the assembly constituency.

Taku said the Lekang assembly seat has over 15,000 voters, of whom over 10,000 are either from Assam or are Deuri tribals whose ST status was withdrawn in the early 1990s.

“I am fighting the polls on two major issues, permanent residents’ certificates for the genuine non-tribals domiciled in Lekang, and ST status for the Deuri and Mishing communities,” Taku said.
 
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Meanwhile, a survey carried out by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Arunachal Pradesh Election Watch has revealed that as many as 91 of the 152 candidates in the frary are crorepatis, who comprise more than 60 per cent of the total contestants.

This, interestingly, is a significant increase against 61 crorepatis (41 per cent) in the 2009 assembly elections — and many of them have become rich after they won the last election.

Voting Starts From Northeast India

New Delhi, Apr 7 : India's general election, to elect 543 members to the 16th Lok Sabha, or the House of People in the bicameral parliament, kicks off Monday, with balloting starting from two states in the northeast, Assam and Tripura.

The nine-phase voting, that will be done in 930,000 polling stations across the length and breadth of this huge nation with a staggering 814 million electorate, will be spread over 36 days from April 7 to May 12.

This election, many analysts say, is different in many ways different from the elections of the past two decades with more focus on individual leaders, wide use of social media and rise of the "aspirational class" and the large number of first-time voters.

Stakes are high for the participants with relatively young leaders leading the charge of Congress and BJP and regional parties, led by leaders nursing national ambitions, threatening to upset the applecart of the established players. Although campaigning has been surcharged, it has so far been peaceful.

The election also raises prospects of a leader born after Independence becoming the prime minister. Bharatiya Janata Party has declared Narendra Modi, 63, as its prime ministerial candidate and Rahul Gandhi, 43, is seen as the de facto prime ministerial candidate of the Congress.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, 45, whose one-and-a-half-year-old party has created a buzz in the political arena on its strong anti-corruption plank, is also aiming for a role in government formation as are a clutch regional players from West Bengal in the east to Tamil Nadu in the south.

Campaigning has been intense but the real battle will be fought for control of the Hindi-speaking heartland where two states, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, ironically among the least developed of Indian states, account for between them 120 (80 from UP and 40 from Bihar) MPs. Delhi goes to the polls on April 10 to elect 7 MPs.

A study last year by Internet and Mobile Association of India and IRIS knowledge foundation had said that there were 160 Lok Sabha constituencies in which social media would be a critical tool to influence people's voting choices. Almost 68 percent of the country’s 1.2 billion population is estimated to be below the age of 35.

Political parties are making special efforts to woo the youth by talking of issues of economic growth and jobs.

Successive opinion polls have forecast that BJP-led NDA would be the prime contender for power. But despite a grim forecast about its prospects, due to a stagnant economy and allegations of corruption during five years of United Progressive Alliance II, the Congress is making a determined bid to get another mandate from people.

The Congress is banking on its welfare initiatives including rights-based legislations to woo the poor and subaltern classes. Its leaders have also asserted that an unprecedented 14 million people have been brought out of poverty in the last 10 years.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party's campaign, has been targeting BJP and Modi over "divisive politics". Gandhi is slated to address nearly 100 meetings over the next few weeks.

The BJP is riding on the perceived popularity of Modi, who is slated to address around 150 rallies across the country in over a month. Modi has been seeking to tap into the apparent discontent over UPA's performance by promising a brighter future to the people with greater security and enhanced growth.

BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that real issues for the party were development, good governance, employment, and national security.

“We are fighting the election on economic issues. Congress is trying to communalise it,” Naqvi told IANS.

Political analyst Rizwan Qaiser, who teaches at Jamia Millia Islamia University, said that the 2014 Lok Sabha election was “extraordinary” as stakes were very high for the political players.

“Stakes are particularly high for the BJP. The way candidature of Modi is being projected, one person has overshadowed the party, which was did not happen earlier,” Qaiser told IANS.

He said stakes were also high for the Congress as Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party's campaign, has "not been able to capture imagination of people".

“The regional parties are becoming assertive. I think these parties need to be watched carefully,” he added.

The number of voters has risen since the first election in 1951-52. It was about 173 million in 1951-52 and nearly 814 million in 2014.

A.S. Narang, a professor of political science at the Indira Gandhi National Open University, said the election was getting centred around an individual.

“It happened during Indira Gandhi years and then to some extent when Rajiv Gandhi was in the fray. Now it is being fought (by the BJP) in the name of an individual (Modi)," Narang said.

He said youth participation is expected to be large and they were showing keen interest in election.

Displaced Mizo refugees cast postal ballot in Tripura

A woman from the displaced Bru community casts her vote through postal ballot at a refugee camp in Tripura on Tuesday. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

Displaced persons of the Mizoram Reang tribe kicked off the 16th Lok Sabha elections here on Tuesday, exercising their franchise by postal ballot.

Of the 11,243 eligible voters, around 2,500 participated in the first day of the three-day voting exercise set up for the evacuees — thousands had taken shelter in Kanchanpur in North Tripura district, in the wake of the 1997 ethnic violence in Mizoram’s Mamith district — housed in makeshift camps.

“The polling started at 8 a.m. at designated centres of the camps, but picked up in the afternoon. Even after the time limit of 5 p.m. passed, voters were in the queues,” Kanchanpur sub-divisional magistrate Nantu Ranjan Das told The Hindu.

At 5 p.m., he said, 2,269 votes were polled and another 250 “enthusiastic” voters remained in the queues.

Dismissing the Mizoram government’s objections and street protests in the State capital Aizawl, the Election Commission went ahead with the conduct of the postal ballot for the displaced Reangs, who are also known as Bru.

The Mizoram government had wanted around 35,000 refugees to return to the State and vote in its lone Lok Sabha constituency as normal voters. Three candidates are in the fray.

Massive security arrangements were in place in and around the camps.

The Mizoram Displaced People’s Forum — apex body of the refugees — extended support and cooperation for the smooth conduct of the poll, officials said.

6 Northeast Residents Beaten By Mob in Gurgoan

By Sanjay Yadav & Maria Akram

The victims said the mob shouted racial slogans and targeted northeast people in the area after a Manipuri student had an altercation with his landlord. 

NEW DELHI/GURGAON: In another brutal racial attack in the National Capital Region, a mob of 15-20 locals beat up six persons from the northeast with hockey sticks and iron rods in Gurgaon's Sikanderpur village on Saturday night, leading to two of the victims losing their hearing.

The victims said the mob shouted racial slogans and targeted northeast people in the area after a Manipuri student had an altercation with his landlord. Money and mobile phones were also allegedly stolen from the victims in the area known as mini-Munirka as it is popular with northeasterners.

The student, Seigoulal Kipgen, said the violence started after he asked his landlord, who had come to his room, to wait as he was on the phone. "This got him so angry that he started beating me," Kipgen told TOI.

Police said an FIR had been registered at the DLF Phase-I police station but no arrests had been made so far.

Two of the victims have allegedly lost their hearing after being beaten up. One of them, Rinmaso Huishuwo, now uses a hearing aid and is undergoing treatment. His roommate, Prem, told TOI his that Huishuwo was bleeding when he returned and despite taking pain killers, was in severe pain.

Another victim, Bruce K Thangkhal, said he was in his room when he heard two men arguing on the street. He opened his window and saw the landlord and his son abusing a Manipuri student. "Soon they came to my room and starting beating me up. They took away my phone and wallet," he said.

Mereiyer Keishing was driving back to Delhi with his friend when he was stopped and waylaid. "I had gone to meet my friends in Sikanderpur and while returning we saw a northeasterner trying to stop us for help. He was bleeding and within seconds after getting down from the car, some locals with sticks charged at us." Keishing has a few fractured ribs and has bruises on his back and legs.

An FIR has been registered at DLF Phase-I police station and the cops have now deployed security personnel at 'sensitive' points. This isn't the first incident reported from this area. Residents say racial profiling and snide remarks are a part of the life.

Chakshang Siro, general secretary of Tangkhul Naga Students Union, narrated more horrific tales. "There are more than 500 northeasterners living in this area. The locals keep harassing us. Most of us here are professionals. But it is the first time that a mob has attacked us."

Northeasterners say they are now afraid to move out alone. Athot Singhal, a member of the union, said, "Our brothers and sisters are living in rat holes. Finding a house is very difficult and when we manage to do so, safety is a big issue. Which politician can ensure our safety? We are also humans."

The victims claim that an FIR was registered only after several unions from Delhi rushed to the place. When they tried to call the cops around 10.30pm on Saturday, there was no response. "By the time the cops arrived, it was very late," said Keishing.

Police have slapped charges under sections 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 323 (assault) of the IPC and various sections of the SC/ST Act against unknown persons. However, with no arrest till Monday morning, the victims approached Gurgaon Police chief Alok Mittal, asking him to step in.

"The FIR has been lodged and our teams are conducting raids to nab the accused," said assistant commissioner of police Rao Dalbeer Singh.

Times View

Repeated attacks on those from the northeast are clearly adding to their sense of insecurity in the national capital region.

The government cannot sit back and watch this happen or even treat it as isolated incidents.

The pattern must be recognized and dealt with. Unless such cases are dealt with firmly and exemplary punishment is meted out to those indulging in such violence and ethnic profiling, others with a similar mindset will get emboldened.

It is the duty of the state to send out a clear message - anybody who tries to intimidate residents of any part of India, irrespective of where they are from, will face the wrath of thelaw.

Thai court orders extradition of NSCN arms deals ‘broker’

Willy was picked up by Thailand at India’s request last year.

In a significant breakthrough, a Bangkok court on Monday issued an order to extradite a Thai national and middlemen Willy Naruenartwanich, accused of brokering arms deals between Chinese suppliers and Northeast insurgent outfits, said officials.

It relates to an NIA case in which Anthony Shimray, a top NSCN (IM) operative, arrested in 2010 for negotiating through Willy for procuring huge quantity of arms and ammunition for his outfit. While issuing the order, the court has allowed 30 days time to the fugitive if Willy wants to appeal against order.

Willy was picked up by Thailand at India’s request last year. According to Shimray, Willy brokered significant arms deals between Chinese suppliers and Northeast insurgent outfits. The court order came after a team from the National Investigative Agency (NIA) presented evidence before the Thai authorities.

As per NIA chargesheet, Willy runs a spa business in Thailand and had emerged as a key figure during the interrogation of Shimray, who had bewildered Indian interrogators with the details of his alleged dealings. As per NIA, Shimray had reportedly told interrogators that Willy was his main interlocutor with Chinese arms dealers and had brokered a $2 million deal involving supply of around 1,000 firearms, including 600 AK-47s and ammunition.

The deal, according to the NIA chargesheet, was re-negotiated to $1 million. After a six-month investigation, NIA filed a chargesheet against Shimray and three others, including a foreign national, at a Delhi court.