The Hindu : Naga talks have positive impact on NE militants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2003

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National

Naga talks have positive impact on NE militants

By Barun Das Gupta

SANGHBOR (Assam) JAN. 21. The satisfactory progress of peace talks between the NSCN(IM) and the Centre has had its impact on almost all militant outfits operating in the north-eastern region.

One such is the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), an armed group of the Dimasa tribe operating in North Cachar Hills district. Formed in 1994, it sought a separate `Dimraji' State within the Indian Union comprising all the Dimasa-inhabited territories.

Its armed wing, the Dimasa National Army (DNA) has about 400 armed men, having mostly automatic rifles, carbines and grenade launchers. Its encounters with security forces have resulted in deaths on both sides. It had also indulged in extortions and kidnappings for ransom.

On January 1, the DHD and the Centre declared simultaneously a ceasefire for five months, as a prelude to starting talks.

In the changed situation, the DHD for the first time felt the need to interact with the media. A meeting between a select group of mediamen and leaders of the outfit took place here on January 20, coinciding with the birthday of its president, Jewel Garlossa. Its vice-president, Dilip Dimasa, and the Commander-in-Chief, Pranab Nunissa, were also present.

The Dimasa population, DHD leaders claim, is four lakhs. Of them, three lakhs are in the NC Hills and the rest scattered in neighbouring States, mostly in Nagaland.

The demand for a `Dimaraji' by integrating all Dimasa-inhabited areas is on the same line as that of the Naga demand for a Nagalim, integrating all Naga-inhabited areas. The basis of the demand is also the same: long history and distinct cultural entity of the Dimasas.

Like the NSCN(IM) leaders, the DHD leaders also say: "We are only demanding what is traditioinally ours. We are not demanding other people's lands."

The demands for Nagalim and Dimaraji are mutually exclusive. The territories demanded by the Nagas include the NC Hills district of Assam where the bulk of the Dimasas live. On the contrary, the proposed Dimaraji includes Dimapur, main commercial town of Nagaland, and its only railhead.

The Dimasas are sore that Dimapur was "gifted away'' by the Central and Assam Governments in 1963 when Nagaland was made a separate State "without the consent of the Dimasa people.

Dimapur was the capital of the Dimasa kingdom till the Ahoms defeated the Dimasas in a battle and captured Dimapur in 1531. The Dimasa king fled and set up his capital at Khaspur in the Barak Valley.

While these conflicting demands will take a long time to be sorted out, the ceasefire with the DHD is likely to continue. This is the impression one gets from talks with the DHD leaders.

Meanwhile, four designated camps are being set up at different places where all DNA "soldiers'' would be kept.

Mr. Garlossa and Mr. Nunissa said they would first demand the Centre to finalise the ground rules for the ceasefire. This will pave the way for "political talks'' with the Centre.

``We will talk to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and the Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi,'' Mr. Nunissa said.

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