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This will be my last post for 2011. Northeast Indian watchers should never be starved for reading material though. The Seven Sisters Post, which broke the story on the potential new Naga entity, was launched just a couple of weeks ago, adding to the healthy stream of news and analysis from the region.
Four people were injured in an explosion in Manipur yesterday. Also yesterday, Government forces shot dead three ULFA militants in Arunachal Pradesh. Two government offices and four government buses were set alight in Arunachal Pradesh last Friday.
There’s been vague whisperings about the Central Government considering forming a ‘supra-state’ Naga body before the end of the year. As the Naga imposed blockade in Manipur continues, two weeks after the Kuki-led blockade was called off, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has threatened agitation if their land is included in the to-be created Sadar Hills District.
11 people have indicted in Bangladesh on arms smuggling charges. They include Paresh Baruah and other high profile individuals including former ministers and senior bureaucrats. Apparently the Indian Government has concrete evidence that Mr Baruah is in China.
Someone has a sense of humour: Manipur has been named “best improved state in governance among small states of India”.
What do Greece and Tripura have in common? No, it’s not souvlaki. Tripura is reportedly enjoying a “severe fiscal crisis” and seeking a bail out of the order of US$3b.
The Kuki Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC)-initiated blockade was finally lifted this week following written assurance from the Manipur state government that Sadar Hills district would be created. The United Naga Council counter-blockade remains in place. The LA Times has a pessimistic but interesting article on the blockades. One claim I found particularly interesting, which is mentioned only in passing, is that those seeking local government positions in Manipur need to pay bribes in the region of $10,000.
Nabam Tuki was sworn in as the new Chief Minister for Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. Tuki, the leader of the agitation against previous CM Jarbom Gamlin, was nominated by Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi. He is from the Nishi ethnic group.
In Darjeeling-area politics, it was reported this week that the title Gorka Territorial Administration (GTA) will be changed to Gorkhaland and Adivasi Territorial Administration after an agreement between the Gorka Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and Adivasi Vikas Parishad (AVP). It seems that the GJM's tactic is to offer reserved Adivasi seats in turn for the inclusion of the Terai and Dooars in the GTA (or GATA). Confusingly, it was subsequently reported that such an agreement was not in fact reached, but rather that it was only proposed by the GJM. Regardless, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appears to be taking credit for being behind the agreement's brokerage.
This week's South Asia Intelligence Review has an article on the Maoist infiltration of the northeast, describing Arunachal as a "hotbed" of Maoist activity. Times Now reported this week that the central government has intelligence that there is increased Maoist activity in the Arunachal-Assam border area.