Naga bodies seek Prime Minister Modi’s immediate intervention

Newmai News Network Senapati | November 27   The United Naga Council (UNC), the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the Naga Women Union (NWU) have sought the 'immediate intervention' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Sadar Hills and Jiribam issues. The three Naga organisations apprised the Prime Minister on the arrest of United Naga Council (UNC) President Gaidon Kamei and UNC Information Secretary SK Stephen by the Manipur police.   In their joint memorandum to the Prime Minister, UNC, ANSAM and NWU highlighted the "facts and historical background" of the so called Sadar Hills and Jiribam sub division "for your kind immediate intervention."   According to the memorandum, the three Naga bodies mentioned that "in continuation of our written submission on November 3, 2016, the Government of Manipur has decided to inaugurate the so called Sadar Hills and Jiribam sub division into full fledged districts, against the letter and spirit of the 4 (four) Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the Government of Manipur and the Naga people, and a written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on November 24, 2011."   In protest against the "lopsided" decision of the "communal" Government of Manipur and to defend and protect our ancestral land, the Naga people had imposed 48 hours of total bandh followed by indefinite economic blockade including banning of the Construction of Trans Asian Railways and National Projects in "Naga territories" from midnight of October 30, 2016.   It also stated that as the Naga people have declared severance of political ties with the "communal" Government of Manipur, "there is no talking point between the communal Government of Manipur and the Naga people."   The memorandum reminded the Prime Minister that the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the Joint Secretary, NE had invited the United Naga Council (UNC) for a talk on November 13, 2016 between the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the UNC at North Block, New Delhi on November 15, 2016 on the present volatile situation. But the Government of Manipur did not send any of its representatives in the already scheduled meeting, it added.   "Instead of finding peaceful amicable solution on November 15 in New Delhi, the Government of Manipur has arrested Gaidon Kamei, President, UNC and SK Stephen, Information Secretary, UNC without any arrest warrant on November 25 by the police commandos of Imphal West Police Station, Government of Manipur," it further said. They were produced before the Magistrate that evening itself and remanded them in the police custody for 14 days.   Responding to the arrest, a "joint emergency meeting" held at Katomai village, Tahamzam (Senapati) district on November 26 was participated by the United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union (NWU), Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR-South Sector), regional frontal organisations, Naga Political Leaders Forum, Manipur (NPLFM), activists and other Naga leaders. The memorandum further mentioned the outcome of the joint emergency meeting – a 48-hour ultimatum with effect 4 pm of November 26 to the government that Gaidon Kamei, President, UNC and SK. Stephen, Information Secretary, UNC be released unconditionally, failing which O. Ibobi Singh and his government should be held responsible for any eventuality.   "Ours is political issue on land and historical rights and instead of solving the issue, the Government of Manipur  has been deploying state security forces to arrest Naga leaders which the Naga people can  never accept under any circumstances," a resolution of the joint meeting stated.   According to the memorandum, the  situation is becoming "more and more volatile" and there is every chance of "erupting ethnic clashes" at any moment to a magnitude "like the past ugly ethnic clash"  which had caused hundreds of precious lives and uprooted thousands of houses valued crores of rupees, "due to untimely" intervention by the then Central Government. "Your timely intervention is the urgent need of the hour to avoid all undesirable consequences," the memorandum urged.   "Therefore, political intervention from the Government of India is humbly sought to settle the Indo-Naga political issue once and for all for, it is impossible for the Nagas to live under the oppressive and hegemonic communal Government of Manipur," the joint memorandum of UNC, ANSAM and NWU stated.