NPUCL, FUNICH slam February 6 rally

New Delhi/Ukhrul, February 7 (MExN): The Naga People’s Union for Civil Liberties (NPUCL) and Forum for Understanding the Naga-India Conflict & Human Rights (FUNICH) has slammed the AMUCO/UCM/CCSK’s February 6 Rally.  

A press release from NPUCL President, Kahorngam Zimik, and FUNICH Convener, Lakpachui Siro, termed the rally as a “motivated reaction to sabotage the tireless efforts” of the NSCN and Government of India to bring long lasting peace and development not only in the Naga areas, but for the entire North Eastern Region.   Asserting that the hills were never a part of the valley kingdom, the NPUCL and FUNICH maintained that by coining the slogan that the “hills and the valley people are one and can never be divided”, AMUCO/UCM/CCSK’s project is nothing but “another majoritarian attempt to deconstruct the history of hill-valley disconnect so as to muzzle the legitimate aspiration of the Nagas and other tribal communities in the State.”   Stating that “British colonial legacy and practice” remain in the State of Manipur, the two bodies expressed disappointment that the dominant community with the backing of the State Government is constantly trying to articulate history “on the basis of colonial narrative”.   The bodies contended that for real peace and development, the dominant community must accept the fact that there are two equally proportionate voices of contradicting aspiration.   “It is very clear that the Nagas want complete separation from the State of Manipur,” NPUCL and FUNICH maintained. “The position has been reiterated again and again at various platforms by various legitimate and apex bodies of Nagas like United Naga Council, All Naga Student Association, Manipur, Naga Mothers’ Union, including various district wise Tribal Apex bodies like Tangkhul Naga Long, Chandel Naga Peoples’ Organization, Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur and Naga People’s Organization, Senapati, all have pledged for complete separation from the State of Manipur and fully support the ongoing Peace Talk between the NSCN and the Government of India,” it added.   If the dominant community is really for peace and development in the region and has concern for the hill people, then respecting the aspiration of the Nagas and other tribals of the State is highly warranted, the bodies maintained. “Otherwise, it will continue to remain a hollow slogan of unity and integrity without the participation of any legitimate hill civil societies,” it stated. “Yesterday’s rally was certainly a classic example of how deeply the State is divided between the hills and the valleys,” NPUCL and FUNICH added.   It mentioned that while all Manipuri civil societies went for a rally in the valley, the United Naga Council observed total shutdown in the entire four Naga inhabited hill districts. The two bodies further pointed out that it was “hypocritical” that despite nine dead bodies of the hill tribal martyrs still lying unburied, the “dominant valley” decided to come out with this ill-timed rally.   “If all Manipuris and four valley based organizations like AMUCO, UCM and CCSK are really concerned about ethnic harmony and brotherhood, it is about time that they respect the rights and aspirations of the Nagas and other tribals to have their own way rather than playing harmful and toxic politics with hollow slogans without any moral and historical basis,” NPUCL and FUNICH contended.