UNC decides to intensify economic blockade

Newmai News Network Senapati | November 10   The "emergency United Naga Council (UNC) Presidential Council Meeting' with frontal organizations of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union (NWU) and senior leaders held here today at UNC office in Senapati, has decided to intensify the ongoing indefinite economic blockade, including banning the construction of Trans Asian Railways and National Projects in 'Naga territories'.   The meeting re-affirmed that the Naga people "will not compromise our rights over land, identity, history, tradition, culture, custom and time honored institutions under any circumstances till a written official assurance from the Government of India is received on the position of creating new districts(s) since, the Nagas have declared severance of political ties with the communal Government of Manipur".   Today's meeting was called to review the ongoing Indefinite economic blockade including banning the construction of Trans Asian Railways and National projects in Naga territories which was launched form the midnight of November 1, 2016 in protest against the "lopsided decision of the communal Government of Manipur to declare the so called Sadar Hills and Jiribam sub division into full fledged districts".   According to the UNC, today's meeting seriously viewed and condemned the "autocratic policy" of the Government of Manipur, for dishonoring the letter and spirit of the 4 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), signed between the Naga people and the Government of Manipur (GoM) on December 14,1981; between the GoM and ANSAM on November 10, 1992; between the Government of Manipur and Naga Students’ Federation(NSF) on September 27, 1996; and between the Government of Manipur and UNC and ANSAM on June 23,1998 agreeing upon that not even an inch of Naga ancestral land and its original should be touched while creating any new district and also a written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India on November 24, 2011.   The Naga leaders then appealed and informed to all tribes, frontal and regional organizations and the general public to extend fullest co-operation towards the movement unitedly "at this crucial juncture in order to defend and protect our ancestral land and rights".   The meeting strongly warned to all the transporters not to violate and defy the "directives" of Naga people. "Anyone violating this directive shall be at his/her own risk," the UNC further warned.   Fuel shortages as blockade continues Meanwhile, there is no petrol and diesel in stock in the state, Manipur Chief secretary Oinam Nabakishore said on Thursday. Nabakishore told IANS that it was the result of the indefinite economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC). He said over 150 loaded oil tankers have been stranded at Khatkhati in Assam and nearly 1,800 trucks loaded with goods and oil tankers have been stranded beyond Manipur's border at Mao Gate. (With inputs from IANS)