Dimapur, May 31 (MExN): Naga organizations from the south today issued a joint statement reiterating their stand on the state-of-affairs arising from a number of issues earlier related to contentions with the state government of Manipur, and recently, since the May 6 Mao Gate killings. “We have exhausted all democratic means to protest and voice our opinions. The agitation must therefore be intensified at all fronts,” the statement said.
“Today we are gathered here to again raise our voices against the Manipur state government before the world. With the brute majority of 40 MLAs from Imphal valley in a house of 60, the successive Manipur state governments of whatever party, individuals or groups, have always been communal and worked invariably in the interest of the dominant community of Imphal valley, undermining our rights and wishes as a people,” the statement said. The statement was appended by leaders of United Naga Council, Naga Women’s Union of Manipur, All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights.
Tracing events back to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, the civil society said that the Nagas’ strong opposition to it has been made clear already. The statement said the ADC elections shall not be allowed to be held until the Act is amended to secure the rights of the tribal people over their lands, the preeminence of tribal institutions and the right to self-governance “which has been enshrined in the Indian constitution”. The “communal state government wanted to legitimize the suppression and the denial of the rights of the tribal” through the 3rd amendment of the District Council Act of 2008, the organizations said. After written submissions evoked no response, the Naga organizations launched an economic blockade in April. “When there was no indication of the government’s intention to listen to our protest the economic blockade was re-imposed indefinitely. The only response from the state government was the reinforcement of its armed forces for breaching and countering the blockade,” the organizations stated.
On May 3, Naga Students’ Federation leaders heading for Oinam village for its federal assembly slated for May 7 were barred from proceeding beyond Mao Gate by Manipur police forces. On April 29, the statement continued, the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India, advised Manipur, Nagaland and West Bengal state government to arrange foolproof security for NSCN (IM) general secretary Th. Muivah, for a visit to native village, Somdal May 2-9.
“The Naga people in the villages and townships, along proposed route of home visit journey started gearing up to welcome Mr. Muivah. The visit of Mr. Muivah which was planned the knowledge of Shri Ibobi, CM of Manipur, was suddenly objected by the Manipur Cabinet with its declaration to disallow the visit on the 1st May, 2010,” the statement said. It also queried why Muivah’s visit was objected to as “Mr. Muivah is not a criminal.”
Then, Mao Women’s Welfare Association under the aegis of the Naga Women’s Union of Manipur organized peaceful “dharnas” at Mao Gate, Senapati district under Manipur state from May 4 and the 5th to protest Manipur Cabinet’s decision that banned the entry of Th. Muivah, to his native place.
On the evening of May 5 at 6.30 PM. one Ashihrii Puni, 52 years, of Song Song village was brutally assaulted by the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), Manipur. On May 6, the public of the area organized a peaceful procession along National Highway-39 to protest the assault.
The statement said: “While the procession was being taken out, the Manipur state armed forces, without any warnings, started firing tear gas and stick bombs on the innocent public. Soon after, they started firing randomly on the protestors and in the process 2 male students were shot dead and more than 80 persons, mainly women, sustained grievous bullet wounds and related injuries. The Manipur armed forces also damaged many vehicles parked on the National Highway, broke windows and kicked open doors of houses, assaulted and arrested the men folks. They further went on a rampage of looting and destruction of properties.”
Villagers fled to neighboring villages in Nagaland; more than 2000 were displaced. “They continue to stay away from their villages as the Manipur state forces continues to occupy their houses and courtyards,” the statement said.
On May 28, Manipur police commandos opened indiscriminate firing on women and brutally assaulted villagers of Khumji village, out of panicked reaction to an accident of a fuel tanker on. A fuel tanker heading for Imphal from Silchar lost control at a turn at Khumji village and turned turtle on the road. Suspecting the accident to be a sabotage, Manipur commandos coming up from Imphal escorting empty trucks heading for Jiribam, started firing indiscriminately at the bystanders. One Ester, 25 years and a Ariang Riamei, 45 years, sustained serious injuries.
“The commandos then barged into the house of one Robinson Kamei, 25 yrs, s/o Keiramsunang Kamei and severely assaulted him with rifles butts and kicks. 4 other innocent villagers were also beaten for no reason,” the statement said. The Naga organizations also took strong exception to what was stated as biased reporting of the valley-based Media. It shows that they have joined hands with the Manipur state government in their communal campaign against the Nagas, the statement said.
The statement had a message for Manipur government: “We have exhausted all democratic means to protest and voice our opinions. The agitation must therefore be intensified at all fronts. The world must know something is wrong in the so called state of Manipur. The world must know that the Meiteis and the Nagas cannot live together in peace and harmony because of the Meitei hegemony. The Manipur Government must admit that they have deeply hurt the sentiments of the Naga people and insulted them and stripped them of their dignity in their own land, homes and hearths. We can only let down our guards only to have them dominate again with deceits and cunning, to be backed by brutal force.”
