DIMAPUR, JUNE 1 (MExN): The Mao Union, Kohima in its consultative meeting of the executive body held on May 31, unanimously agreed and supported the TCU and SNUN statements and also expressed its resentment at the ‘childish act’ of politics of the Manipur government in condemning and attempting to criminalize Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s visit to Naga areas while on his way to Khezhakeno village on May 25 last.
“To set the record straight, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is not a stranger or a foreigner but a Naga by blood for which, he is also part and parcel of the Memei Community as well. His visit, travel, stoppage or being received by his Naga brothers and sisters anywhere in Naga inhabited areas including his reception at the Naga historic great wild Pear Tree at Charangho (Shajouba) village is not only his birth right but a democratic and constitutional right as well”, the Mao Union Kohima stated in a press communiqué.
Informing that on the said day, the Memei community received Rio at the historic great wild pear tree at Charangho (Shajouba) village where, he had family interactions with his brothers and sisters, while he was on his way to Khezhakeno village to attend an official function.
It stated that the general public of Memei community highly appreciated Rio’s appeal for the Naga unification and finding an honourable solution to the long pending Indo-Naga issue.
“The union however, is appalled to see with much resentment the Manipur Assembly’s attempt to criminalize N Rio’s visit, by throwing various false allegations against him by cooking up cock and bull stories including that the latter had not officially informed Manipur government for the visit and that Neiphiu Rio had announced reward for the two Nagas who welcomed Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh with a banner that read ‘welcome to south Nagalim’ while addressing a public gathering.
The union wondered, as to how Manipur Police personnel were on duty much ahead at the if Rio had not informed his counterpart. Moreover, he only had a ‘family interaction’ with his Naga brethren, not addressing a public gathering. The manner in which the Manipur Assembly attempted to criminalize the Naga leader’s visit to his own land and also the attempt to arrest two Naga brothers who had welcomed Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to Nagalim with a banner during the latter’s visit to Senapati is a clear indication of suppressing the Nagas’ democratic rights, the union stated. The Mao Union therefore, tendered its ‘humble’ advice to the Manipur government, to mind their own business and not ‘poke their nose around’ in the Naga family matters which would only bring bad blood between the two peace loving neighbours, but also vitiate the whole atmosphere of peaceful co-existence.
