Dimapur, June 3 (MExN): The Naga Hoho today questioned the integrity and consistency of the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation who the hoho criticized for “continual change in positions.” The hoho issued a statement today responding to ‘allegations’ of the AMUCO and has asked the Manipur organization to stop the diatribe against the Naga people. ‘Nagas are patient, but not weak,” the hoho said in the statement.
“We question the consistency of AMUCO in view of their continual change in positions. This is not just in regard to their protest against the aspirations of the Nagas but in their past policies with regard to their own people,” the hoho said.
The hoho reminded of the initial AMUCO statement that the latter had no objection to the homecoming of NSCN (IM) general secretary Th. Muivah. “However, very soon they did a U-turn and started objecting to the visit. We are inclined to conclude that these actions are done in cahoots with the Meitei politicians who took the infamous Cabinet decision banning Mr. Muivah from visiting his village. Nagas are not surprised by the behavior of these organizations because they have shown their lack of direction and principles in many instances.”
The Naga Hoho also reminded that the AMUCO itself has been trying ‘to bring down’ Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi calling him a ‘criminal’ in the wake of the Khwairamband incident of July 23, 2009. “Now, they are colluding with Ibobi and his corrupted colleagues in conspiring against the aspirations of the Nagas. How can organization such as these which have no principles or values face the public time and again and claim they represent the interests of the ‘people?” the hoho queried the AMUCO.
On the AMUCO ‘advice’ to the Nagas not to fall to the ‘tactics of colonial rulers of snapping “age old fraternity ties”’, the hoho said the AMUCO is in fact doing exactly the same ‘by stopping the Nagas from coming together and living together as one.’
The Naga Hoho challenged the AMUCO with the query who the “people of Manipur” that the AMUCO claimed to represent. “Do they have any democratic practices within their system or their representatives merely self-promoting individuals? Is it the AMUCO or UCM which represents the “people of Manipur”? Do they also represent the people in the hills? Clearly, the people that these organizations represent are the Meitei majority and their area of activity is confined to the small geographical area of Imphal Valley. How can they then say they are representatives of the “people of Manipur” given the fact that these organizations themselves say Manipur is a land made up of many different groups of people?”
The Naga Hoho ridiculed the AMUCO for talking about the “peace loving people of Manipur” yet stands opposed to the application of ceasefire in all the Naga areas. “If they represent the peace loving people of Manipur then why not support peace initiatives? Is your action not directly against what you talk about in front of TV cameras and newspersons? The Nagas have been voicing their desire for peace for a long time and the ceasefire between India and the NSCN was a welcome development. Yet these organizations were unhappy when it was sought to be applicable to all Naga areas. Is it because they want the Nagas to face the same kind of bloodshed and violence rampant in the Imphal Valley? Your opposition to the ceasefire is a direct propagation for violence in the hill areas. Do not victimize and create problems for the Nagas because you are unable to solve your own problems.”
On “grater Nagaland,” the Naga Hoho asserted that the AMUCO needs to understand “this simple basic fact that there is no greater or smaller Nagaland.” Nagas have their land and it is theirs and theirs alone; Nagas are not going to claim what is not theirs but they will also not give up an inch of their land, the hoho stated. “If such simple facts are not even understood, it is difficult to comprehend that the organization has the capacity to take informed decisions,” the hoho stated. According to the hoho, the ‘Meitei Maharaja’ “signed away the land and freedom of the Meitei to the Avas and the British and therefore AMUCO should stop talking about their proud history.” The AMUCO is told to “refer to the many history books written by your own Meitei authors for more information in this regard.”
“The AMUCO as an organization that cannot even speak out against the atrocities committed in their own front-yard and yet they demanded the Nagas to ‘review their political strategies in view of the welfare of the North East,’ the hoho said.
