Submits memorandum urging Union Home Minister to take steps for release of UNC officials
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): The Naga Hoho has knocked at the doors of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking immediate intervention in connection to the arrest of United Naga Council (UNC) president Gaidon Kamei and information & publicity secretary Sankhui Stephen by the Manipur Government on November 25, 2016. A memorandum to this was submitted to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju in Delhi to be forwarded to the Union Minister of Home Affairs by the Naga Hoho on Tuesday in Delhi.
In the memorandum, the Hoho said the UNC officials were arrested by Manipur police commandoes without provocation when they were proceeding from Leimakhong to Senapati for the UNC presidential meeting. The arrest was made on the allegation that the UNC had imposed economic blockage in Naga inhabited areas from November 1, 2016, as a result of which normal life in Manipur has been severely hit.
The Hoho asserted that the present economic blockade along the Imphal-Mao section of NH-2 was called to oppose the creation of e new District called ‘Sadar Hills District’ by carving our land from Naga inhabited areas particularly from Senapati district.
The issue being purely political in nature involving the interest of the landowners, the Hoho pointed out that even in 1981, 1992, 1996 and 1998, the Manipur government made several attempts to create a new district by carving out land from Naga inhabited areas and give it to the Kukis.
The Hoho stated that the Naga people have made several request to the Chief Minister of Manipur to immediately release the two Naga leaders from police custody but instead, the Manipur government stated that it would initiate legal action against the UNC officials.
It also pointed out that in 2011, the Manipur government made another attempt to create Sadar Hills as a new district in favour of the Kukis without consulting the stakeholders (Nagas). With the issue becoming very contentious, the Government of India intervened and in the process gave a written assurance to the Nagas that the Nagas of Manipur would be consulted before taking any final decision by the Manipur government.
The Hoho said the reasons behind the present economic blockade imposed by the UNC was due to the Manipur government’s unilateral decision to declare Sadar Hills as a full-fledged district without prior consultation from the stakeholders, which is contrary to the assurances given by the GoI on November 24, 2011.
It stated that with the arrest of the Naga leader, the people have called for a total shutdown in all the Naga inhabited districts for 24 hours while on the other hand, the Manipur government was preparing on a war footing manner to arrest more Naga leaders and confront the strike supporter.
In view of the above circumstances, the Hoho has urged the GoI to immediately take appropriate steps to talk with the Manipur government for early and unconditional release of the two UNC officials and to restore peace and harmony between the Nagas and the present Manipur government.
