DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 27 (MExN): A number of organizations have condemned the action of the Manipur Government for arresting Gaidon Kamei, president, and S. Stephen, information secretary of United Naga Council (UNC) and has sought their unconditional release. The two official of UNC were arrested on November 25 when they were travelling from Pheidinga along the Imphal-Dimapur Highway. The Naga Hoho in a press note issued by media cell maintained that the move to defend the ancestral lands and rights of the Nagas cannot be construed as illegal and appealed the concerned authority to release the two Naga leaders unconditionally. “The Manipur Government must reason out to have peace and tranquility in the region instead of provoking the situation, which may further aggravate among the common people,” the Hoho stated. It also appealed to the Government of India to intervene immediately as the “communal Manipur government is waging war against the Naga people.” Naga Women’s Union (NWU), Senapati expressed regret that Manipur is going through difficult situation because of the apathy of the State Government in not taking the sentiments of the people seriously. It expressed pain over the immense suffering and hardships inflicted upon common people due to the issue of creation of new districts and protest with economic blockade against the proposals. While demanding unconditional release of the two UNC officials, the NWU also urged upon the State Government to initiate for “dialogue with the UNC with the Central government as third party.” It believed that there will be a way for amicable solution if both sides are willing to solve sincerely. Seeking the intervention of the Government of India, Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) in a press statement said the Centre should not remain a silent spectator to the “suffering of the people at the hands of the Manipur Government.” It stated that the present impasse is due to wrong policy of the Manipur Government to inaugurate Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged districts without consulting the people or taking into confidence all sections of the communities who are equal stakeholders. The ZYF maintained that the democratic movement spearheaded by UNC by way of imposing economic blockade on both the National Highways and ban on all works of National Projects in the Naga areas is not against any community but against the wrong policy of the government for trying to ignore the four MoUs signed between the Government of Manipur and Naga organizations on various occasion on the issue of Sadar Hills. Demanding immediate and unconditional release of the UNC officials, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) alleged that the Government of Manipur under the Chief Ministership of Ibobi Singh is not serious on any of the demands made by the Naga people. “He (Ibobi) is rather using the Naga issue for his own political mileage by creating huge communal tension among the various communities living in the state of Manipur. The Government of Manipur should stop playing divisive politics and create communal disharmony among the various ethnic communities,” the Federation stated. UNC 48-hour ultimatum for release of fficials ends today SENAPATI, NOVEMBER 27 (NNN): The United Naga Council (UNC) 48-hour ultimatum served on the Government of Manipur to release its two officials unconditionally will end on Monday at 4pm. In this connection, the UNC has informed all tribe hohos, frontal organisations, student and women organisations, church leaders, village authorities and the Naga public from the districts of Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati to conglomerate at the respective Deputy Commissioner offices by 2 pm on Monday, November 28 and “wait for the unconditional release of the UNC leaders with prayers.”
