Dimapur, December 9 (MExN): The United Naga Council today censured the Manipur Government over the creation of seven additional districts in Manipur.
A statement from the Council likened the move to “adding salt to the wound” and termed it as “another step to further Ibobi’s divide and rule policy”.
Asserting that it will not allow any external force “to mettle” with Naga ancestral land, the UNC maintained, “Nagas will alone decide their fate and about their land.”
It alleged that the decision was “an intentional policy supported by the GoI” and warned that “Nagas will not remain silent spectator.”
In this regard, the UNC informed that a Naga Peoples’ Consultation Meeting has been called on December 12, 11:00 am at Tahamzam (Senapati) on the issue of creating new districts without consulting all sections of the people and all stakeholders, including the bodies representing the Nagas as assured.
The UNC in its press statement reminded the public on the stance taken collectively by the Council on the indefinite economic blockade in the Naga areas in Manipur State.
It stated that the decision to impose Indefinite Economic Blockade (including the banning of the construction of Trans Asian Railways from Jiribam to Tupul and other National Projects in all the Naga territories with effect from midnight of October 30) was taken only when the Government of Manipur did not pay heed to the 48 hours Total Shut down of Naga areas by the UNC against the lopsided decision of Manipur Government to create Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full-fledged revenue districts.
The UNC insisted that the wishes of the indigenous Naga people on the issue of Sadar Hills has been expressed in the 4 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Naga people and the Government of Manipur (GoM) wherein it was agreed upon that “not even an inch of Naga ancestral land and its original should be touched while creating any new district”. A written assurance was also given by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on November 24, 2011.
[The MoUs were signed on December 14, 1981, between the Government of Manipur (GoM) and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM); on November 10, 1992 between GoM and Naga Students’ Federation(NSF); on September 27, 1996 between the Government of Manipur and UNC and ANSAM; and on June 23, 1998 between the GoM and UNC & ANSAM.
The Council flayed the Government of Manipur under the leadership of O. Ibobi Singh for not bothering to send representatives to New Delhi for the tripartite talk convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the Naga Organizations on November 15. “Had he been serious enough to send his representatives, the situation would not have come thus far. His outrageous behavior is responsible for the grave situation in Manipur,” the UNC maintained.
The Council also condemned what it termed as “immature conduct” of the Government of India (GoI) arguing that the GoI, instead of playing the role of a good mediator, has done “injustice” to the Nagas by acceding to the request of the Government of Manipur for sending more central forces to the State.
“We want to remind both Governments that the Nagas are inseparable with their lands and every Naga is obliged to protect and defend our ancestral land, people, identity, history, tradition, culture, custom and time honored-institutions at all cost. We are the owner of our land and we will never allow anyone to decide for the Nagas,” the UNC statement asserted before arguing that the question of carving out of Nagas' land to form/create revenue districts does not arise at all.
Further seeking to address organization(s) expressing grievances or concerns over the blockade initiated by UNC, the Council urged that they ask the Government of Manipur instead “to resolve the issue of Sadar Hills and Jiribam at the earliest.”
“Our protest and movement is directed only against the Government of Manipur and not against any community or group,” the UNC reminded concerned organizations/clubs.
It insisted that the “best wisdom” to resolve the present crisis in the State lies with the Government of Manipur and the Government of India, the UNC assured that it will call off the blockade immediately “when written assurance is received from the State Government and when our two leaders who were arrested without “any arrest warrant” is released unconditionally.”
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