You are right when you say that “… the Meiteis must be prepared to accept their past mistakes … that injustice was done to the smaller ethnic communities …” (The Sangai Express VII/10 of 22 Sept. 2005).
We were already pained at the way the Naga ancestral land was arbitrarily subjected to political fragmentation, wherein part of our land surrounding your Meitei kingdom was placed under the administration of the Manipur state Government. We, on our part, were trying to live together with you as good neighbors, until that “injustice” you mentioned forced the Nagas and the other Hill Peoples to resist the neo-imperialists design to defend their land and dignity, which you conveniently coined as “ethno-exclusivity.”
If you say you are prepared to accept your past mistakes then why do you wrongly try to blame the NSCN (IM) for the injustice your own people have committed? Confession is not enough. You need to realize and take initiative to respect the oppressed people’s right to self-determination as you have rightly acknowledged.
Let me remind you of this also that unlike your banned outfit, the NSCN (IM) is a people based organization, recognized by the United Nations, the Indian Government and various International governmental and non-governmental bodies.
On one hand you tell your people to put up slogans like “Chingmi–tammi amattani” (hill people and valley people are one) and on the other you keep attacking Naga political organization. Why don’t you honestly say that you hate the Nagas but love their land, resources and women?
When is the UNLF going to stop planting landmines in and around Naga villages? Satang Maring Naga village (located about 15 kms north-west of Moreh town in the eastern Maring Naga territory) is covered with your landmines. Recently, on September 11, 2005 (Terrorism Day?) your mines caused heavy casualties to our Nagas in Choktong. When are you going to request your cadres to desist from forcibly entering and harassing our Naga villages? Your band has been inflicting psychological as well as physical pain to the Satang villagers -
• Every villager has to take permission from your men even to go out for marketing or personal work
• They are forced to return early from work
• Verbal permission is a must for every entry and exit, and
• Domestic animals, especially cattle are forced to stay indoors to avoid detonating the land-mines.
Most of the time, these harassments are not reported to the media for fear of severe torture or death penalty as it was in the case of Lamlong Khunou Maring Naga villagers.
Please remember that Nagas declared their Independence a day ahead of India. India has now acknowledged the unique history of the Nagas. It will therefore be wise on your part, if you have the maturity and wisdom of an able leader, to cease from interfering in the Naga political process.
Paul Langhu, President
Ng. Souni Khapa, Info. & Publicity Secretary
ANSAM
