Dimapur, July 6 (MExN): The South Nagas’ Union of Nagaland State (SNUNS) has called upon all Naga MLAs and Ministers in Manipur Assembly to resign en-masse “so as to bring solution to the constant ethnic conflict and political unrest due to unanswered South Nagas’ political aspiration and other tribal communities.”
While expressing immense appreciation to the four NPF MLAs for tendering their resignation from Manipur Legislative Assembly for the cause of the Nagas and other tribal communities, a press release from the Publicity & Information Cell of the Union urged other Naga MLAs from different political parties to “follow suit at the earliest to pave the way for addressing south Nagas’ plight”.
SNUNS cited the recently held Tribal Peace and Harmony Award function in Imphal in which Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, and Dy. Chief Minister, Gaikhangam, had called upon the people to maintain peace and harmony in the state.
In his speech, Gaikhangam had stressed on Meetei separatist groups demanding sovereignty for Manipur; Nagas in Manipur wanting Naga Integration; and Kuki armed groups demanding separate Kuki homeland.
Here, SNUNS observed that Gaikhangam intentionally avoided mentioning the United Naga Council’s (UNC) “Political-Sever-Ties” with the existing Govt. of Manipur and demand to have a separate administrative set-up.
“This UNC’s demand is the rightful and most genuine,” the union maintained. “Long years of living together with Meetei community has shown the incompatibility of living together under one administration,” it added.
Pointing out that the Meeties have four districts in Imphal valley, with forty assembly constituencies out of sixty Manipur Assembly Constituencies, SNUNS claimed that this had resulted in “siphoning the central funds to themselves”, thus depriving Nagas and other tribal communities of equal opportunity for development.
The recent three bills is another design to politically control the tribal people, their land and their political rights, SNUNS maintained.
Pointing out that UNC has time and again expressed grievances of the Naga people, the union censured the Central and Manipur Government for remaining unmoved to the sufferings of the Nagas and other tribal communities till date.
SNUNS appreciated the proposal of the late Nagaland Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi for creation of two union territories in the present state of Manipur - one for Meeteis occupied valley and the other for tribal people occupied valleys and hills – to solve the prevailing political problem in Manipur. “It is right political vision which is viable,” the union stated.
Further calling upon all Nagas living in Naga-contiguous-land in different states for understanding, SNUNS stated that the political separation of Nagas of Manipur would be among the first step to solve the Indo-Naga political problem.
“To do so, first and foremost our Naga MLAs and Ministers in Manipur Legislative Assembly should resign en-mass, so as to bring solution to the constant ethnic conflict and political unrest due to unanswered South Nagas’ political aspiration and other tribal communities within shortest period of time.”
