The Tangkhuls have a separate underground group of their own, calling with different names in different times. Formed Naga National Liberation Army (NNLA) in 2005, and then came up with another name as United Naga People’s Council (UNPC) in 2008. And now it is again called as Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF). As per their declaration flashed in the local papers of Manipur, the main purpose of formation of such Tangkhul underground group/groups is to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur and to maintain peace and harmony between the hills and valley people of Manipur.
True to their stand, it is the MNRF who successfully played the role to prevent the near communal clash between the Tangkhuls and the Meiteis when Dr. Thingnam Kisan, SDO of Kasom Khullen and his two staff were abducted and brutally murdered by some Tangkhul NSCN (IM) cadres. The MNRF immediately denounced the act of the NSCN (IM) as inhuman and beastly. It also alleged that several untoward activities have been committed under the guidance/instruction of the NSCN (IM) in the past and blame the NSCN (IM) that such was the reason that the people of Manipur are unable to repose faith in each other even as it is said that all the people of Manipur are brothers and sisters. The MNRF calls upon all to join hands in hunting down the culprits and punish them accordingly, but said that it would not be correct to harm innocent persons belonging to any community.
All the Meitei underground groups and the Meitei public listened to the MNRF because all of them including the MNRF work for the safeguard of the territorial integrity of Manipur. The Tangkhul NSCN (IM) and the Tangkhul public may say about the MNRF “good or bad” but the existing of the MNRF is a blessing in disguise for them. Again, in case, clashes occurred between the majority Meiteis and the Naga people in Manipur because of the issue of the integration of all Naga areas, the Tangkhuls are still safer than other Naga tribes in Manipur because of the MNRF. Who knows - those Tangkhuls who are residing in the Imphal valley and the vulnerable villages that are situated in the foot-hills may say that they support the MNRF and the territorial integrity of Manipur.
It is said that the combined forces of the MNRF and the Meitei underground groups are more active than the NSCN (IM) in most of the villages in Tangkhul region but the top NSCN (IM) policy makers never adopt step to clash with them. May be because of the above stated reasons. When in other Naga areas 2/3 underground groups cannot stay together without clashing though their goal are the same. It is not understandable how two underground groups with completely different ideologies (if what they declared are true) stay together in Ukhrul district of Manipur: The MNRF is for the safeguard of the territorial integrity of Manipur and the NSCN (IM) is for the integration of all Naga areas.
Therefore, because of the above-mentioned reasons and the confusions arising out of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) demand for Ukhrul to be the summer capital of Manipur, I would like to put here three questions before all Nagas to ponder:
1. Are the Tangkhul Naga Long with the MNRF for the safeguard of the territorial integrity of Manipur?
2. Or are they with the NSCN (IM) for the integration of all Naga areas?
3. If not, are all the Tangkhuls: the TNL, the MNRF and the Tangkhul NSCN (IM) working together in understanding with an aim to bring about Development/benefits especially for the Tangkhuls, the people of Ukhrul district at the expense of the sacrifices of thousands of Naga lives?
KS Solomon Naamai
Member,
Core Committee,
Naga National Workers People Support Group
