• Till Govt of Manipur assures safety and security of the Nagas in Manipur
• Students traveling back to Manipur are however exempted
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 19 (MExN): The Naga Students Federation (NSF) today informed that it has resolved to impose total blockade effective immediately of all Manipur bound vehicles in the Naga inhabited areas till the Government of Manipur assures the safety and security of the Nagas in Manipur.
A press note from the NSF however stated that “in good faith the Federation shall consider the students travelling back to Manipur from their vacations to be exempted from the purview of the bandh.” The NSF said that the present crisis is a “creation of the Government of Manipur by breaching the agreement on the creation of the Sadar Hills which was signed between the Government of Manipur and the Nagas.”
Naga Hoho laments war like situation
The Naga Hoho also expressed dismay at the “actions and activities against the Nagas living in Manipur,” and stated that the “attack on the Christian institutions and innocent passengers and burning down of vehicles by state sponsored criminals cannot be tolerated by the Nagas at any cost.”
A press note from the Naga Hoho, Assembly Secretary, K Elu Ndang stated that “we have been living together as good neighbour in the past and we wish to do so in the days to come.” It however lamented that “the war like situation created by the people of Manipur is beyond imagination.” It cautioned against “waging war against Nagas on communal lines or else it will have adverse repercussions in the Naga areas.”
The Naga Hoho said it has been repeatedly appealing the Manipur Government and the GoI to respect the genuine rights of the Naga people “but it has turned a deaf ear to the genuine cry of the people by allowing exploitation of the common people.”
It reminded that the Naga Hoho delegation met Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and the Joint Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs Incharge of North East on November 30 and December 1 respectively and apprised them of the crisis in Manipur and intervention thereof. The Naga Hoho maintained that if the Manipur CM and the GoI fails to redress the situation, they would be held responsible for any untoward situation in the future.
Targeting innocent public will create bitterness: NPF
Meanwhile, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) expressed anguish and concern over the spurt of violence in Manipur, “especially targeting the innocent Naga travelers” that took place on December 18, A press note from the NPF stated that it “smells something fishy/dirty game being played by some individuals under the patronage of the present Manipur Government as the state assembly election is only few months away.”
“Such kind of barbaric acts by way of making the innocent public as soft target will only create more bitterness between the hill and valley people,” it cautioned. The NPF urged upon the citizens of Manipur to “sit across the table and resolve all issues instead of resorting to violence.”
It also appealed for immediate intervention from the Central Government before the situation worsens, “as Manipur Government; under the incumbent Chief Minister is unable to contain the situation.”
