DIMAPUR, AUGUST 13 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC) and ANSAM which represent the collective voices of South Nagas, categorically rejected what it termed as the systematic disinformation campaign launched to discredit the peoples non violent democratic movement for affiliation of private schools in the four hill districts of Manipur with the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). ANSAM was responding to the most recent utterance of L. NandaKumar Singh, Manipur Education Minister after his return from New Delhi wherein he had said that the textbook issue was been forced upon by Naga NGO’s ‘terrorizing guardians to force them accept Nagaland textbooks’.
“These derogating remarks of terming peoples organisation as “NGO’s” and utterance of concocted comments are nothing new to a peoples democratic struggle as the dominant forces tries to systematically issue threats and as a justification to any prelude to the use of force to suppress such peaceful peoples movement”, a joint statement issued by UNC and ANSAM stated.
Pointing out that the Ministerial delegations from Manipur that spearheaded this misleading and parochial campaign against the affiliation of private schools to NBSE reflected the predisposed motive of the Meitei rule govt. of Manipur to undermine and suppress the rights of the Nagas. “Does not this reflect the hidden prejudices and motives of the Meities who fears to part away with the spring well by which they quenched their thirst for survival? These disparaging acts are nothing but total intolerance towards promoting the interest of the other linguistic and religious minorities in the state”, the joint statement read.
UNC and ANSAM informed that the question of providing options for students to learn Meitei language using roman script was a crafty ploy to deceive the common mind especially to others not understanding the intricate pattern of systematic control and assimilation policy wrought by the dominant Meities against the so call ‘tribals’ “which they derogatorily refer to the hill people and on whose created identity lies the ocean of development resources which has been leech for their comfort”.
Pointing out that the minister who has not seen and has never even visited the hill districts is wrongly furnishing non existent ‘Imphal chronicled’ information to the HRD ministry to save his position for the moment. “It is a crime against humanity and even against accountability norms of the state to falsely deceive the distant New Delhi policy makers”, it stated.
It pointed out that the July 10, 2006 event wherein public bonfire of the prescribed text books of Board of School Education Manipur in the four hill district headquarters by the students supported by the masses proved beyond doubt the determination of the people and their expression of democratic dissent against the unjust imposition and ruthless domination. “The Chief Minister of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh was himself a witness to the popular demonstration while in Inriangluang (Tamenglong) district Headquarter. The fact is that teaching and learning of NBSE text are in full swing in the four hill district of Manipur”, it stated.
The policy of the state govt. of Manipur to derecognize the certificate issued by NBSE was a desperate attempt to terrorize the students and to openly come out with their professed monoculturist psyche, which may eventually prove to be the fatal flaw towards disintegration, the joint statement further stated and pointed out that this psychological threat is unbecoming at all which limits the free access to learning and the legitimate right to hold and communicate ones belief.
The rights to choice lie with the people and not with the dominant chauvinistic power wielders who utilize the power structure to impose their interest astutely against the will of the less dominant communities, the statement pointed out.
The UNC & ANSAM stated that it would welcome the central team or any impartial observers to come and verify the veracity of the facts for themselves. “We once again reiterate that the struggle for this just cause will continue with strengthened determination until justice is delivered. This is the moment of truth!” it stated.
