• Sir-I am an avid reader of your newspaper right from the day one it hit the stands i.e. 31-7-2005. I hope newspapers like yours would bring understanding for a peaceful co-existence between the peoples of Nagaland and Manipur.
But, at the very outset your report ‘Manipur Crisis taking Communal Hue’ dated 7 August and appeared on 8 August (Langathel incident) is nothing but a malicious intent to convert a non communal incident that happens normally anywhere, anytime into a communal and organized sort of action sponsored purportedly by the Meiteis. The report is seen in Manipur as a part of NSCN (IM) or its frontal organization ANSAM’s propaganda to divide Manipur on communal lines.
One Rozarim Woleng’s article “Lullaby of the Meiteis” dated August 9 is simply a bunch of lies he has collected from folklore and leisure-time gossips through which he is projecting the Nagas in Manipur as the oppressed and the Meiteis as the oppressor. A change of the mindset of Rozarim Woleng and the likes of him in Manipur is the immediate need.
Meiteis had been at the forefront of exposing human right violations committed by the Indian security forces in the hills of Manipur as never any Naga organizations had done before. Examples are galore.
Take for instance the Oinam incident in Senapati District in the eighties and the rape of a Tangkhul girl, Rose, by the Indian security forces in the seventies. But dear Woleng what have you done for the Meiteis in our days of suffering? What have you done for the Meiteis when 15 were massacred at Heirangoithong or 10 at Malom or 7 at RIMS gate? I want to see you being humane, rational and caring for others also.
Meiteis did not have a monolithic growth biologically and culturally, yes, you are right. But this has made the Meiteis of today very great and wiser, and borrowing is what culture is all about. This has made us able to withstand the woes inflicted by your senseless economic blockade without a whimper for more than 50 days! Yes, among the Meiteis there are many who are of Tangkhul origin, Kabui origin or Khongsai origin.
But it seems you have not noticed the fact that there are Tangkhuls of Meitei origin (!), forget about the Kabuis and others who are of Meitei origin.
This intermingling has made us all very beautiful, humane and rich in culture, and why should you indulge in the violent act of cutting the blood-filled arteries that bind us all? Why?
Same is with the article of one N. Kamei appeared on your August 10 issue. It is simply another anti-Meitei tirade aimed at fomenting communal tension in Manipur.
Premjit Nongthombam
Moirangkhom, Imphal
On email
