1. Some Meitei said we had organic relationship with the Tribals surrounding the Imphal valley.
2. But the organic relationship was defined as calling the Nagas as “Hao” meaning untouchable/un-civilized/polluted. For instance, when a Hao buys anything from the Meitei women in the bazaar, they would ask the former to drop the money as they were considered untouchables and fear of polluting, completely denying the human dignity.
3. Definition of various relationships can go on, however in the context to the Naga solution through dialogue to resolve the oldest insurgency in Asia with ceasefire signed in 1997 as two entities was stiffly opposed by the dominant Meitei community. When ceasefire was declared without territorial limit it was opposed again, orchestrated through UCM, AMUCO, Meirapaibi, and AMSU founded in the name of colonies’ club. This was well managed through propaganda by the Meitei Journalist and one sided media funded by the Dominant Govt of Manipur. Traditionally Meitei have acting skill which they call it Leela, acting craft is so convincing that tears can be shed within a few second in front of the camera. In 2001 the so called June uprising started with different stages. The Act-part I (Leela in Manipuri) started with the burning of Indian National flag, state Assembly Secretariat and Naga MLA officials’ residence. Act-part II, 18 innocent drug addicts in their youth were pushed in the front to be killed. Act-part III; quit notice issued to the Nagas staying in Imphal. Thousands of Naga families and Govt employees fled Imphal and rendered homeless in Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong.
4. Further insulting the Nagas, the Govt of Manipur wanted to declare June 18th as martyrs’ day (state official holiday) in 2005.This was objected by the Nagas.
5. The Naga Students’ Federation officials who were on their way to Oinam village under Senapati district for their Federal Assembly were not allowed to enter Mao-Gate (Naga village under Manipur state NH-39) on 2nd May 2010.
6. Th. Muivah, the principal negotiator of Indo-Naga peace talk wanted to visit his native village after 50 years, for which, the Government of India (GOI) had given clear order to the West Bengal, Nagaland and Manipur Govt to provide full proof security as he is entitled with Z plus category. This was objected with thousands of Police commandos, IRB deployed in Mao Gate imposing 144Crpc by the communal govt. of Manipur. In the process terror was let loose upon the civilians. When such operation was opposed by the Mao women in the form of peaceful protest rally, the Meitei Commandos reacted by killing two students Chakho and Losii and injuring hundreds of innocent women. Many of the Mao gate villagers’ properties were looted and destroyed. The entire village fled and took shelter in the neighboring Angami villages at Khuzama and Kidima in Nagaland.
7. Autonomous District Council (ADC) Act of 1972 which was rejected 25 years back by the tribal people in Manipur was re-imposed as constitutional obligation in the guise of Local Self Governance against the will of the people despite repeated appeal by the tribal people to postpone until consensus is arrived.
8. Subsequently, three women were shot at Noney, Mr. Abonmai, a theological student on picnic at Makhan was shot by commandos in civil dress to camouflage their identity. In Ukhrul Manipur IRB imposed curfew without the consent of District administration and assaulted civilians, in the process women folk came out protesting and seized 17 weapons from the personnel of IRB which was returned later when all IRB station at Ukhrul was shifted to Imphal.
9. Now with the media reports of “supra State” for the Naga solution, Both the Government and ruling party Congress have come out openly that Territorial integrity of Manipur will not be allowed to touch in Naga solution. Another Meitei political party MPP chief has openly declared that there will be civil war between Meitei and Nagas in his interview with North- East Television.
Implication:
Meitei’s against Naga integration clearly define their vested interest over Nagas’ land to maintain status quo of dominance rule in the present structure. Continued attempt to let Naga suffer by divide and rule policies over tribal and particularly through electoral politics by distorting Naga history through imposed fabricated Meitei history in school curriculum, forcing Meitei language as official transaction in Govt. communication, Meitei Scripts in all school and also to implement Manipur Land Revenue (MLR) Act and Land Revenue (LR) Act in the hill area. The present ruling Govt in Manipur led by Ibobi exercise on some Nagas as his agency to uphold present hegemonic rule. Fantasizing to please the Naga people in the name of New District creation, by Nagas’ name over their land and plant Meitei population from nearby Thoubal district, Bishnupur and Jiribam in the name of revenue district such as Tonji meril in Tamenglong, Phungyar in Ukhrul is nothing but a systematic grabbing Nagas’ Land.
The Indo-Naga Ceasefire declared in 1997 to the 5 decade old bloody conflict was welcomed by all people around the world. Nagas regarded it as hard earned Peace, where approximately 1, 50,000 Naga people were killed in their struggle for freedom. Ceasefire means peace therefore; Meitei opposing the ceasefire is itself opposing the Peace. The Meiteis’ hidden attitude against peace was exposed through their different level of their corrupt society in 2001 episode. Congress led Government in Manipur coming out openly opposing honorable settlement of the Indo-Naga through Chief Minister Ibobi, Manipur Congress President, Government funded NGOs, UCM, AMUCO, MEIRA Paibi and AMSU have exposed their natural chauvinist polluted society. Ironically the Nagas in the Congress party have supported Territorial Integrity of Manipur. Valley based political party, Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) leaders directly inflaming to Civil war between Meitei versus Naga is an open challenge to the civilized Human race in this region.
Naga should understand the reality of present age rather than harping on past glorious position only. We need to contextualize within the paradigm shift. Rationality should overcome the politics of survival in the present system of hegemonic dominance rule through facelift developmental politics. Though Nagas in Manipur are living hand to mouth yet their persistence and strong determination could withstand for their Rights against all odds but sadly, there are few Nagas who are puppets, swaying to the tune of dominant community Meitei for their selfish personal gain. We must realize that the legacy left behind by our wise forefather cannot be barter away by selfish attitudes to please the Meiteis. The values of our History must be assimilated for the best of present and future generation guided by correct political decisions. If at all the blood of innocent Nagas’ runs through the green Naga Hills than the selfish pseudo Naga shall be responsible for all time to come.
We can choose friends but you can’t choose neighbors. Be a good neighbor.
Hopeson Shatsang
Delhi University,
South Ext. Delhi
2. But the organic relationship was defined as calling the Nagas as “Hao” meaning untouchable/un-civilized/polluted. For instance, when a Hao buys anything from the Meitei women in the bazaar, they would ask the former to drop the money as they were considered untouchables and fear of polluting, completely denying the human dignity.
3. Definition of various relationships can go on, however in the context to the Naga solution through dialogue to resolve the oldest insurgency in Asia with ceasefire signed in 1997 as two entities was stiffly opposed by the dominant Meitei community. When ceasefire was declared without territorial limit it was opposed again, orchestrated through UCM, AMUCO, Meirapaibi, and AMSU founded in the name of colonies’ club. This was well managed through propaganda by the Meitei Journalist and one sided media funded by the Dominant Govt of Manipur. Traditionally Meitei have acting skill which they call it Leela, acting craft is so convincing that tears can be shed within a few second in front of the camera. In 2001 the so called June uprising started with different stages. The Act-part I (Leela in Manipuri) started with the burning of Indian National flag, state Assembly Secretariat and Naga MLA officials’ residence. Act-part II, 18 innocent drug addicts in their youth were pushed in the front to be killed. Act-part III; quit notice issued to the Nagas staying in Imphal. Thousands of Naga families and Govt employees fled Imphal and rendered homeless in Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong.
4. Further insulting the Nagas, the Govt of Manipur wanted to declare June 18th as martyrs’ day (state official holiday) in 2005.This was objected by the Nagas.
5. The Naga Students’ Federation officials who were on their way to Oinam village under Senapati district for their Federal Assembly were not allowed to enter Mao-Gate (Naga village under Manipur state NH-39) on 2nd May 2010.
6. Th. Muivah, the principal negotiator of Indo-Naga peace talk wanted to visit his native village after 50 years, for which, the Government of India (GOI) had given clear order to the West Bengal, Nagaland and Manipur Govt to provide full proof security as he is entitled with Z plus category. This was objected with thousands of Police commandos, IRB deployed in Mao Gate imposing 144Crpc by the communal govt. of Manipur. In the process terror was let loose upon the civilians. When such operation was opposed by the Mao women in the form of peaceful protest rally, the Meitei Commandos reacted by killing two students Chakho and Losii and injuring hundreds of innocent women. Many of the Mao gate villagers’ properties were looted and destroyed. The entire village fled and took shelter in the neighboring Angami villages at Khuzama and Kidima in Nagaland.
7. Autonomous District Council (ADC) Act of 1972 which was rejected 25 years back by the tribal people in Manipur was re-imposed as constitutional obligation in the guise of Local Self Governance against the will of the people despite repeated appeal by the tribal people to postpone until consensus is arrived.
8. Subsequently, three women were shot at Noney, Mr. Abonmai, a theological student on picnic at Makhan was shot by commandos in civil dress to camouflage their identity. In Ukhrul Manipur IRB imposed curfew without the consent of District administration and assaulted civilians, in the process women folk came out protesting and seized 17 weapons from the personnel of IRB which was returned later when all IRB station at Ukhrul was shifted to Imphal.
9. Now with the media reports of “supra State” for the Naga solution, Both the Government and ruling party Congress have come out openly that Territorial integrity of Manipur will not be allowed to touch in Naga solution. Another Meitei political party MPP chief has openly declared that there will be civil war between Meitei and Nagas in his interview with North- East Television.
Implication:
Meitei’s against Naga integration clearly define their vested interest over Nagas’ land to maintain status quo of dominance rule in the present structure. Continued attempt to let Naga suffer by divide and rule policies over tribal and particularly through electoral politics by distorting Naga history through imposed fabricated Meitei history in school curriculum, forcing Meitei language as official transaction in Govt. communication, Meitei Scripts in all school and also to implement Manipur Land Revenue (MLR) Act and Land Revenue (LR) Act in the hill area. The present ruling Govt in Manipur led by Ibobi exercise on some Nagas as his agency to uphold present hegemonic rule. Fantasizing to please the Naga people in the name of New District creation, by Nagas’ name over their land and plant Meitei population from nearby Thoubal district, Bishnupur and Jiribam in the name of revenue district such as Tonji meril in Tamenglong, Phungyar in Ukhrul is nothing but a systematic grabbing Nagas’ Land.
The Indo-Naga Ceasefire declared in 1997 to the 5 decade old bloody conflict was welcomed by all people around the world. Nagas regarded it as hard earned Peace, where approximately 1, 50,000 Naga people were killed in their struggle for freedom. Ceasefire means peace therefore; Meitei opposing the ceasefire is itself opposing the Peace. The Meiteis’ hidden attitude against peace was exposed through their different level of their corrupt society in 2001 episode. Congress led Government in Manipur coming out openly opposing honorable settlement of the Indo-Naga through Chief Minister Ibobi, Manipur Congress President, Government funded NGOs, UCM, AMUCO, MEIRA Paibi and AMSU have exposed their natural chauvinist polluted society. Ironically the Nagas in the Congress party have supported Territorial Integrity of Manipur. Valley based political party, Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) leaders directly inflaming to Civil war between Meitei versus Naga is an open challenge to the civilized Human race in this region.
Naga should understand the reality of present age rather than harping on past glorious position only. We need to contextualize within the paradigm shift. Rationality should overcome the politics of survival in the present system of hegemonic dominance rule through facelift developmental politics. Though Nagas in Manipur are living hand to mouth yet their persistence and strong determination could withstand for their Rights against all odds but sadly, there are few Nagas who are puppets, swaying to the tune of dominant community Meitei for their selfish personal gain. We must realize that the legacy left behind by our wise forefather cannot be barter away by selfish attitudes to please the Meiteis. The values of our History must be assimilated for the best of present and future generation guided by correct political decisions. If at all the blood of innocent Nagas’ runs through the green Naga Hills than the selfish pseudo Naga shall be responsible for all time to come.
We can choose friends but you can’t choose neighbors. Be a good neighbor.
Hopeson Shatsang
Delhi University,
South Ext. Delhi
