DIMAPUR, JANUARY 16 (MExN): Nagas today questioned how the Indian army became involved in the now troubled North East Youth Festival and clarified they were not against festivals per se.
“While Nagas are not against festivals of the youth, the sentiments of the Naga people cannot be bought over by superficial publicity stunts of songs, dances and catwalks,” stated Naga Youth Front echoing protests from the All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Senapati District Students Association (SDSA).
Sapuno of the Naga Youth Front’s publicity wing questioned as to how fest organizers, “defying the advice [of students and tribal bodies], have roped in the Indian Army for the preparation” and presumed it as a move to counter the voice of the people.
“The Army must therefore explain its interest in associating with this programme which seeks to rub salt on the festering wounds of the Nagas,” the statement demanded adding the programme is being supported by the dominant Manipur government to divide the Nagas and the tribals.
This nefarious design to dilute and distort the real situation obtaining in the State of Manipur and the Naga areas cannot be allowed to be put in place, it said.
Accusing the Youth Initiative Foundation led by Dominic Chawang of challenging the very spirit of the last July’s Naga Peoples Convention at Tahamzam with “seemingly innocuous invasion that is detrimental to the interest and the future of the Nagas in Manipur,” the Naga Youth Front said they were not against festivals for the youth and instead welcome them if held without ulterior
motives.
Describing Youth Initiative Foundation as a “vague” organization led by Dominic, the release said Naga students and women organisations have for long been coming out with statements against the North East Youth Festival 2011 at Tahamzam (Senapati).
The youth organization said they are against the festival due to “severance of all political ties with the Government of Manipur (GoM)” and was “based on the unmistakable fact that it was impossible to protect their right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and communal GoM, because the history of the Nagas has clearly confirmed that the GoM has never recognized and respected the identity and dignity of the Naga
people.”
While the Nagas have taken up the movement against suppression, deprivation and discrimination and threat to their identity and culture, the Youth Initiative Foundation proposes to celebrate Peace through Culture and Identity of the entire north east region at Tahamzam, the very venue of the NPC.
Arguing they were not against youth initiatives, they said they cannot allow it when “our [Naga peoples] space, our identity and culture has been subsumed by the dominant and we have been reduced to chattels.”
“What will we celebrate and uphold in the festival? Festival such as these will be meaningful and cease to be insulting only when we secure our space and equality, and our identity and culture is safeguarded in the Alternative Arrangement,” the youth front said.
Naga Youth Front said it was compelled to hold those few individuals spearheading this initiative responsible for any consequences arising from this forced event and asked all the regions to be in preparedness to respond to the situation.
Parikrama, a famed rock band familiar to many music lovers in the region was scheduled to perform during the three day festival. The organizers had reportedly roped in big names such as Jubilant Energy of New Delhi, Chevrolet Motors, MDS, MACS, SSA and JESU of Guwahati as
sponsors.
India’s federal minister of Water ResourcesVincent H. Pala was to grace the event with Th. Birachandra Singh Football Academy as Sports Ambassador of the festival.
“While Nagas are not against festivals of the youth, the sentiments of the Naga people cannot be bought over by superficial publicity stunts of songs, dances and catwalks,” stated Naga Youth Front echoing protests from the All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Senapati District Students Association (SDSA).
Sapuno of the Naga Youth Front’s publicity wing questioned as to how fest organizers, “defying the advice [of students and tribal bodies], have roped in the Indian Army for the preparation” and presumed it as a move to counter the voice of the people.
“The Army must therefore explain its interest in associating with this programme which seeks to rub salt on the festering wounds of the Nagas,” the statement demanded adding the programme is being supported by the dominant Manipur government to divide the Nagas and the tribals.
This nefarious design to dilute and distort the real situation obtaining in the State of Manipur and the Naga areas cannot be allowed to be put in place, it said.
Accusing the Youth Initiative Foundation led by Dominic Chawang of challenging the very spirit of the last July’s Naga Peoples Convention at Tahamzam with “seemingly innocuous invasion that is detrimental to the interest and the future of the Nagas in Manipur,” the Naga Youth Front said they were not against festivals for the youth and instead welcome them if held without ulterior
motives.
Describing Youth Initiative Foundation as a “vague” organization led by Dominic, the release said Naga students and women organisations have for long been coming out with statements against the North East Youth Festival 2011 at Tahamzam (Senapati).
The youth organization said they are against the festival due to “severance of all political ties with the Government of Manipur (GoM)” and was “based on the unmistakable fact that it was impossible to protect their right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and communal GoM, because the history of the Nagas has clearly confirmed that the GoM has never recognized and respected the identity and dignity of the Naga
people.”
While the Nagas have taken up the movement against suppression, deprivation and discrimination and threat to their identity and culture, the Youth Initiative Foundation proposes to celebrate Peace through Culture and Identity of the entire north east region at Tahamzam, the very venue of the NPC.
Arguing they were not against youth initiatives, they said they cannot allow it when “our [Naga peoples] space, our identity and culture has been subsumed by the dominant and we have been reduced to chattels.”
“What will we celebrate and uphold in the festival? Festival such as these will be meaningful and cease to be insulting only when we secure our space and equality, and our identity and culture is safeguarded in the Alternative Arrangement,” the youth front said.
Naga Youth Front said it was compelled to hold those few individuals spearheading this initiative responsible for any consequences arising from this forced event and asked all the regions to be in preparedness to respond to the situation.
Parikrama, a famed rock band familiar to many music lovers in the region was scheduled to perform during the three day festival. The organizers had reportedly roped in big names such as Jubilant Energy of New Delhi, Chevrolet Motors, MDS, MACS, SSA and JESU of Guwahati as
sponsors.
India’s federal minister of Water ResourcesVincent H. Pala was to grace the event with Th. Birachandra Singh Football Academy as Sports Ambassador of the festival.
