Mandated by the Naga people, the press note stated that the UNC is demanding the deferment of election to the house of Manipur Hill Areas District Council under the present form and content of Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 2008, as the Act endangered the very existence of Hill people as indigenous and tribal people. “It has diluted and corrupted the constitutionally given rights of the tribals. Many representations were made to the authorities and the GOM pointing out these defects in the law and the taking away of the rights of the tribal through the present Act”, it stated. However, Ibobi led GOM did not even acknowledge or respond to the various representations made by the tribals. As a result, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and its constituent units were compelled to resort to the economic blockade as a last resort, it stated.
Despite taking such strong actions, the GOM has not made any positive overtures, it stated pointing out that instead it has sent in more security forces and also issued arrest warrants and put wanted tags on Naga social leaders. Further the Ibobi led GOM has categorically rejected the genuine and legitimate demands of the tribals and has gone ahead with the election. The press note also ponted out that some years back, when the Meitei people were demanding inclusion within the 8th and 11th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and also for inclusion of Meitei in Other Backward Class (OBC) of India, the tribal people, particularly the Naga, supported their struggle. However, none of these organizations have come forward to speak up for the rights of the tribals, it stated and added that the ZIB was left with no option but to fully endorse the 5 days ultimatum served to Government of Manipur by UNC and further proclaim that it shall undertake all possible actions to ensure the same is carried out.
Orgs flay arrest warrant of Naga leaders
Dimapur, June 10 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Youth Front has expressed its resentment over the arrest warrant issued to the President of UNC Samson Remei and President of ANSAM David Choro by the Government of Manipur.
“Instead of trying to appreciate and understand the strong resentment and genuine grievances of the Naga and the tribals of Manipur and solve the problem meaningfully, the Government of Manipur decided to declare a Wanted Tag on the two respected leaders of the Nagas, not even bothering whether such a callous declaration may alienate the Nagas and other tribals even further. This particular act of insolence only goes to further show that Manipur Government is a Meitei Communal Government,” it retorted in a press note issued by its General Secretary Thuiriang Panmei.
It also added that the stand taken by the leaders was done on behalf of the tribals and not for their selfish interest, stating that only when the genuine grievances of the tribals are addressed, there will be peace and communal harmony between the tribals and Meiteis.
In a separate press note, the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) - the apex body of the Tangkhul Students Union has “strongly condemned” the decision of Ibobi led “communal government declaring the President of ANSAM and UNC as proclaimed absconder without rhyme and reason”.
The Union lamented that it saddening to know that the present Judicial System in Manipur is being run, managed and used by few “Meitei eccentric” to score their “political vendetta”. The genuine plea of the Naga people in particular and the tribals in general to rectify the “draconian ADC Act 2008 had fallen into deaf ears”. The subversive and suppressive ADC Act was imposed much against the wish and desire of the hills people. The years long domination and exploitation in the hands of the dominant community has now reached its pinnacle and the tribals has suffered enough patiently.
Moreover, it added that the destructive policy of the Meitei led government which has been functioning only at their whims and fancy cannot be tolerated by the tribals of today’s generation. Under such circumstances, the people movement demanding their rightful place to live with dignity cannot be considered and underestimated as few men’s movement by declaring the mandated leaders of the Nagas with Wanted Tag and cash bounty against the principles of democratic norms.
“Treating them as hardened criminals is a provocation to the sentiments of the Naga peoples. TKS strongly demands immediate withdrawal of the Arrest Warrant and the price bounty fix on the head of our Leaders. Failing which the TKS as a federating unit of the ANSAM and NSF would not remain as a mute spectator, but would resort to all avenues it has,” it warned.
NSF-AASU discuss economic blockade
Guwahati, June 10 (ANI): The Naga Student's Federation (NSF) discussed the ongoing economic blockade with the members of All Assam Students Union (AASU) here on Wednesday. The blockade, following the decision of Manipur to impose a ban on Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his ancestral village of Somdal. However, during the discussions, the advisor of NSF, Viopol Kintso, maintained that Muivah's visit was not the cause of the blockade.
He added that the move was precipitated by the ban imposed by the Manipur government on the visit of the NSF to the state. "Why can't we be allowed to go and have our peaceful meeting in our own place? That is why NSF, to show its own resentment that there is no authority that has the right to stop an individual...an organization its own origins there. So to show resentment, NSF has declared not to allow Manipur registered vehicles to ply on Naga areas," said Kintso. The Naga Students Union responded to a letter written to them by the AASU three days ago asking them to end the blockade on the state.
The president of AASU, Shankar Prasad Rai, told reporters that he hoped the blockade would get solved through dialogue."I appealed to the Naga students to stop the blockade against Manipur. They responded to it and came to meet us. We believe that all problems should be solved through dialogues," said Rai.
‘GoI should be ashamed for no action towards Manipur economic blockade’
Dimapur, June 10 (MExN): The 36-hour blockade imposed by the Manipuri Apunba Lup Joint Action Committee (JAC) on HN 36 and NH 39 was successfully implemented. The economic blockade was started from June 28, 5:00 am to June 8 5:00 pm.
The JAC / Manipuri Apunba Lup, Karbi Along Assam in a press note issued by its Convenor stated that it wanted to show to the Naga Organizations sponsoring the blockade that how hardships are experienced by the people by such artificial blockade. “…after experiencing such hardship the blockade sponsors shall prevail and they will lift the blockage immediately. If not, the Committee and Lup shall be forced to call another blockade indefinitely,” it stated in the note.
It also stated that the Government of India should be ashamed that it is unable to lift the economic blockade towards Manipur which going on more than 55 days.
“It shows lackadaisical / halfhearted attitude to the problems of the North Eastern part of the Country. It is no wonder that the Manipuris, like many other ethnic communities of the North east, feel alienated / divided and therefore rebel against the country. It is because of the lack of initiative of the Govt. of India, at times of crisis like the present blockage sponsored by Naga organizations. We demand that the Govt. of India should take whatever steps necessary to lift the Blockade immediately. Or else, the situation will get out of control and it may result ethnic clashes with ugly history,” it warned.
Meanwhile, it stated that every organizations and individuals took active part in making the “grand success of the 36 Hours blockade”. It added that owners and drivers of vehicles carrying goods into Nagaland along the national highways cooperated with them, which made the blockade successful.
The blockade was participated by all tribes of various communities like “Karbis, Kuki, Assameses, Tea tribes, Dimasa, Kachari, Bengali , Nepali , Muslims, Manipuri and Bishupriya Manipuri . They came out in large number willingly to enforce the blockade,” the note stated.