Nagas in Myanmar resist attempt to build Burmese nationalist’s statue

Dimapur, July 15 (EMN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Association (Ensa) and Naga civil society organisations of Myanmar have opposed what they stated was the government’s plan to erect a statue of Gen. Aung San at Khamti in the Naga Self-Administered Zone (NSAZ) of Myanmar.

A press release from the Ensa on Sunday stated that though Nagas were not “against the late leader of Myanmar and his legacy but instead of bringing and erecting lifeless statue in Naga ancestral inhabited region, we long and pray for better educational institutions, good transportation systems and facilities and development in Naga region.”

The Nagas will never ‘allow the lifeless statue to erect not only in Khamti but anywhere in Naga inhabited areas,’ it stated. “The elected Naga representatives instead should approach union govt. of Myanmar to bring favourable changes rather than funding and donating towards lifeless statue project. The intending inaugural function which is scheduled to be held on 21st July 2018 at Khamti should be cancelled as per the desire of Nagas.”

In the event of the authorities failing to heed to the demand of the Nagas, it warned, the Naga elected members of the NSAZ government shall be held fully responsible for any eventuality.

According to the Ensa, the government’s attempt to build the statue was with the intention of snatching Naga-inhabited lands ‘and to Burmanise’ it.