Our Correspondent
Senapati, MAY 6
The president of the United Naga Council (UNC), Gaidon Kamei, has appealed to the Naga community to ‘prepare physically and mentally to face any eventualities in protecting the rights of the people.’
On Saturday tributes were paid to the late Neli Chakho and Dikho Loshuo during the 6th anniversary observance of their “martyrdom” at the Martyrs’ Park, at Mao gate. They were killed in police firing on May 6, 2010, during a rally to protest the Manipur government’s decision to prevent an NSCN-IM leader from visiting his birth place in Ukhrul.
Speaking at the anniversary, Gaidon Kamei said that the government of Manipur had a ‘well planned policy to sabotage the rights of the Naga.’ The almighty has bestowed the people of Naga with beautiful land, unique identity and culture.
“Even a single inch of our land should not be given to others as we are stepping forward with the signing of framework agreement between Indian government and NSCN (IM),’ he said.
In his message during the occasion, Kamei said that a ‘military solution’ was not possible as the Naga issue was a political issue. The militarisation from the Indian government has caused the loss of many lives in the state of Manipur: two innocent lives were gunned down on May 6, 2010; two students’ leaders were shot by Manipur Police on August 30, 2014 at Ukhrul. Besides, the Manipur government passed three ‘anti-tribal bills’ and two ‘anti-Naga bills’ in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, he said.
Also, the president of Naga Hoho, Chuba Ozukum, said during the event that the Naga were proud of the two martyrs. He paid tributes to the ‘great souls, who fought security forces with their bare hands with courage.’ “Neli Chakho and Dikho Loshuo sacrificed their lives to protect the people and their land as well as the rights of the Naga. They left to keep us marching forward and reminded to recall the real meaning of the day’s gathering,” Ozukum said.
The event was organized by the Mao Council under the aegis of the UNC and in collaboration with the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur, and the Mao Students’ Union.
