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United Naga Council (UNC) members holding a press conference on the present crisis in Manipur in New Delhi on Tuesday. [/caption]
Dimapur, Dec. 20: The United Naga Council (UNC) and the Joint Naga Civil Societies, Delhi (JNCSD) have demanded “immediate imposition of President’s Rule” in Manipur citing “total breakdown of law and order situation” and “seething communal tension” in the state.
A joint press release from the two organizations on Tuesday stated that the demand was made at a press conference held at the Press Club of India, New Delhi.
“Manipur has been burning since November 1, 2016 as the Nagas have been protesting against the creation of two new districts Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts bifurcating Naga ancestral territory in violation of the four memorandums signed between the Nagas and the government of Manipur wherein it has been agreed that no Naga ancestral territory shall be bifurcated without consulting the Nagas.
“UNC launched the ongoing peaceful indefinite blockade of the national highway since November 1, 2016 in protest against the creation of the two new districts. However, the government of Manipur shockingly arrested the president and the information secretary of UNC on the false charge of destroying public properties instead of considering the legitimate demands of the Nagas and further announced the creation of seven more new districts, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Kakching, Noney and Kamjong on November 8, 2016 despite the staunch protest and opposition from the Nagas leading to further intensification of the blockade demanding immediate roll-back of the formation of the new districts,” the statement read.
It accused the Manipur government and the ‘UCM’ of ‘sponsoring and triggering the menacing communal violence for the last more than a week, committing daylight robbery, vandalizing, destroying and looting properties belonging to the Nagas’.
Churches have been ‘vandalised and desecrated’ while ‘more than 70 private vehicles’ and properties ‘worth crores of rupees were looted, destroyed and torched’, it claimed. “Innocent Naga civilian passengers are still continuously being physically assaulted, harassed, looted, attacked and targeted with stones, slingshots and bottled-petrol bombs.
“UNC and CJNCSD terms the whole sequence of event as state-sponsored and a handiwork of the state government to terrorise the Nagas and demands for immediate CBI enquiry into the whole sequence of events including the role of the state government,” the statement read.
It sought immediate intervention from New Delhi and demanded: immediate nullification of the creation of the 7 new districts; unconditional release of the UNC leaders; to expedite the finalization of the Framework Agreement; imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur; deploy security forces in Imphal valley to protect Naga civilian passengers and their properties; immediate CBI enquiry into the incident, and compensation for the victims.
The United Naga Council, which represents Nagas living in Manipur, met Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Tuesday and demanded President's Rule in the state in the wake of ongoing violence in the Imphal Valley.
The delegation will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday. It termed the creation of seven new districts as illegitimate as the Hill Area Committee was not consulted -- mandatory under the article 371(C) of the Indian constitution.
"The state government, without consulting the Naga people, created the districts mostly by bifurcating the Naga districts. This is against the promise under four various memorandums (1981, 1992, 1996 and 1998) and a written assurance by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2011 that without consulting the stakeholders no administrative set-up decisions will be taken," said K.S. Paul, a former UNC president.
He said: "We have met the Home Minister and sought his immediate intervention. The Nagas won't tolerate the division of land and creation of new districts. We demand President's Rule in Manipur."
The Imphal valley has been simmering under violence after the Congress-led government declared the creation of seven new districts -- Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Tengoupal, Pharzol, Kakching, Noney and Kamjongin.
A blockade has been called by the Nagas to oppose the decision to create Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged districts. The UNC says this would bifurcate the ancestral lands of the Nagas living in Manipur.
Jiribam was announced as a district. But the government could not do so with Sadar Hills due to the strong opposition by Nagas.
Asked about Rajnath Singh's response, Paul said: "He (Rajnath) said he is aware of the entire situation."
"The CM has been only appealing to maintain peace but has not been doing anything to provide security forces to stop violence," a Naga leader said.
L. Adani, also a former president of UNC, said: "This move by the state government is for political mileage. Nagas and their land are inseparable."
Our Imphal correspondent has reported that the newly formed Goodwill Mission for Peaceful Co-existence has called for a ‘goodwill meeting’ of a number of civil society organizations of all communities at Imphal on Wednesday.
The aim and objective of the proposed meeting is to restore normalcy and communal harmony for a peaceful co-existence, according to a member of the Goodwill Mission for Peaceful Co-existence.
The South Nagas Union of Nagaland State (SNUNS) has condemned what it called “barbaric treatment meted out to the innocent Nagas on the way to Ukhrul at Khurai area on 18th December by Meitei miscreants under the alleged patronage of communal Manipur government.”
In a press release issued today, the union has stated that Nagas were not against any group of people but protesting against the “communal government’s policy” and defending their right over their land.
“The students are being harassed, their documents and other valuables being destroyed in Imphal by the communal groups, are barbaric acts and we condemn them. The complicity of the communal state government is deplorable and has become a meaningless custodian of law and order and a mere spectator,” it stated.
Students passing through Dimapur, on their way to Manipur have been asked to contact SNUNS leaders at any of these numbers: 9426808044, 9856451675 and 9436004219.
In a separate statement the SNUNS, Kohima Unit has also condemned “the vandalising and burning of Churches” in Imphal valley. The organization stated that the ‘war-like situation was the creation of the Ibobi government by creating new districts without the consent of the Nagas, the land owners.’ It appealed the government of India to intervene and protect the rights of the Nagas in Manipur.
