Newmai News Network
SENAPATI, June 10
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he United Naga Council (UNC) has announced 48-hour bandh in Naga areas of Manipur from midnight of June 16 in protest against what it called ‘communal onslaught’ of the Manipur government that continues relentlessly through administrative orders, gazettes, notifications etc. to usurp the land and destroy the traditional institutions and village republics of the Nagas and tribals.
In a press communique, the UNC said today that although there is a process of dialogue of the Government of Manipur, Government of India and the Nagas in Manipur under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) to address the demand for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the Government of Manipur, pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, in utter disrespect of the democratic process, the communal onslaught of the Government of Manipur continues relentlessly through administrative orders, gazettes, notifications etc. to usurp the land and destroy the traditional institutions and village republics of the Nagas and tribals.According to the UNC, instead of amending the Village Authority Act of 1956 and empowering their traditional institutions which has been the long standing demand of the tribals, the Government of Manipur has issued an office memorandum dated 6th January 2014 in its Gazette for establishment of “Village Development Committee” (VDC) in each village in the name of development. The VDCs are to be chosen by the general body of the village but without the involvement nor endorsement of the village council/village authority, the ultimate traditional authority of the village. Instead of strengthening the village council/village authority, a parallel body with development function is to be put in place. The village which is the primary polity of the tribals is being pushed into a conflict and division situation. This is a move to destroy the village republic system of the Nagas and the tribals.
The UNC pointed out that although Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Act, 1960 (MLR&LR Act) is not applicable in the tribal area of the hills, the Government of Manipur after passing the bill for a Separate Revenue Directorate for the Hills in 2012, has proceeded with notifications dated 3rd March 2014 to extend the jurisdiction of the Revenue Tribunal Manipur to Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur and the District Judge, Senapati has been appointed as the Presiding Officer, Revenue Tribunal Senapati. Every Naga village and tribe have their own distinct territorial boundary and jurisdiction. The tribals have their own way of life. To them the land and the people cannot be parted as their culture, tradition and identity are interwoven with the land. The constitution of Revenue tribunals in the tribal districts is a subtle move to get around the MLR&LR Act and legitimize the usurpation of the ancestral lands of the tribals, the UNC said.
The UNC stated that it has decided to observe a 48-hour total bandh in Naga areas w.e.f the midnight of June 16 till midnight of June 18 to protest against the unabated communal actions and policies of the Government of Manipur and to urge the Government of India to expedite its intervention for an alternative arrangement.
Medical services, fire-brigade, media, power and telecommunication departments will be exempted from the purview of the total bandh, the UNC added.
