UNC declares ‘position’ on Manipur elections

Dimapur, Feb. 27: The United Naga Council (UNC) has issued a statement declaring what the organisation stated was its position on the Manipur state assembly elections. The UNC issued a press release to the media on February 27. The organisation has declared that the Nagas in Manipur will “participate to give greater effect to the severance of political ties with the communal GoM (government of Manipur.” The press release stated: “In view of the above, in the forthcoming 11th general election, the Nagas in Manipur will participate to give greater effect to the severance of political ties with the communal GoM. This general election cannot be about individual village or tribe interest but for securing our legitimate rights and enabling ourselves to shape our collective future and destiny as a people where we can live with dignity and honour.” Further, the UNC stated that the government of Manipur led by the MPCC under the chief minister had “pushed the Nagas to the wall.” The legitimate and democratic rights of the Nagas and tribal are being taken away through acts, legislations and legal measures against natural justice, the UNC stated. “Our students and youths have been shot dead, hundreds wounded and the general Naga populace harassed and insulted for protesting the GoM’s suppressive policies,” the UNC stated. “Our leaders have been arrested and tortured and declared wanted as if they are criminals. Our frontal organisations are sought to be banned by the GoM as outlaws. Therefore Ibobi and the MPCC will be opposed by the Nagas and confronted headlong.” As reaffirmed during the first conference of the ‘Naga Village Authority’ in 2016, UNC stated, the decision of the UNC council assembly of 2nd January 2012 to support the Naga People’s Front (NPF) because of the commonality in principle and political ideology “will stand without reservation for the Naga people in the 2017 MLA election.” The organisation explained that the NPF “which seeks to work and assist in any possible manner on any approach for a peaceful solution of the Indo-Naga political issue and for integration of all contiguous Naga areas under one administrative roof will be the bandwagon on which the Nagas in Manipur will face the 11th General Election to the Manipur Legislative Assembly.” The organisation added that in this endeavour, the Naga people were “against any use of money, force and violence in the election campaign and request all concern to refrain from resorting to any undemocratic means.”