Newmai News Network
Imphal | March 18
The Naga frontal organisations and village chiefs in Chandel districts in their consultative meetings held on March 16 and March 17 have endorsed the 'Naga peace talks' and resolved to reject the amended Manipur district council act, 2008. On March 16 the Maring frontal organisations held a consultative meeting at Kangshang village community hall in this regard while on March 17 representatives of Anal, Chothe, Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Tarao held a similar meeting at Panchai village community hall. Both the programmes were organised under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC).
Frontal organisations representing the Chamdil Naga Peoples’ Organisation, Anal Naga Taangpi, Bujuur (Moyon) Aanchung Puh, Chothe Lim Abom Manipur, Lamkang Naga National Council, Sirti (Monsang) Upa Ruh, Tarao Tribe Union (TTU), Naga Women’s Union, Chandel, Naga Students’ Union, Chandel, Maha Area Chief Association, Chamdil Sub-Divisional Chief Association, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Naga Women’s Union Manipur, United Naga Council and several public leaders, church leaders and village authority members participated in the March 17 programme.
In the March 17 programme, those participated included Maring Village Chiefs/Headmen/Chairmen, frontal organisations representing the Maring Uparup Assembly, Maring Students’ Union, Maring Napuiya Yinglam (Maring Women’s Union), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Naga Women’s Union Manipur, United Naga Council and several public leaders and village authority members.
In both the consultative meetings the Naga frontal bodies and all those participated resolved and said, "We the undersigned chiefs/headmen/chairmen of the undermentioned villages, as the custodian of our land, resources, administration and with the mandate of the entire population of our respective villages, under the present Chandel District, Manipur on this 16th day of March, 2010 at Kangshang village and Panchai hereby declare the followings on the Indo-Naga Peace talk which is underway at New Delhi, India". "We the undersigned chief/headmen/chairmen of the undermentioned names of villages and as the custodian of our land, resources, administration and with the mandate of our entire communities hereby declare the followings on the Indo-Naga Peace talk which is underway at New Delhi, India that, we reiterate our support and endorsement to the collective leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim to have a political dialogue with the Government of India for a negotiated settlement to the Protracted Indo-Naga Conflict," said the joint pledge of Naga organisations of Chandel district.
"As the custodian of our custom and tradition our identity, land and history will be defended and preserved at all cost and our firm political stand is to uphold the aspiration of the Naga people for integration of all Naga areas under one administrative roof and that this must be an integral component of the final negotiated settlement. That, for any settlement which excludes unification of Naga territories will not be honourable nor bring lasting peace", another resolution of the Naga bodies of Chandel stated.
"It is our expectation that, the Government of India would sincerely demonstrate its political will to resolve the protracted Indo-Naga conflict through the ongoing Peace Process since the last 12 years for an acceptable and honourable settlement to both India & the Nagas" one resolution of the organisations said.
The Chandel district meetings further had an extensive discussion on the Imposed legislation, policy and program that threatens the rights of the people with special reference to The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act. 1971 (3rd Amendment) Act 2008; etc. After a thorough deliberation, the Chandel Consultative Meetings unanimously adopted certain decisions which said that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 and the Amended Act 2008, should be rejected in its present form and content, as the said Act does not protect and safeguard the rights of the people. Another decision states that the meeting decided to urge the Hill Areas Committee to immediately defer the enforcement of the Act. Finally, one decision says that the elected representatives should be urged to review the Act.

Call for integration of all Naga areas

Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 18
In back to back consultative meetings across the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur state, civil society groups under the banner of the United Naga Council (UNC) have reiterated the stand that the aspiration of the Naga people for integration of all Naga areas under one administrative roof must be an integral component of the final negotiated settlement. “That, for any settlement which excludes unification of Naga territories will not be honourable nor bring lasting peace”, stated the resolution which was passed at all the consultative meeting.
It may be mentioned that the series of consultations began with the meeting on March 11 at Ukhrul. All the meetings were held with the theme “PEACE AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS” under the aegis of the United Naga Council. The Ukhrul Consultative meeting was attended by Tangkhul Village Chiefs/Headmen/Chairmen, frontal organizations representing the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, The Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Naga Women’s Union Manipur, United Naga Council and several public leaders and village authority members.
Another meeting was held on March 13 at Taphou village, Tahamzam. On March 15, the Consultative meeting held at Tadubi was attended by Mao and Poumai Village Chiefs/Headmen/Chairmen, frontal organizations representing the Mao Council, Poumai Masou Me, Mao Naga Women’s Welfare Association, Poumai Natomai Me, Mao Students’ Union, Poumai Tsudoumai Me, Senapati District Chief Association, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Naga Women’s Union Manipur, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, United Naga Council and several public leaders and village authority members.
Likewise, on March 16, a Consultative Meeting was held at Chandel of the Maring Naga Frontal Organisations, village Chiefs/Headman/Chairman. The Consultative meeting was attended by Maring Village Chiefs/Headmen/Chairmen, Frontal Organisations representing the Maring Uparup Assembly, Maring Students’ Union, Maring Napuiya Yinglam (Maring Women’s Union) besides the frontline organizations led by the UNC.
During all the meetings, an extensive review on the status of the “Indo-Naga Peace Talk” was held which was later followed by declarations. Accordingly it was resolved that the consultative meetings reiterated its support and endorsement to the collective leadership of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim to have a political dialogue with the Government of India for a negotiated settlement to the Protracted Indo-Naga Conflict. It also resolved that as the “custodian of our custom and tradition our identity, land and history will be defended and preserved at all cost and our firm political stand is to uphold the aspiration of the Naga people for integration of all Naga areas under one administrative roof and that this must be an integral component of the final negotiated settlement”. The resolution also stated that any settlement which excludes unification of Naga territories will not be honourable nor bring lasting peace.
The consultative meetings also resolved that it was people’s expectation that the Government of India would sincerely demonstrate its political will to resolve the protracted Indo-Naga conflict through the ongoing Peace Process since the last 12 years for an acceptable and honourable settlement to both India & the Nagas.
It was also informed that the consultative meetings had an extensive discussion on a) Customary practice & traditional system of Land & Resource Management with relation to Forest Act 1927; The Manipur (Hill Areas) Village Authority Act. 1956, MLR&LR Act. b) International & Legal Instruments Protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and c) Imposed legislation, policy & program that threatens the rights of the people with special reference to The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Act 2008; etc
After a thorough deliberation, the meetings unanimously adopted the following decisions. Firstly, that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 and the Amended Act 2008 should be rejected in its present form and content, as the said Act does not protect and safeguard the rights of the people. Also the meetings decided to urge the Hill Areas Committee to immediately defer the enforcement of the Act. The elected representatives were also urged to review the Act.