Dimapur, July 1 (MExN): The 3rd Naga Peoples’ Convention called by the United Naga Council (UNC) was held on July, 1 at Tahamzam in Senapati district of Manipur. In the convention was adopted a number of resolutions including that of reiterating the severing of ties with Manipur state and to seeking an “alternative arrangement” to “fill the vacuum.”
“We, the Nagas in the present state of Manipur having established our position based upon the unmistakable fact that it is impossible to protect our right to life, land, time-honoured institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and communal Government of Manipur (GoM), and that our history with it, has clearly confirmed the harsh reality that the GoM has never recognized and respected the identity and dignity of the Naga people…” a note from the UNC stated today.
With “Towards Self-Governance” as the theme, the 3rd convention was called “against the backdrop of the continued and persistent denial of the rights of Nagas in the present state of Manipur and in the face of recent events engineered by the Government of Manipur which has created a war-like situation in Naga areas.”
A number of resolutions were undertaken during the convention: “The Nagas will sever all political ties with the communal Government of Manipur, and henceforth there shall be a total political non-cooperation movement against it; the imposed ADC election is declared ‘null and void’ and under no circumstances shall the district councils be allowed to function in the Naga areas; because of the severance of ties, the vacuum in governance and administration created thereby must be filled with an alternative arrangement by the Government of India in consultation with the Naga people at the earliest possible time.
It was also informed that the United Naga Council is empowered to constitute a committee of “members with expertise and experience, drawn from the Naga community, for pursuing the establishment of an alternative arrangement with clearly defined terms of reference.”
“The Government of India must exercise its political will to bring an honourable and acceptable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue at the earliest notwithstanding any attempts to sabotage this process,” the UNC statement added.
Nagas from all walks of life and from all Naga areas attended the venue of the convention, the council informed. In his keynote address, the president of the UNC pointed out the extraordinary circumstances which compelled convening such a convention. He pointed out that the recently imposed ADC election had been rejected by the Naga people and that the struggle for securing the rights of the people must be resolutely continued till this goal is attained. He also reiterated the Naga people’s support for the struggle of all communities for their right to self-determination, including the Meiteis; “…in fighting for the recognition and respect of their identities and ownership over their lands, institutions and traditional practices to ensure the emergence of a sustainable and viable relationship among all communities.”
