Imphal | August 8 : Manipur is again experiencing a hard time due to intense agitation. This time round, it is over the demand for Sadar Hills district. The agitation has entered the eighth day today and the prices of essential commodities are sky-rocketing with supply lines choked. In the face of the ever intensifying agitation sponsored by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) in both the national highways leading to the state capital Imphal, the United Naga Council (UNC) has cautioned the state government of Manipur of serious consequences if the Sadar Hills district is created without consulting the Nagas.
This stand of the UNC was echoing the statements of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) and Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) who steadfastly oppose the creation of Sadar Hills district by carving out of Senapati district. “The United Naga Council (UNC) will not accept bifurcation of Naga areas without the wishes and consent of the Nagas. The Nagas have been resisting arbitrary encroachment and creation of artificial boundary of their land since colonial period and hence any attempt on the part of the government of Manipur to create Sadar Hills district without consulting the Nagas will be strongly opposed,” the UNC stated.
The UNC stated that the Nagas had signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Manipur, ‘wherein the MoU of 1998 stated that resolution to the conflict on the issue of Sadar Hills will be brought about through a consensus of the peoples concerned in the interest of bringing about lasting peace and harmony between the Nagas and the Kukis. Therefore, the government should not take any hasty decision in this matter’.
Meanwhile, the UNC said the inept handling of the present crisis and ‘bias attitude’ demonstrated by the government of Manipur is viewed by the Nagas as an attempt pit one community against the other.
It has urged all emergency cases including seriously ill persons should be allowed free passage for medical treatment within 24 hours time, in the event of failing to make this humanitarian arrangement the Nagas will blame the government of Manipur for any casualties caused due to lack of medical attention.
The UNC also stated that forcing the Nagas to contribute money to fund the agitation and asking them to organize rallies and dharnas in support of Sadar Hills districthood demand against their will should be immediately stopped. “Henceforth Nagas will not tolerate those elements and the government of Manipur will be held responsible for any untoward incidents arising out of it,” the Naga body warns.
This stand of the UNC was echoing the statements of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) and Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) who steadfastly oppose the creation of Sadar Hills district by carving out of Senapati district. “The United Naga Council (UNC) will not accept bifurcation of Naga areas without the wishes and consent of the Nagas. The Nagas have been resisting arbitrary encroachment and creation of artificial boundary of their land since colonial period and hence any attempt on the part of the government of Manipur to create Sadar Hills district without consulting the Nagas will be strongly opposed,” the UNC stated.
The UNC stated that the Nagas had signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Manipur, ‘wherein the MoU of 1998 stated that resolution to the conflict on the issue of Sadar Hills will be brought about through a consensus of the peoples concerned in the interest of bringing about lasting peace and harmony between the Nagas and the Kukis. Therefore, the government should not take any hasty decision in this matter’.
Meanwhile, the UNC said the inept handling of the present crisis and ‘bias attitude’ demonstrated by the government of Manipur is viewed by the Nagas as an attempt pit one community against the other.
It has urged all emergency cases including seriously ill persons should be allowed free passage for medical treatment within 24 hours time, in the event of failing to make this humanitarian arrangement the Nagas will blame the government of Manipur for any casualties caused due to lack of medical attention.
The UNC also stated that forcing the Nagas to contribute money to fund the agitation and asking them to organize rallies and dharnas in support of Sadar Hills districthood demand against their will should be immediately stopped. “Henceforth Nagas will not tolerate those elements and the government of Manipur will be held responsible for any untoward incidents arising out of it,” the Naga body warns.
