Dimapur, December 4 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC) reiterated its demand for “alternative arrangement” for Nagas in Manipur “outside the government of Manipur”, to the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh during his current visit to Manipur state. This was stated in a memorandum handed over to the PM when the UNC team met the former on Saturday. According to a press note from the Publicity Wing the UNC team met the Prime Minister at Rajbhavan, Imphal on 3rd December, 2011 at 2.20 pm.
According to a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, the “sharp social divide on communal lines” was ‘created by unmistakable facts of years and years of suppression, subjugation and hegemonic domination of the Nagas and tribals by the communal Government of Manipur backed by the dominant community.’
This aspect of the relation, the UNC said in its memorandum, ‘is the core issue on which we base our demand for an alternative arrangement.’ “Records and statistics of administrative nature have been poured over the table to dilute the core issue of social divide and the impossible conditions in which Nagas exist under the Communal Government of Manipur, unable to live with dignity and honour and have their land, traditional institutions, culture and way of life protected,” the UNC said. The memorandum was appended by UNC president L Adani and general secretary Gaidon Kamei. .
Memo to PM reiterates ‘alt arrangement’ for Nagas in Manipur
The “structure of domination put into place over the years and the structural violence of suppression and exploitation of the Nagas and the tribals in Manipur by the communal GoM” is the issue, the UNC said.
The UNC explained its stance this way: “Through legitimately established sanctions, the rights of the Nagas and the tribals in Manipur are being surely and irredeemably taken away. Our position is based on our rights which are basic and fundamental to dignity, honour and respect of our identity. Our genuine demands for an alternative political and administrative arrangement is being objected to because of interest of the dominant and communal Government of Manipur.”
Contenting that if the Government of India is serious and sincere “in ensuring that the Nagas and tribals in Manipur should live with dignity and honour; with respect for their dignity and their rights to land; their traditional institutions, culture and way of life honored and not as second class citizens,” it is ‘time for intervention of the GoI.’ If the Government of India ‘plead helplessness’ citing the “technicality of centre state relationship” the UNC said it ‘condemns the Nagas and the tribals to continued deprivation and suppression and GoI becomes the knowing and willing abettor of the injustices meted out against us.’
Urging the PM to appreciate that the only options beyond what the Nagas in Manipur have already explored and also the democratic process of tripartite talk initiated by the Union Home Minister, the UNC has appealed for immediate intervention “to avoid any catastrophic consequences.”
“We therefore solicit again your personal initiative to intervene with an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur at the earliest,” the UNC added. The UNC team which met the PM included L. Adani, President, UNC, Gaidon Kamei, Gen. Secy, UNC, K. S. Paul Leo, Vice-Chairman, CFAA, UNC and Ashinpou Gangmei, Member, CFAA, UNC. Due to limited time the contents of the Memorandum were presented in person by the team and the hard copy was received by the Prime Minister with the assurance that he would carefully go through it, the press note informed.
