Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09:
Several Naga tribes and organizations under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) have decided to snap ties with the Manipur government.
The convention organized at Senapati in Manipur yesterday discussed the Centre’s decision to retract from the June 14 Bangkok Agreement between the NSCN (IM) and the Union government.
About 1000 delegates from 15 Naga tribes and NGOs vested the responsibility on the UNC to run the administration and other aspects of governance according to the Naga traditional system of village administration until an alternative arrangement was made.
The Nagas’ residing in Manipur also agreed not to pay any surcharge of taxes to the Government and asked all the schools and colleges to withdraw their affiliation from the Manipur Board of Secondary Education and Manipur University.
The convention endorsed the resolution adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the Naga Hoho on the integration of Naga contiguous areas.
The Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights secretary Neingulo Krome welcomed the decision of the convention and assured support to the movement.
Meanwhile, Centre’s interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah yesterday met LK Advani and briefed him on the outcome of his talks in Amsterdam with NSCN (IM) leader Th Muivah.
“I briefed him on the nitty-gritty of the Naga ceasefire,” Padmanabhaiah said.
After his return from Amsterdam, he had stated that the ceasefire with NSCN (IM) holds.
Talks between the Government representative and the NSCN will continue.
However he said no date has yet been fixed for the next round of talks.
Our Ukhrul correspondent adds that four Tangkhul organizations including the Tangkhul Naga Hoho, Tangkhul Women Council, Tangkhul Students Association, Ukhrul unit and Naga Peoples Movement for Human rights and Tangkhul Naga Villages Headmen Association have submitted a joint statement to the Governor urging him to take up appropriate steps so that the properties and other valuables of the Tangkhul people who have fled the capital city are not damaged or destroyed.
The memorandum stated that the majority community, during the anti-ceasefire extension agitation had created a threat perception situation through insulting slogans, irresponsible remarks and even physical threats directed towards the Naga minority in the valley areas had resulted the mass exodus.
The memorandum stated that the responsibility for the mass exodus should squarely rests with the valley people.
The memorandum also said that Naga villages situated on the foot hills are in extremely vulnerable condition and they require immediate security.
The Tangkhul organizations also made it clear that if any properties of the persons who have fled the valley are lost or damaged the same should be compensated by the state government.
Decrying the ‘biased’ stand of Imphal DDK and AIR, the representation said that these two have become the tools of the valley communities to advance their propaganda and added that the two are broadcasting biased and concocted news and suppressing the aspirations of the hill peoples.
They urged the Governor to rectify the short comings or to come out with alternative arrangements for the hill districts.
The Governor was urged to make alternative arrangements so that Naga government employees can continue services in their respective places.