ANSAM states its stand on Naga areas total bandh
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Senapati, December 26 2012: The All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) alleged that the announcement of 72 hours total bandh in 'Naga areas' with effect from midnight of December 26 and the ban on Manipuri videos and music CDs/cassettes, dramas and leelas in 'Naga areas' with immediate effect and the compelling reasons and situation for such a decision detailed in the public statement of the United Naga Council dated 24th December, 2012 was partially blacked out by most of the valley based dailies.

"The All Naga Students' Association Manipur is therefore constrained to reiterate certain points for consumption of the general public for proper understanding of the issue at hand which include that the Naga people's position on the reported manhandling incident at Chandel is that the law of the land must act upon the guilty" .

"For whatever provocations that Livingstone, an individual had manhandled a woman whether it be a Meitei or tribal, an actress or an ordinary person is not acceptable and is condemned.

But we also condemn the communal agenda of heaping upon the entire Naga people and tribals the aberration of one man," the ANSAM added.

It then said the heinous crimes of mass rape of tribal women at Parbung, Churachandpur by the UNLF, rape of a tribal chilli vendor at Keinou, Tiddim line, the attempted rape and murder of a school girl in New Takaimei, Senapati and many more perpetrated by members of the dominant community were not allowed to become communal and managed as social issues, the Naga students' body claimed.

For 48 hours the alleged December 18 manhandling incident was not reported.

The protest bandh with effect from the midnight of December 21 was announced only in the late evening the same day.

Naga organisations and other Christian organizations have requested for lifting the bandh.

The communal Government of Manipur refused to restore law and order and allows the mob of the communal forces in the Imphal valley to heap insult and humiliation on Nagas in the capital of Manipur, it also alleged.

The indefinite bandh called by the Film Forum Manipur (FFM) and AMSLC lifted upto midnight of December 26from midnight of December 23 turned out to be a gimmick to further torture the Nagas and tribals who were proceeding to villages with relief for celebration of Christmas on December 24," the ANSAM continued to allege.

From the Chief Minister to political parties to civil society organisations of the Imphal valley there had been persistent utterance of "civil war", "bloodbath" and "time bomb" in public platforms in the context of intercommunity relationships for quite some time.

The threat is being acted out now, it further added.

As there is no Government or rule of law, the mob of communal forces in Imphal valley have taken over.

The Government of India has been asked to intervene vide the memorandum on December 23 addressed to the Prime Minister of India.

But the anarchy in Imphal valley and the targeting of Nagas in particular continues unabated.

If Government of India thinks that the communal force in Imphal valley is more dangerous than ensuring the protection of life, property and democratic rights of the Nagas and tribals in the State of Manipuri then it is mistaken, ANSAM added.

"If the communal forces in Imphal valley think that they can subject the Nagas and tribals under them with such localised issue, they are wrong," it stated.

"Who will pay for the insults, indignity, physical assaults and torture, damage to property to which the Nagas and tribals have been subjected to by the communal forces in Imphal valley ?," ANSAM questioned.

The unbridgeable difference between the tribals in Manipur and the Meiteis historically, culturally, socially and in religion has been defined deeper by the communal campaign.

The difference continues to grow by the day.

Because of these, peaceful parting of way through an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur is the only option.

It then said that should the above points of fact and the Naga views be blacked out by the Imphal valley based dailies and continue to give prominence to the views/news of the communal forces, it shall indeed be a confirmation of their communal stance.

"Through this public statement we remind the Naga public that it is your demand and your protest.

It is the responsibility of every Naga to take ownership of the movement and occupy your respective space at a time like this.

That we are compelled by the communal forces to take this extreme step during this festive season must be understood and participated in the spirit of sacrifice for a common future," the ANSAM added.

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