"Meiteis and Nagas must restore trust"
Source: The Sangai Express

Dimapur, December 20 2016: The recently formed Working Group of six Naga outfits namely GPRN/NSCN (M.B Neokpao/N.Kitovi), NSCN (Reformation), NNC/FGN (Shingnya/Thinosilie), NNC (Z.Royim/ V Nagi), NNC/GDRN (Kiumukam/Hetoi) and NNC/NPGN) (Temjenyanger/Hozheto) appealed for restoration of trust between the Nagas and the Meiteis in Manipur.

These six outfits also appealed for calm "amid the testing hour" .

The joint press statement of the Working Group of the six Naga outfits while outrightly condemning the "horrific and criminal act" of the mob against "Southern Naga brothers and sisters in the Meitei dominated Imphal valley, stated that it is very important for the leaders of two communities i.e Naga and Meitei, in Manipur, to sit down across the table and tackle all issues diplomatically.

"A path of violence would not be in the interest of either the Nagas or the Meiteis," the Working Group of the six Naga outit stated.

It also said that the Government of the day must ensure that communal peace and harmony is not hijacked by mobs.

"The two communities have co-existed for centuries and for the sake of future generations, Nagas and Meiteis must learn to live together as trustworthy friends and neighbors," it also said.

The Working Group of six Naga outfits then demanded Ibobi Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur to immediately arrest the perpetrators of the many crimes committed against the Nagas in the past few days.

"We insist that our Naga brothers and sisters should not suffer more at the hands of unruly mobs aided and assisted by the Manipur state government," it stated.

It then said that this "is to remind all our neighbours that our blood flows beyond artificial boundaries created by the occupational forces in the past.

Targeting innocent people, burning of churches, vehicles and looting of passengers, all under the endorsing eyes of state forces and dministration is an insult to Nagas in particular and humanity in general, it stated while adding, "This hate campaign must stop.

Nagas irrespective of political affiliations and boundaries are closely observing the happenings in Imphal valley and elsewhere.

it will be unwise for Nagas and Meiteis t o resort to violence and destruction to settle their differences.

All sides must make an effort to restore communal harmony," it further appealed.

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