Blockade to be lifted only after written assurance : UNC ; Post dists creation, UNC calls meet
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 09 2016: Taking strong exception to the creation of seven new districts, without consulting the stakeholders, the United Naga Council has convened a Naga Peoples' Consultation meeting on December 12 at 11 am at Senapati.

The decision of the UNC to convene the Naga People's Consultation meeting comes in the wake of the decision of the State Government to create seven new districts last night.

The seven new districts which have been created are Tengnoupal, Kakching, Pherjawl Kamjong, Noney, Jiribam and Kangpokpi (Sadar Hills) .

In a statement issued to the press today, UNC said that creating the seven new districts is like adding salt to the wound and added that Nagas will not remain silent spectator.

'Nagas will alone decide their fate and their land.

We will not allow any external forces to meddle with the Nagas' ancestral land,' said UNC further.

On the indefinite economic blockade being imposed on the National Highways since midnight to October 30, UNC said that this was preceded by a 48 hour total shut down in Naga areas to protest the design of the State Government to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full fledged districts.

After the State Government failed to respond to the 48 hours total shut down, the economic blockade was launched, reasoned UNC.

Reminding the people that four MoUs have been signed to consult all stakeholders before creating any new district, UNC said that these MoUs were signed in 1981 between the Naga people and the Government of Manipur (GoM), between GoM and ANSAM in 1992, between GoM and Naga Students' Federation in 1996, between GoM and UNC and ANSAM in 1998 followed by a written assurance from the Union Home Ministry that not an inch of Naga ancestral land will be touched while creating any new district in 2011.The intention of O Ibobi is to only further divide and create animosity among the tribals as he had failed to enact the three 'anti-tribal Bills' passed by the State Assembly in 2015, added UNC.

The State Government also failed to send its representatives to New Delhi for the tripartite talk convened by the Union Home Ministry on November 15 this year, recalled UNC and added that if the State Government had been serious enough to send its representatives, then the situation would not have become so serious.

The outrageous behaviour of the Chief Minister is responsible for the grave situation in Manipur, charged UNC.

UNC also condemned the 'immature conduct of the Government of India (GoI)' adding that instead of playing the role of a good mediator, it acceded to the approach of the State Government to send in more Central forces.

Asserting that Nagas and their lands are inseparable, the statement said that every Naga is obliged to protect and defend their ancestral land, people, identity, history, tradition, culture, custom and time honoured institutions.

"We are the owner of our land and we will never allow anyone to decide the fate of the Nagas," added UNC.

Instead of asking the UNC to lift the ongoing economic blockade all should instead ask the State Government to resolve the issue of Sadar Hills and Jiribam, advised UNC and reiterated that the blockade is against the Government of Manipur and not against any community or group.

UNC will call off the blockade when a written assurance is received from the State that Sadar Hills and Jiribam will not be declared as districts and when the arrested UNC leaders are released, it added.

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