Muivah states stand to titular king
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 24 2013 : "Nagas and Meiteis should decide for their own future and our future will be the outcome of this de-cision", stated NSCN-IM Ato Kilonser Thuingaleng Muivah during a meeting with titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba at Hebron, Dimapur.

Leishemba Sanajaoba, titular king of Manipur and Thui- ngaleng Muivah, Ato Kilon-ser of NSCN (lM) met in the early part of May 2013 at He-bron, the NSCN (lM) Peace Camp in Dimapur, informed a source.

Muivah described the mee-ting as very historic, valuable and of utmost importance.

The meeting which was held in the Steering Committee Cha-mber, the venue for meetings of the highest level at Hebron, was attended by leaders of NSCN (lM) Iike Ahao Raising, Thumba Anal, Johnny Lamkang, W Shimray, V Ho-ram and Hanshi, all members of the Steering Committee, Phungthing Shimrang, Chief of Army, Deputy Kilonser Ngasathing and many others.

The meeting was attended by king Sanajaoba along with Chingsubam Wangambi Lei-ma, president Meetei National Front (MNF ) and others.

After Oja Akaba expired, the Chingsubam family met Muivah in 2007 and the latest meeting at Hebron was held in accordance with Muivah's wish that the king of Manipur should be included in the next meeting, said the source.

Titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba at Hebron

Although there was no concrete agreement or commitment during the meeting, it was regarded as the first positive step to clear misunder- standing and promote rapport between the Meiteis and Nagas.

According to the source, Muivah said, "It would be a blunder to believe lndia will solve our Meitei/Naga problem.

Meiteis and Nagas should understand each other, not blame anyone.

He said that mistake lies with the Meiteis as well as the Nagas and the problem will remain unless there is mutual understanding between the two" .

Muivah further said that "We (Nagas and Meiteis) must decide for our own destiny and our future will be the outcome of this decision" .

He said Nagas do not regard Meiteis as their enemy and Meiteis must not regard the Nagas as theirs.

Meiteis would not gain anything when Nagas suffer losses and neither do the Nagas.

"It is not in our hands but depends on the changes occurring in the world.

Many changes have occurred around the world due to historical facts" .

He enquired whether the Meiteis and Nagas were aware of these changes.

Muivah further said that since Naga-lndia and Meitei-lndia problems are different, their solutions would also be different.

Nagas will extend any possible help in solving the Meiteis' problem if a solution to the Nagas' problem is brought about.

"Never think Nagas will gain anything when Meiteis are suffering", Muivah stated.

Leishemba Sanajaoba, king of Manipur is reported to have said that there are numerous misunderstanding among the Nagas and Meiteis .

And it is high time the Nagas and Meiteis clear up these misunderstandings.

The king added that it is not right to stand on either side of the river and hurled imagined allegations at each other.

He said, when someone simply waves his hand, the other takes it as starting a fight .

Therefore it is necessary to have such frequent meetings to bring about mutual understanding.

Chingsubam Wangambi Leima, leader of MNF, said that the bond of love and harmony which existed amongst the various ethnic groups living together in the hills and plains of Manipur has been severed by the wedge of Hinduism.

She said, "We should find a way to enable us live in peace and harmony again" .

During the meeting, king Sanajaoba presented a Meitei khudei (Dhoti) to Ato Kilonser Muivah while Chingsubam Wangambi Leima presented a Leirum cloth (Meetei Shawl) each to Muivah and other NSCN(IM) leaders present in the meeting.

The source also said that, although, the date is not fixed, a second meeting will be certainly held to help clear misunderstandings and strengthen the bond between the Meiteis and Nagas.