Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 28 2009:
Somdal Shanao Long (Somdal Women's Union) had organised a torch rally on September 26 last at Somdal village in support of the ongoing political negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN, Cenny Rungsung, secretary of Somdal Women's Union informed in a statement.
The rally was attended by representatives of different civil societies including the Tangkhul Naga Long (Tangkhul Naga Hoho), Tangkhul Shanao Long (Tangkhul Women's League), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (Tangkhul Youth Council), Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (Tangkhul Village Chiefs Association), Zingtun Longphang (Tangkhul Western Area Organisation) and others.
More than two thousand villagers attended the rally, according to the statement.
The torches that lighted the village during the rally were symbolic of the valued goals of peace and progress.
The rally was followed by a public meeting where participants discussed the role of women in peace building.
The different civil society and village leaders stressed the need for creating more space for participation of women in decision making, and in holistic approaches to development to counter the rise of anti-social elements within the society, it added.