UNC calls for boycott of ADC by-polls
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Imphal, September 27 2011:
Days after the Okram Ibobi Singh government issued notification for the by-elections to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) in six constituencies in Manipur, the United Naga Council (UNC) has yet again issued a blanket boycott of the polls in the Naga areas.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the UNC reiterated its earlier hard-line stand, saying, "It is the bounden duty of all tribe Hohos, district/regional organisation, Naga frontal organizations and all Nagas, young or old, rich or poor and of whatever position, party or position to ensure that the rejected ADC by election stands rejected " .
In an apparent show of their opposition to the government's decision to hold the polls, the UNC stated, "While the Nagas are demanding Alternative Arrangement from the Government of India (GoI) outside Government of Manipur, it (GoM) has deliberately notified holding the by-election of the rejected MDC election in Naga areas in the month of October 2011.This is in total disregard of the sentiments of the Nagas and a direct challenge to the Naga peoples' decision" .
With the apex Naga body maintaining a confrontationist stance, the ghost of ADC is likely to return to the Naga areas.
In the elections last year, more than 15 residential houses belonging to ADC candidates were destroyed and many government buildings were burnt down in the hill districts.
In Ukhrul last year, the ADC elections on June 2 witnessed a serious post-poll violence, in which three vehicles including DC's official Bolero jeep were attacked and gutted.
Incidentally, the UNC on Tuesday sounded a warning against the upcoming by-polls.
"All concerned are therefore informed that it will be a serious violation of the NPC declaration to participate in the ADC by-e lection," it asserted.
Further, it explained that the Naga people declared the "MDC election null and void and have not allowed them to function in the Naga areas," after the Government of Manipur went ahead with the discarded Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (MHADC) .
The UNC argued that the MHADC constituted after the Third Amendment Act, 2008 was designed to suppress the rights of the tribals in Manipur.
"After series consultative meetings in all the Naga areas of Manipur on the controversial Manipur ( Hill Areas) District Council, 3rd Amendment Act, 2008, the United Naga Council(UNC) submitted representations on the wishes of the peoples to defer and review the enactment of the Act as the Naga People cannot accept it in its present form and content since it was designed to suppress and deny the rights of the tribals" .