UNC directs Nagas not to take part in 'Sangai festival'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei
Tml, November 04 2013:
The United Naga Council (UNC) on Monday directed all people the Nagas in Manipur to stay away from the state sponsored Sangai festival and other programmes.
The UNC also directed all Regional/District organisations and tribe Hohos to ensure that there is effective compliance of this directive in their respective jurisdiction.
In a lengthy statement issued by its Publicity Wing, UNC said that the Government of Manipur had been seeking to project a picture of social harmony in contrast to the reality of "social divide" on communal line in the State which has been noted with concern by none other than the Prime Minister of India.
Issuing the directive, UNC said that it was in pursuance of the 1st July, 2010 Naga People's Declaration.
No frontal organisations, tribe organisations, range and village level organisations and individuals should associate with or accord recognition to the unmandated Members of District Council (MDCs) who defied the Naga people's call not to participate in the imposed Autonomous District Council (ADC) election in 2010, which has been declared null and void.
All frontal organisations, tribe organisations, range and village level organisations and individuals are also directed not to entertain or associate with or confer recognition/provide public platform to the Ministers of the Government of Manipur and also to Naga MLAs & Ministers who had defied the resolution of the joint meeting of the UNC, frontal organisations and political parties held on 15th December, 2011 that any political party whose policies, programmes and activities does not subscribe to the registered position of the Nagas will not qualify for the support of the Naga people in any manner whatsoever, the statement said.
It further stated that individuals who are associated with pseudo organisations using umbrella nomenclature of all tribals without the mandate of the people and espousing "Ching�Tam" amity merely to garner political patronage and for petty financial gains must be checked by the respective tribe councils and not allowed to dilute the political position of the Naga people on alternative arrangement which is substantiated by the social divide.
The strictures are symbolical and reflect the seriousness with which Nagas uphold the aspiration for political empowerment, for the protection of the land and resources and for respect of the identity and dignity.
"We are not against any particular personality or political party but the official positions they hold which negates the political position of the Naga people.
It would be gross stupidity and a self infliction to disregard this necessity for the sake of petty sanctions, schemes, contracts and favours knowing full well that it will lead to dilution of the peoples' declared position.
This reiteration is in keeping with the spirit of the democratic process of dialogue of the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the UNC on the Naga people's demand for an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga," the statement added.