Onaeme continues to observe July 9 episode
Source: Hueiyen News Service / N Rong
Senapati, July 09 2015 :
Onaeme (people of Oinam Hill) observed July 9 every year as Onae Reh Dah (Great Battle) by gathering in group to pray, share experience and abstaining from field work.
The tradition began in 1988, as the villagers resolved to set aside the day as a "Day of Prayer" .
This year (2015), the 28th anniversary had been observed at Taphou Onaeme in solemn manner.
OT Lane, one of the badly tortured survivors shared his tormenting experience while Khah Lawrence, Headman of Taphou Onaeme exhorted the gathering.
S Khae, social worker shared a perspective on the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks.� Onaeme, survivors of the Blue Bird Operation offered special prayer led by RP Ngupane, local pastor.
The gathering prayed for martyrs' families, victims, for those who helped the people of Oinam during the horrifying days, unity and prosperity among the villagers, early settlement of Indo-Naga issue, for unity and understanding among the Naga Political Groups among others.� The gathering with profound gratitude acknowledged the sacrifices made and sufferings endured by everyone during the Operation Blue Bird.
The gathering expressed gratefulness to all generous people who helped making the 25th Anniversary (July 9, 2012) a grand success through kind donation, physical presence, prayer, moral support and solidarity.
� In the year 1987 on July 9, the 21st Assam Rifles outpost at Oinam was attacked and ransacked by the NSCN.
Later on as revealed Markson led the NSCN under the code 'Operation Jericho' and attacked the camp.
Nine Javans were killed and three seriously injured and left with huge cache of arms and ammunition, 90 SLRs, 22 stengun, 10 LMGs, 60 mortor bomb, 396 hand grenade, over 27,808 round of ammunition.
'Operation Blue Bird', was a code name of counter-insurgency operation launched on 11th July 1987 by Government of India under the command of General PL Kukrety, General Officer in Command (GOC), of M Sector to recover the seized arms and ammunition taken away by Naga underground group, NSCN.
During operation blue bird, the excesses committed the by Assam Rifles was historic in the annals of the Naga National movement.
That with the help of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights and other organisations, the armed forces were brought to the court, stated one of the report of the human rights group.
That was the first time in the long torturous history of violation of human rights of our people to bring the guilty officers of Indian security forces to stand in the dock and answer the charges of murder, rape, looting and arson.� The NPMHR in their petition filed in October 1987 to the Guahati High Court, alleged that the security forces committed the following cognizable offences: murder, manslaughter, infliction of grievous injuries, rape and sexual harassment; arson, looting and theft; desecration of Church; wanton destruction of public and private properties; including school buildings; illegal evictions; illegal raids, seizures; illegal detentions and arrests and forced labour.� Around thirty villages were affected, 125 residents houses are alleged burnt, 112 like houses were dismantled, 6 schools and 10 churches were dismantled, properties worth of Rs.50,75,000/- were looted from seven villages and villagers belonging to five villages were forced to work, 27 persons are alleged to have been killed in the encounter on different dates in Senapati District of Manipur, 3 women were alleged raped and five women were alleged sexually molested and 300 persons are alleged tortured by Assam Rifles �as enumerated by the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights.