Chandel for 'Alternative arrangement'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, November 22 2011: The United Naga Council (UNC) declared today in Chandel that the movement demanding the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas in Manipur will go on as long as its demand is not met.

Holding a public rally today in Chandel district headquarters under the aegis of the UNC demanding for the alternative arrangement outside the state government of Manipur for the Nagas, speakers asked as to why the valley people oppose any aspiration of the tribal people or the Nagas.

"We did not oppose to the 8th Schedule demand of the valley people nor to any movement initiated by the valley community.

However, they (valley community) are out to oppose anything we initiated," lamented UNC speaker P Timothy.

The Speaker UNC also said that the tribals and the Nagas in particular, had not opposed during and when the demand for 8th Scheduled was granted and he questioned as why the dominant community and government of Manipur appose the wishes of Naga people when demanding Alternative Arrangement to government of India outside the government of Manipur 'pending Indo-Naga final solution, democratically' .

Asinpou Gangmei, a member of Alternative Arrangement Demand Committee also spoke on the occasion.

" The government of Manipur has been opposing every rights of the Nagas including extension of Indo-Naga Cease Fire in 1997 as well as Cease Fire without territorial limit in 2001, the visit of Mr.Th.Muivah, Hon.ble Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) of the NSCN in May 2010, were vehemently opposed.

The communal government of Manipur and the valley people claimed that they also welcome Indo-Naga Peace Process but not the extension of Cease fire in Manipur.

That shows the valley people and their leaders want the Naga to continue violence and bloodshed in Manipur despite the Nagas entering into peaceful dialogue with the GOI.

Hence, Naga demand to the government of India for an Alternative Arrangement outside the Communal Government of Manipur pending final Indo-Naga solution in order to protect our land, culture, time honoured traditional identity," the UNC leaders said during the rally today in Chandel.

Meanwhile, the rally started from Maha Union Hr Sec School, Chandel district headquarters up to the office junction of the deputy commissioner.

At the end of the rally, a declaration was made by the UNC.

The declaration reads as, "Having recommitted ourselves on the 4th of September, 2011 to the declaration of the Naga Peoples' Convention (NPC) of the 1st July, 2010 to sever all political ties with the communal Government of Manipur and to demand from the Government of India for an alternative arrangement to fill up the vacuum in governance and administration created thereby.

The Nagas in Chamdil (Chandel) on this day, the 22nd November, 2011, have taken up this public rally, under the aegis of the United Naga Council, to reiterate our position and demand for intervention of the Government of India with an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

Through this democratic and legitimate platform, we appeal the GoI to recognise the unmistakeable facts that calls for severance of ties with the communal government of Manipur, who have established legitimacy over the years to illegitimately deny the rights, land, identity, culture, time honoured traditional institutions and practices of the Nagas and tribals and to therefore intervene with an Alternative Arrangement outside the Government of Manipur" .

In this declaration the UNC then cautions that it would put on record that the situation is fragile, sensitive and explosive and has all the potential for communal conflagration should the government of India continue to adopt a wait and watch policy.

Therefore, according to the United Naga Council declaration, the onus lies on the government of India to save the situation and intervene at the earliest possible time.

Be it also witnessed on this day that the Nagas will continue to fight for their rightful aspirations till it is achieved.

We also urge upon the Government of India to exercise its political will to bring an honourable and acceptable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue at the earliest, notwithstanding any attempts to sabotage this process, the Naga body added.

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