Naga students in Delhi on districts creation...Ploy to reduce Nagas to minorities
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 14 2016:
Strongly opposing the decision of the State Government to create seven new districts, despite the earlier agreements signed with Naga civil societies, the Joint Naga Students' Union, Delhi today has listed the likely impact of the Government's move.
In a statement e-mailed to The Sangai Express, the Joint Naga Students' Union, Delhi said that the creation of Jiribam, Kakching, Kamjong, Kangpokpi, Noney, Pherzawl and Tengnoupal districts is a deliberate design to reduce the Nagas to a mere minority in all these districts.
Elucidating, the statement said that the creation of Kamjong district out of Ukhrul district will result in the bifurcation of Tangkhul Naga areas and promote influx by outsiders.
Kangpokpi will slowly expand and encroach upon the remaining Senapati district and Nagas will lose ownership of their ancestral land, said the statement.
On the creation of Pherzawl district, the student body said that many Zeliangrong villages will be included in the new district which is dominated by the Kukis.
Kakching will include surrounding Naga villages of Monsang, Tarao, Chothe, etc such as Komlathabi, Purumtampak etc.
Giving further reasons for their opposition to the districts creation, the student body said that Chandel district will be bifurcated into pieces, thereby isolating and segregating it from the rest of the contiguous Naga areas.
The Nagas will be reduced to a minority in Tengnoupal as it will now turn into a Kuki dominated district, it said and added that creation of Noney district from Tamenglong will divide the Zeliangrong villages.
Jiribam is a Meitei dominated town and the proposed map includes vast territories of Naga villages from Tamenglong district, it added.
These newly created districts will then be completely militarised to exert full State authority, said the statement and added this will be followed by large scale influx to the new districts to evict the Nagas and dominate their ancestral territory.
The student body then demanded the immediate and unconditional release of UNC president Gaidon Kamei and information and publicity secretary of UNC Sankhui Stephen.
It also demanded that the Government of Manipur honour the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier with Naga civil societies and added that any re-organisation or creation of new districts falling within the Naga inhabited areas should not be done without the consent of the Nagas.
Immediate revocation of the order to create the seven new districts, is another demand put forth by the student body.
The Centre was also urged to take cognizance of the prevailing political situation in Manipur and take necessary steps to ensure peace in the region.