Nagas pay fitting tribute to Mao gate firing victims
UNC asks all to be ready
Source: The Sangai Express

Mao, May 06 2012: Braving the blazing May sun, hundreds of Nagas today paid rich tribute to the souls of two students of the community who were killed in police firing during a protest rally on this day two years back here in Senapati district about 100 kms from Imphal.

Deceased Neli Chakho and Dikho Loshuo were among a large number of protesters who took out the rally to protest the State Government's decision to prevent NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah from visiting Somdal, his ancestral village in Ukhrul district.

Several protesters were also hurt in the police action.

The Nagas under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC), which is campaigning for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur, by severing all ties with the State Government, has been observing the day of ' martyrdom' of the two students on this day since 2010 at 'Martyrs Park' .

Organised by the Mao Council a large number of Naga civil bodies, students and common people offering flowers to the memorial of the two 20-year-old students.

Floral tributes paid at the grave sites of the two students

Interestingly Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell Major Gen ( Retd) N George also attended the function.

UNC president L Adani while addressing the gathering said "it is a day when we come together to rekindle the spirit with which Chakho and Loshou faced the bullets of the adversaries.

The sacrificing spirits of this two martyrs made them heroes and we are proud to be gathered here around their graves, which stand to symbolize our struggle before the world" .

Commenting on UNC's pursuit for the alternative arrangement, he said it is a democratic movement and is linked to the tripartite talk involving the Centre, State Government and the Nagas in Manipur under the aegis of UNC.

Stating that the Centre has been urged in the middle week of April for resumption of the talk, he said "We would inform our people of the need to be prepared for whatever may happen in the days to come, depending on the response of the Centre and the State Goverrment with regard to taking forward the process already put in place" .

The observation reaffirmed that the Naga people in Manipur will not be swayed from the conviction and commitment demonstrated by the two students "who gave their all for the future and the rights of their people.

UNC general secretary Gaidon Kamei, who read out the reaffirmation note, said the two students' sacrifices will continue to inspire and strengthen the Nagas in their struggle.

Leaders of Naga Hoho, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights ( NPMHR),Mao Council, Committee for Alternative Arrangement also spoke on the occasion.