Kohima, January 31 2009: The Naga Hoho has appealed to Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram for immediate intervention towards ensuring peace and protection of life and property of innocent villagers at Shiroi under Ukhrul district of Manipur.

In a representation to the Home Minister yesterday, the Naga Hoho alleged that the stand off between the 17 Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM at Shiroi since January 18 last has resulted in completely cut off water supply and electricity to NSCN-IM camp.

"At this juncture we are worried that starving Naga Army may create havoc out of the desperation, which will derail the Indo-Naga peace process," the Hoho said.

Pointing that the Assam Rifles have installed electrified barbed wire around the NSCN camp, the Naga Hoho said it is akin to act of "barbarism and sheer violation of basic Human Rights." "Unfortunately, the location is such that there is no other passage for NSCN-IM to move out from their camp unless the Assam Rifles pave the way for them based on the principles of ongoing ceasefire between the two entities," they said.

The Naga Hoho further stated that innocent villagers are unable to go to field, schools and have even postponed the traditional seed sowing festival, which was supposed to be held on January 27 owning to fear psychosis that are looming in the minds of the villagers with the presence of hundreds of Armed Forces.

The Hoho mentioned that womenfolk both in Shiroi and Ukhrul are on a sit-in-protest in the chilly weather and praying throughout the day for prevention from any untoward armed conflict between the NSCN and Assam Rifles.

Maintaining that the notion of Govenment of India would be wrong in the context of ceasefire coverage if it covers only the present State of Nagaland, the Hoho therefore "put forward stiff resistance that hereinafter, the ceasefire must cover the entire world in letter in spirit" .

The Naga Hoho also informed the Home Minister that the first ceasefire between the government of India (GOI) and the Naga National Council (NNC) had to break down due to insincerity on the party of the GOI and as such the Naga people are not at all keen to lose the ongoing hard earned peace process.

It appealed the Home Minister to handle the present delicate political situation with utmost care and bring down the volatility in to normalcy with out further impediments.

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