ANSAM recalls 'heroes' on Remembrance Day
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Chandel, June 20 2018: Joseph Adani, president of the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has said that in order to "secure a collective shared future the present Naga leaders should be cautious with those agents who are investing every effort to impress the younger Naga generations with a sole agenda to spoil the Naga campaign for dignity" .

The ANSAM chief was speaking at the 'Remembrance Day' function yesterday, June 19, at Kapaam village in Chandel district to remember Shelly Chara (1958-1995), Ashun R Jangvei (1961-1998), NG Sainii (1920-1998), Namthiurai Abonmai (1966- 2005), Gemcliff Zimik (1972-2007), Neli Chakho (1990- 2010), Dikho Loshou (1990-2010), Mavopam Ramror (1979-2014) and Ramkashing Vashi (1988-2014).Joseph Adani said that the values of the 'martyrs' can never be buried and have to be acknowledged.

He further stated that the 'toils and tears of the martyrs' will not go in vain "and they are always huge inspirations in toiling towards our aspiration" .

Also speaking on the occasion, Dr Gina Shangkham, former president of Naga Women Union (NWU) and one of the pioneers of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), said that the sacrifice of these people should be "ever valued and honoured at the highest" .

Dr Gina Shangkham further stated that the Naga people should also take note of "such courage of the martyrs in providing leadership as we remember them" .

According to Dr Gina, it is a story of the "suppressed people by the aggressors and oppressors, in the course of struggles for ones' identity and it is still continuing" .

Solidarity messages from various quarters were also read out on the occasion.

According to the ANSAM, it was during the tenure of Shelly Chara as president of the Naga student body the infamous "Operation Bluebird" was launched in the wake of the Oinam incident.

Later, Shelly Chara became the Convenor of the Co-ordination Committee on Oinam Issue(COCOI) .

He was arrested under the Anti Terrorist "Act in May 1988.In 1993, Shelly Chara became the Convener of NPMHR.

According to the ANSAM, he represented the NPMHR at various forums in India and abroad particularly on the issues of the peoples' struggle for self-determination, justice and human rights.

"Shelly Chara was assassinated on June 19, 1995 by non-State actors," the eulogy prepared by ANSAM said.

Regarding Ashun R Jangvei, ANSAM said that he joined the 14th Indian Artillery in 1985 and left service in 1989.He served ANSAM as social & cultural secretary in 1990 .

He was elected as president, Lamkang Students' Union (LKK) in 1997 when the Kukis and the Nagas were at the peak of a violent inter-tribal conflict.

He was killed in the conflict, a eulogy prepared by ANSAM said.

Regarding Sainii of Tungam village, he was a 78 year old man and serving as a deacon in his Church "when he was killed by the indiscriminate firing of Manipur Rifles at Senapati bridge during the ANSAM agitation against the attempt of the Government of Manipur to create Sadar Hills district in Manipur" .

According to ANSAM, he died leaving his wife and four children.

"His wife is now more than 70 years old and often talks about his life and the values that he stood for," the ANSAM added.

Regarding Namthiurai Abonmai, he died during the ANSAM agitation of 2005 .

In June 2001, the Indo-Naga ceasefire was extended to all the Naga areas 'without territorial limits'.

According to the Naga student body, there was a violent protest in the valley against the Naga people's quest for peace and proclaimed that 'there are no Nagas in Manipur State' .

"The violence led to the death of 18 who attacked Government establishments, including the State Assembly building," said the ANSAM.

The Naga student body further said there was a demand that the anniversary of the death of the 18 be declared as a State holiday.

In 2005, the Government of Manipur declared June 18 as a State holiday, the Naga student body added.

The ANSAM protested against this "blatant insult" to the Naga people.

"On July 19,2005, Namthiurai Abonmai felt that the only extreme steps that would evoke response from the State and Central Governments and reverse the glorification and legitimisation of the violence of June 18, and took great personal risk and attempted to blow up the Irang bridge," said ANSAM.

Unfortunately he lost his life during the "valiant" act, the eulogy compiled by the Naga student body added.

Regarding Gemcliff Zimik, he had served the Zingtun Tangkhul Katamnao Long (ZTKL) from 2004 till his untimely death in 2007.According to the ANSAM, in 2006, he was made the Co-Convenor of Co-ordination Committee, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) .

During this time schools in Naga areas in Manipur were "prompted" to take their HSLC examination in Nagaland under NBSE as a protest against imposition of Manipuri language.

While facilitating the student candidates to their respective examination centres in Nagaland,Gemcliff died in car accident in the wee hours of January 27, 2007 .

Regarding Neli Chakho and Dikho Loshou, both were college students "killed by the Manipur State forces" on May 6, 2010 at Mao Gate when the Naga people protested the ban on "the chief of peace Naga negotiator and the Ato Kilonser of NSCN, Th Muivah from visiting Somdal, his native village, by the Manipur Government", the ANSAM said.

Regarding Ramkashing Vashi and Mayopam Ramror, the ANSAM alleged that they were killed on August 30, 2014 when the Manipur commandos and Indian Reserve Battalion opened fire on a "peaceful mass rally" held in Ukhrul organised by the United Naga Council (UNC) against the "militarization of Naga areas" .

Both of them were from Teinem village.

Later in the evening Lhukhosei was produced before the Court of the Duty Magistrate.

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