Nagas carry out rallies against Sadar Hills
Source: Hueiyen News Service /NNN

Imphal, August 19 2011: Tens of thousands of Nagas took out rallies in four hill districts of Manipur demanding not to allow incursion into the Naga inhabited land in the event of the ongoing demands for the creation of the two contiguous districts.

A declaration issued during the rallies has tagged Manipur government as "communal", playing divide and rule card between tribals, and sought tribal unity to defeat the "hegemony" of the government.

The rallies were held at Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts.

A massive rally was also held at Tamei sub-divisional headquarters in Tamenglong district under the aegis of Liangmai Naga Council (LNC).

Over three thousand people participated in the rally.

The rally organised under the aegis of LNC was participated by leaders of Liangmai community residing in the sub-division.

The rallyists walked throughout the Tamei headquarters which started from 10 am and concluded at around 2 pm.

Mass rallies against Sadar Hills in Naga inhabited areas at Ukhrul

After the procession, a public meeting was held at the headquarter where Liangmai leaders spoke at length against the bifurcation of Nagas' land for creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts.

Expressing invective rants, SDSA observed that the Congress-led Ibobi government is "irresponsible" and powerless in dealing with the issue of Sadar Hills.

"The Ibobi government is not a responsible government as recent events have shown who powerless it is by not being able to maintain peace within 10 kilometers into Sadar Hills�His warning to crackdown on the agitators only proved lip service," he said, and added that given the powerlessness there is nothing to expect from the present government.

"Declaration" flyers that were circulated during the rallies stated "the Nagas in the present state of Manipur, under the aegis of the UNC, have carried out this public rally to register our strong objection to the attempt of the government of Manipur and its collaborators to bifurcate the land of the Nagas through the creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts" .

The underlying spirit of the MoUs has been "resolution to the conflict on the issue of Sadar Hills will be brought about through a consensus of the peoples concerned in the interest of bringing about lasting peace and harmony between the Nagas and Kukis," stated the declaration.

The Nagas wish for peace and harmony with the neighboring communities that is based on mutual respect for each other's right over land and its traditional ownership, it said and warned the "collaborators" of the government not to fish in trouble water which "will only cause grievous damage to the fraternal relationship of the communities" .

While calling upon tribals to unite against the hegemonic state government it said that "tribal unity and cooperation is the strength with which we can collectively resist, the hegemony of the government of Manipur, which has denied all constitutional rights of the tribals" .

The rally was also carried out in Tamenglong under the aegis of the District Protection Joint Forum Tamenglong.

The rally kicks off from Mini Stadium Tamenglong upto Haipou Jaduannang Park at 10: 30 am.

Thousands of participants carried out the rally holding placards which read 'no bifurcation of Naga's land, promote tribal unity, stop divide and rule policy, protect MoU signed with Nagas, we want peace and respect MoU signed with Nagas.