UNC rally peaceful in Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 30 2014 : Though violence marred the UNC sponsored peace rally in Ukhrul district, it passed off peacefully in Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong districts with no report of any untoward incidents.

In Senapati district, the rally received huge response from general public with about 4500 of them turning up to take part in it.

The rally was rather smooth except for a slight altercation between the student leaders of SDSA, ANSUM and Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl.

SP), Kangpokpi in relation with the passage of the vehicles, where the later wanted a passage through the rally.

The rally began from Senapati Public Ground with the participants singing "We shall overcome" .

During the rally, the participants were seen carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans like 'Stop militarization of Naga areas', 'Honour the cease-fire or cease the cease-fire', 'Expedite acceptable and honorable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue', 'Respect the democratic process of dialogue on alternative arrangement pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue', 'Stop aggression on ancestral land of Nagas and Tribals' .

After circling the Heart of the Town, the rally converged at the public ground again where many Civil and political leaders including ML.

Markson, NPO President; A Lolia, President of SDSA; Joyson, Representative of NPMHR; N Awangbou, President of NPF and L.Adani, President of UNC addressed the gathering.

In Chandel district headquarters, more than 5000 people from different sub divisions and blocks came by buses, canters, shaktimans and DIs in spite of the heavy rains to take part in the peace rally organized under the aegis of CNPO.

Churches leaders, representatives of frontal organizations including the Tribe Hohos, women and student bodies, NGOs, village chiefs, youth leaders, students and general public were among those who participated in the rally which was started from Maha Union Govt Higher Secondary School ground and passed through the important roads and bylanes of the district headquarters.

Before the rally was kicked off, a public meeting was also held at the ground of Maha Union Govt Higher Secondary ground where Chairman of the Alternative Arrangement Demand Committee Paul Leo, CNPO President and others addressed the crowd.

The rally in Chndel district was by and large peaceful and there was no report of any untoward incident.

In Tamenglong district headquarters, the UNC sponsored rally was organised jointly by Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students Union.

After the rally, a meeting was held at Haipou Jadonang's Park Tamenglong and later burned the effigies of O Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur and Gaikhangam, Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur.

During the rally, the participants held banners and placards which read "Cease aggression on ancestral land of Nagas/ Tribal Honour the Ceasefire, stop militarization; Respect democracy, respect dialogue on alternative arrangement; Expedite settlement of Indo- Naga issue; etc".

The rally started off from Mini Stadium Tamenglong and passed through the main bazaar via UBC Tamenglong road and culminated at Haipou Jadonang's Park where the public meeting was held.

After the rally and the public meeting, a memorandum was also submitted to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India demanding the Government of India to expedite an acceptable and honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

The memo also demanded that the government of Manipur must be prevailed upon by the Union to uphold and respect the Indo-Naga cease-fire and peace process which recognises the unique history and situation of the Nagas and to immediately desist from militarisation of Naga areas particularly Ukhrul district which is under unwarranted promulgation of 144CrPC for almost 7 weeks to this day, in spite of the continuous protest of the people.

The memorandum was signed jointly by T.S.Warngam, Vice President United Naga Council; Asinpou Gangmei, Vice Chairman for Committee for Alternative Arrangement; Thomas Kamei, President Zeliangrong Baudi (M); Titus Kamei, President Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN); Ramning Pame, General Secretary Zeliangrong Pui Baudi (M); Riamei Joseph Coordinator Zeliangrong Students' Union Tamenglong District and Athanbou Pamei, President, Village Authority Chairmen Council, Tamenglong.

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