INF appeals for peace, harmony
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 30 2023:
Amid the raging ethnic conflict in the State, the Imphal Naga Forum (INF) has appealed to all ethnic groups in Manipur to maintain peace and harmony.
According to a press release issued by INF, "Imphal Naga People's Consultative Meeting" was held at Tarung community hall on 27th Nov, 2023 and it was attended by top Naga leaders including the special advisor to UNC, Union Tangkhul Baptist Churches, Imphal chairman, president of AMCO, the vice president of UNC and its two former presidents and the ex-chairman, committee for Alternative Arrangement, UNC.
The consultative meeting witnessed a huge turnout of Nagas in Imphal where they deliberated and introspected on the current upheaval in the State.
The congregation of Nagas also expressed the immediate need to build an environment of peaceful coexistence and camaraderie.
The Nagas also lamented over the indifferent attitude of the Union Government in solving the 7 months old communal war.
With no sincere effort to settle the burning issue visible so far, there is no immediate solution in sight, the INF said.
The two warring communities have failed to heed the earlier appeals made by various CSOs and international bodies to shun violence and return to the path of peace and prosperity.
The Nagas at the consultative meeting cried out to the Lord with repeated heart-beating and chest-thumping in prayer for divine intervention so that the troubled State of Manipur returns to the path of peace and reconciliation.
The Imphal Naga Forum was born with a conviction to address and mitigate the anxieties, apprehensions, and sense of insecurities being faced by the Nagas in Imphal, it said.
This body was floated by a group of dedicated Social activists, and like-minded Naga intellectuals to make the Nagas fully aware of the unfolding conflicts.
A series of brainstorming sessions with Naga intellectuals and Naga Christian leaders including the president of All Manipur Christian organization (AMCO) were held with Imphal Naga Forum on 7th October 2023 and on 24th October, 2023 at Hotel Imphal.
At the initiative of Imphal Naga Forum, intensive inter- ethnic dialogues were organized with Meitei intellectuals on 14th October, 2023 and again with the Taragi Cheishu (a conglomerate of lawyers, intellectuals, academicians and doctors) on October 27 to understand each other, challenges, difficulties and positions and to restore peace and tranquillity in Manipur.