Naga bodies condemn torching of Naga house
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network

Senapati, June 21 2023: Strongly condemning the torching of a Naga house at Leimakhong Chingmang by armed Ku kis on June 18, United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union (NWU) and All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) said such a heinous crime tantamount to a direct challenge to the Nagas at large.

A team of the Naga bodies visited the site on Wednesday and assessed the situation prevailing around the 'Khonsaram (Leimakhong) Naga areas' .

Strongly condemning torching of Naga house right under the nose of security forces, the UNC expressed shock to learn about the premeditated attack on the Naga house by armed Kukis in-spite of Naga House tag pasted on the wall.

The UNC termed it as a provocative action against the Nagas during this conflict and sensitive juncture.

According to the UNC, it had earlier cautioned both the warring communities to refrain from such reckless provocation as there are chances of exacerbation of situation with the involvement of other peaceful communities who are living in close proximity to each other.

The UNC also said that Naga people have been vouching for peace in the state to restore normalcy without taking any side but it is very unfortunate that there are frequent occurrences of incidents afflicting the Nagas in various areas from both the warring communities.

The UNC also maintained that continuous fighting between the two communities and unrestraint provocations towards their good neighbour will not solve the problem.

Rather, it will only worsen and escalate to another level.

Thus, shunning of violence and sitting across the table can only bring peace and normalcy in the state.

Silence is complicit but our silence or neutrality should not be construed as weakness, the UNC added.

In a separate statement, the Naga Women's Union (NWU) said it was deeply shocked by torching of a Naga house at Leimakhong Chingmang as the house was torched despite the sign 'Liangmai Naga' pasted to it.

Moreover, this ugly scene occurred right under the nose of Laimakhong Military Base where hundreds or thousands security force personnel are stationed, it added.

In-spite of the burning situation in the state for several days, Nagas have been sincerely seeking for peace and advocating for normalcy.

However, efforts for peace were set ablaze in the blink.

Despite repeated pleas and also warnings, Nagas have been attacked several times and ended being the victims since the beginning of the present communal clashes in the state.

The NWU as peace loving mothers fear nothing good could be produce if such actions keep repeating, said the NWU.

Also condemning the incident, ANSAM said it was utterly anguished and expressed its resentment against the 'obnoxious act' of setting ablaze a house and vandalising gates belonging to Liangmai Naga in Leimakhong Chingmang by Kuki militants without any reason and provocation.

The ANSAM reminded that Naga people have been urging all the ethnic communities to exercise restraint any kind of violence to prevent further escalation of the prevailing situation and to be the agents of peace and goodwill mission.

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