UNC opposes semi-permanent relief camps in Naga areas
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Senapati, July 20 2023:
United Naga Council (UNC) has raised strong objection against the state government's policy for setting up and operation of semi-permanent relief camps in Naga areas.
In a statement, UNC appreciated the relief activities and measures taken up by the government but conveyed that it takes strong exception to the recent government guidelines for setting up semi-permanent relief camps for the displaced persons.
Setting up of the relief camps in Naga areas poses serious threat and can cause breach of peace in the future due to var ious problems attributed to the adverse demographic imbalances in different districts of the state.
The statement further said that UNC will not allow anyone to set up any permanent structure or semi-permanent relief camps apart from "immediate temporary relief arrangements in Naga areas to address the plight of the displaced persons" .
It said Naga people have been maintaining neutrality without being biased to the communities involved in the unending chaos and violence with prayer and sympathy to all the victims from both the communities ever since the ethnic violence broke out on May 3 last.
Under its aegis, a peace committee was constituted to foster peace building with the hope and belief that any problem can be settled by sitting across the table, the UNC said while adding that "Moreover, we too have been consciously and continuously restraining ourselves from reacting to the provocations from both
the warring communities.
Accordingly, our concerns over the prevailing situations had been shared across the two communities and the leaders of Manipur state including the central government to restore normalcy in the state.
UNC stressed that "Manipur being a home of mixed communities with different political aspirations and overlapping of claims despite having established and distinct historical positions over the land and rights of the people, the authority at the helm of affairs need to handle cautiously and proactively." It said any steps initiated by the government to mitigate the crisis should not harm the positions of other communities or purportedly pose threat to them.