ANSAM backs Rio's 'hate speech'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Senapati, February 10 2013 : Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio's comment on Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh terming the latter as 'one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas' and the follow up reactions and counter reactions continue.

A day after the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga People's Front (NPF), the All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has jumped into the bandwagon of Manipur government bashing. "When Chief Minister Shri Nephiu Rio speaks the reality that Ibobi is one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas for those who do not know why does the government of Manipur and its cabinet ministers take it as a hate speech?," the Naga students' body questions.

All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) then questions if Ibobi is not the biggest enemy of the Nagas then who is.

The government of Manipur or the cabinet ministers may like to respond, it added.

"Who talks of civil war and creates communal tension in Manipur? Isn't it the dominant community, leaders of valley based civil societies, MLAs and ministers with chief minister Ibobi in the lead" ANSAM further questions.

"Why try to blame and throw moral responsibility upon Neiphiu Rio for his statement that 'Ibobi is one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas' when Ibobi has so blatantly been responsible for any social unrest and communal tension in Manipur?" the Naga students' body further asks.

This statement is not in defence of Nephiu Rio's statement, ANSAM clarifies.

"But how does the government of Manipur or for that matter Ibobi talks of peace and communal harmony when they oppose anything to do with the Nagas.

Where is peace when war is insisted upon with threat of bloodshed and 'time-bomb".

When ceasefire between the government of India and NSCN-IM is opposed with what mask does Ibobi speak about peace.

Does he mean to translate that there is peace when there is no ceasefire? How does Ibobi justify that he is not one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas?," ANSAM continues to question.

"When Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh opposed the Indo-Naga ceasefire; opposed the visit of the principal negotiator of the Nagas to his native place; shot down Naga students; opposes any honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga peace talk; maintains silence when Nagas and tribals were assaulted, humiliated raped, killed by valley militants; opposes the legitimate demand for alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipour, pending final settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, what has the government of Manipur attempted at other than the suppression of the Nagas and the tribals.

Do we call him a saint and a friend of the Nagas instead? He is the "fiend" of the Nagas and not friend" the Naga students' body added.

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