Naga Forum urges peace among ethnic communities
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 30 2023:
In a call for unity, Imphal Naga Forum, following a resolution adopted during the 'Imphal Naga People's Consultative Meeting' held on November 27, has stressed the urgent need for peace and harmony in the state amidst the ongoing ethnic conflict.
In a statement, the Forum informed that during the consultative meeting held at Tarung community hall, key figures, including the special advisor to UNC, chairman of Union Tangkhul Baptist Churches, Imphal, president of AMCO, vice-president of UNC, and its two former presidents, along with the ex-chairman of the Committee for Alternative Arrangement, UNC, came together to deliberate on the current upheaval in the state.
The Forum appealed for peace to prevail in every , corner of the state, expressing concern over the protracted ethnic conflict while emphasising the pressing need for peaceful coexistence and camaraderie.
Decrying alleged indifferent attitude of the Union government towards the seven-month-old conflict, the Nagas who were present at the meeting expressed their frustration over the lack of a visible solution.
The two conflicting communities were also urged to heed previous appeals from various CSOs and international bodies to abandon violence and embrace the path of peace and prosperity.
The statement revealed that the Nagas during the consultative meeting, in a show of unity and faith, prayed for divine intervention to guide Manipur back to the path of peace and reconciliation.
Established with a mission to address the anxieties faced by Nagas in Imphal, Imphal Naga Forum operates as at platform for exchange of ideas, knowledge, and information on conflicts affecting the state.
The Forum reiterated that its purpose is not to act as a parallel force or counter any social organisation but to raise awareness of unfolding conflicts among the Nagas.
Furthermore, the statement detailed the efforts of Imphal Naga Forum, including brainstorming sessions with Naga intellectuals and Christian leaders, as well as intensive inter-ethnic dialogues with Meetei intellectuals and Taragi Cheishu, with an aim to foster understanding, address challenges, and restore peace and tranquillity in the state.