NEIPF urges UNC to review stricture notice
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 01 2025: North East Indigenous People's Forum (NEIPF) wrote a letter to United Naga Council (UNC) to review the latter's stricture notice to the Naga communities not to take part in the celebration of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

The letter penned by NEIPF chairman Anup Chetia expressed regret that this year's celebration of the World's Indigenous Peoples, to be hosted by Indigenous Peoples' Forum Manipur, on August 9, sanctioned and authorised by NEIPF, invited UNC's opposition on a couple of sensitive issues.

"It seems IPFM, Manipur Chapter of NEIPF, did not take the UNC into confidence over the issues involved in the celebration.

However, the celebration in Imphal, where indigenous delegates from seven states of the region are participating, is an occasion to strengthen indigenous unity in the region," he clarified, adding that an understanding can be reached on the issues involved.

He appealed to UNC on behalf of NEIPF and its Manipur chapter to review its notice so that Naga communities in Manipur can take part in the celebration.

It may be mentioned that UNC asked all members of Naga community to refrain from participating in the observance of International Day of the World's Indigenous Day hosted by IPFM on the ground that the 'question of common indigeneity is in question'.

Meanwhile, IPFM in a release informed that it is a state chapter of NEIPF, which has chapters in north-eastern states including Assam Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura.

It reminded that World Indigenous Day was celebrated in Meghalaya in 2023 and in Arunachal Pradesh in 2024.Manipur is scheduled to host in 2025 as decided during the observance in 2024.The host for the observance in 2026 will be determined on August 9, in Imphal, it stated, while making it clear that IPFM represents all indigenous communities in Manipur and participates in celebrating World Indigenous Day on August 9 as declared by the United Nations.

All communities in Manipur who identify as indigenous are invited to participate in the 2025 celebration, it added.

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