ANSAM flays flag hoisting order to village headmen
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network

Senapati, August 13 2021: All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has strongly opposed the state government's order directing all headmen of villages to hoist national flag on August 15 to mark the 75th Independence Day and said its constituent units would enforce non-cooperation to the celebration of 75th Independence Day within their respective jurisdiction.

The students' body was referring to state notification of August 7, 2021 which ordered all headmen of villages to hoist national flag on August 15 to mark 75th Independence Day.

ANSAM has termed the "notification" as a "matter of great concern" .

In a press release, ANSAM said that it "representing the collective voice of all Naga students and youth in Manipur" must put squarely that unless the government of India fully implements the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015 signed between the "Government of India and the NSCN/GPRN" in letter and spirit, the Nagas living in Manipur state would not extend their co-operation in celebrating the 75th Independence day of India.

The Naga students' body said that this "strange notification" amounts to complete denial of the present Indo-Naga political situation.

"It is unprecedented that the state government is resorting to such cheap political tactics to suppress decades of Naga people's movement for right to self-determination," it said.

"Indeed, the government of Manipur is well aware of our history that the Government of India has duly recognized as 'unique' and reaffirmed the same".

ANSAM appealed for peace and understanding and not intimidation.

"We have sacrificed 75 years of Naga history to a conflict we did not create and will continue to sacrifice in the years to come".

"Can GoI expect the Nagas to respect and honour India's national flag in our lands when there is no reciprocal treatment to the Naga national flag? Is this the way to find an honourable political solution?" ANSAM asked.

The release said that it must be clear to everyone by now that the Naga people's struggle and sacrifice for decades on so many levels because "our political rights and identity is core to our very existence" .

"Therefore, such a directive or order is unacceptable to the Naga people," it added.

ANSAM then said that the true spirit of joining in celebrating India's independence can happen only after "mutually" agreed Framework Agreement is honoured by the Government of India.

ANSAM also said that it truly "believes in peaceful co-existence of India and Nagalim as two entities for all time to come" .

It added that any order or direction that imposes any conditions on the Nagas against their will is certainly not the wish or command of Mahatma Gandhiji - the Father of the Nation nor accepted by the Nagas.

Therefore, as a mark of protest against the imposition of celebrating India's independence, ANSAM expresses our resentment and call for non-cooperation towards the celebration of the 75th anniversary of India's Independence Day, the press release added.

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