Naga's position on ancestral land unambiguous : UNC ; UNC negates Gaidon's appeal report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 04 2017: The United Naga Council (UNC) has stated that they never received any letter from their president Gaidon Kamei appealing to lift the ongoing indefinite economic blockade.

Speaking to media persons at Senapati district headquarters today, UNC general secretary S Milan said they have no idea whether president Gaidon Kamei gave any letter to lift the blockade to any of his close aide or not.

He said that they would not like to comment on the matter.

"We didn't receive any such letter and even if we have received, it is not a matter of surprise", Milan said.

Naga people's position regarding their ancestral land is unambiguous and there has been no change to this position since 1981 .

There is no question of NSCN-IM's involvement in the MoU signed then.

It is rather unfortunate NSCN-IM is often cited in the Naga people's movement spearheaded by the UNC, Milan decried.

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"Nagas do not challenge any community of Manipur and the ongoing agitation is solely for self-protection.

This is what we would like to highlight to the people of the country and the world", he continued.

On being asked about holding dialogue with the Government regarding the ongoing economic blockade, Milan said they too believe that all issues should be resolved through dialogue.

But there should be a basis and a clear agenda for holding a dialogue.

Naga civil organisations signed several MoUs with the Government of Manipur in 1981, 1992, 1996 and 1998.Again, another MoU was signed in 2011 following intervention by the Government of India, he recalled.

After the economic blockade was launched, a tripartite meeting was scheduled at Delhi on November 15 last year but no representative of the State Government turned up.

As invited by the Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary (North East) Satyendra Garg, four executive members of UNC and two functionaries of ANSAM went to Delhi on November 13 last year.

The State's Chief Secretary called the UNC president on November 14 and the conversation was played on loudspeaker so that every one gathered there could hear it.

The Chief Secretary even suggested a joint feast but he did not send any representative, Milan said.

Contrary to the spirit of all these gestures and interactions, the State Government announced creation of seven new districts on December 8.At the same time, the State Government was projecting UNC as anti-people, anti-Ningol Chakkouba, anti-Kut, he rued.

Had the Ibobi Government known that Nagas would never compromise regarding their ancestral land, such a tragic situation would not have unfolded, Milan added.

Former UNC president Paul Leo said that they met a team of the Goodwill Mission for Peaceful Co-existence (GMPC) at Senapati on December 26."They asked about our position, apart from suggesting initiation of dialogue and we gave ideal responses", Paul said.

"There is no question of Nagas rejoicing over imposition of economic blockade.

We are aware of its harsh impacts on the general public.

The GMPC team too suggested holding dialogue with the Chief Secretary", he continued.

He then asked, "How can we hold dialogue without the president and the information secretary?" .

If a dialogue should be held, the president should lead the UNC delegation but he is being detained like a criminal related to law and order, he said.

A notification issued by the Chief Secretary on November 10 stated that all stake holders would be consulted.

Another intimation sent by the Chief Minister to the Union Home Minister on November 11 contained a similar sentence.

However, the State Government, with a view to the Assembly election and create unrest and divisions among different communities, created the seven new districts.

This compelled the UNC to launch different modes of agitation including picketing of Government offices.

To a query, Paul Leo said that the UNC has not yet adopted any decision regarding the State Assembly election.

ANSAM president Seth Satshang said that the main issue is creation of new districts, not the economic blockade.

But the people and civil society organisations of the Manipur valley never asked the Government as to why the economic blockade was imposed in the first place.

The ongoing economic blockade is not directed against any particular community.

The Nagas have been only demanding their historical and political rights.

However, different sections of people have been projecting the economic blockade in the wrong light without ever questioning the real reasons behind the blockade, Seth Satshang said.

He went on to ask what the State Government has been thinking regarding the current situation.