[Previous entry: "Return of the rebel: Brinkmanship game on between Ibobi Singh, Muivah Shishir Gupta Indian Express NSCN(IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah are playing a game of political brinkmanship over the Greater Nagalim issue with the Congress high command signalling to the state government to keep hands off and let it play out till the June 2 district council elections."] [Next entry: "PC defends decision allowing Muivah to visit Manipur Nagaland Page"]
05/18/2010: "Separatists blockade hits India's Manipur state Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Imphal"
Separatists blockade hits India's Manipur state Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Imphal
Mr Muivah's supporters are angry at the Manipur ban
India is flying in emergency supplies to the remote north-eastern state of Manipur after key roads were blocked by separatists from a neighbouring state.
Road links were cut off by supporters of Thuingaleng Muivah, a rebel leader from Nagaland who has been denied entry to Manipur by the state government.
Mr Muivah's home village is in Manipur, which says allowing him to visit would inflame ethnic tensions.
The road blockade has led to a severe shortage of fuel and medicines.
For the past five weeks, two highways which serve as the lifelines of this remote mountainous state on Burma's border have been blocked by supporters of Mr Muivah, the leader of India's longest running separatist insurgency.
Mr Muivah has been barred from visiting his home village, Somdal, which lies inside Manipur in an area dominated by members of his Naga tribe. It is a bitter standoff between the Nagas and the Manipuris who share a history of animosity. The blockade has had a massive impact on Manipur. Petrol stations have shut down, with no fuel available.
"The situation is dire. There is no petrol or cooking gas available anywhere. Whatever is available is on the black market at ridiculous rates," retired air force officer Rajkumar Ronendrajit told the BBC. Hospitals are also running short of life-saving drugs and oxygen.
"We normally carry out 20 surgeries a day. We are down to about eight because our stocks of oxygen are fast running out," managing director of Shija hospital Dr KH Palin said.
Officials say cargo aircraft carrying rice and medicine have now begun arriving to try and ease the situation. But with the blockade continuing, things continue to remain tense.
NPMHR, Delhi
Press Release
Date: 18th May 2010
Centre is responsible for the crisis in Manipur: says Naga Organization and Indian Human Rights groups in Delhi.
In a press conference called by the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) today at Delhi the speakers collectively said that the centre should be held responsible for the crisis in Manipur. The conference was called to explain the confusion created around Th. Muivah’ (Secretary General, National Socialist Council of Nagalim, NSCN) visit to his village in Manipur.
Vani Subramanian from Saheli, a women’s rights group, who witnessed the rally at Mao gate along with other representatives from women groups, said that it was peaceful rally by women making rather simple demands such as ‘stop militarization’. She talked about a placard that read ‘long live Manmohan Singh’ and ‘Long live Muivah’ which clearly reflected a sense of partnership between two entities which is now under threat.
Harish Dhawan from Peoples’ Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) said that he is appalled by the manner in which the boys were shot dead and post mortems of the deceased prevented till protests forced the state to do so. He demanded that the security personnel who perpetrated the crimes must be immediately brought to book.
Neikesanuo Sorhie recounted her visit to Mao gate on the May 6 after the unprovoked firing against women protestors. She talked about the diabolical role played by the Union government particularly. She recounted the meeting of Naga civil society with Union home secretary G.K Pillai and the appointed interlocutor R.S. Pandey on 12th May at Kohima where they claimed before the Naga civil society representatives that the central government had been unable to inform the state government about Muivah’s visit to Manipur. Yet, Sorhie informed, in another meeting the same day with the CM of Nagaland, NSCN leaders and representatives from Naga civil society he told the exact opposite that the government of Manipur was informed in advance of Muivah’s itenary.
Tapan Bose (South Asian Forum for Human Rights) said the crisis could have been avoided had the centre informed Mr. Muivah about the position of the government of Manipur. The itinerary for Mr. Muivah’s travel was sent before he left New Delhi. He said, the confusion has been created by central government’s assurance of “safe passage” to Muivah, which was subsequently opposed by the state government of Manipur. The confusion is further compounded by the Manipur Cabinet's decision not to allow the visit despite the fact that the Manipur government was informed about Mr. Muivah's visit well in advance and Mr. Ibobi Singh was fully aware of this programme.
Press incharge
Tera Varethan Vashim
"We can be stripped of everything but not our dignity and freedom. Never!"
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Republic of India
New Delhi.
Subject: Reaffirmation of the Naga People’s wishes to allow Th. Muivah, Ato Kilonser, GPRN to visit his Native Homeland.
Hon'ble Sir,
With deep sense of anguish, we are making this submission for your urgent intervention on the situation of utmost concern created by the brutal crackdown on Naga peace marchers by the Manipur Armed forces on 6th May, 2010 at Mao Gate.
That Sir, as you are aware, the Government of Manipur has openly defiled the sanctity of democracy by murdering two innocent students namely, Late Neli Chakho and Late Daikho Loshuo of Kalinamai Village in cold blood and injuring hundreds, mostly women, who were on a peace march at Mao, Senapati District, Manipur, on May 6, 2010. Besides the looting and damaging of properties, thousands of villagers have been displaced due to the continued presence and unprovoked harassment on the Naga villagers and excesses committed by the Manipur State forces.
May we remind you that we had submitted a Memorandum on the same day, i.e. 6th May 2010 through the Sub Divisional Officer, Tadubi, with the hope that you would take note of the severity of the situation and intervene to uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution of India. However, we are extremely disappointed and agitated as adequate and timely response has not been forthcoming to address the situation arisen therefrom.
That Sir, even in the face of extreme provocation and total disregard for our existence as a people, may we remind you that the Nagas are still hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail and therefore, urge you once again, to intervene and fulfill our just demands which have already been communicated earlier as follows:
1. Institute a judicial enquiry into the incident.
2. Immediate withdrawal of Section No. 144 CrPC which has been imposed to prevent the entry of Mr Th. Muivah, Ato Kilonser, GPRN.
3. Immediate withdrawal of IRB and Police Commandos from Naga areas.
4. Prevail upon the Manipur State Government to lift the ban on Mr. Muivah’s visit to his native village and enable him to peacefully complete his peace tour.
Hon’ble, Prime Minister Sir, the Naga People have always cherished peace and we greatly value the wisdom and vision of our leader Th. Muivah toward securing the same. The Government of India must understand that in order to sustain the Indo-Naga Peace process, the act of treachery (of not honouring its own commitment given to our leader to allow him to visit his native village) with the intention of pitting one community against the other and to undermine the aspirations of the Naga People, will only damage the credentials and undermine the justification of India as a democratic entity.
It is our hope, therefore, that our demands will be promptly fulfilled and space secured for peace as we assure you of our fullest co-operation and participation in resolving the Indo - Naga issue.
Dated Tahamzam: May 17, 2010.
Yours faithfully
Sd/- Sd/-
(SAMSON REMEI) (GRACE SHATSANG)
President President
United Naga Council Naga Women’s Union, Manipur
Sd/- Sd/-
(REISANGPEM SHAIZA) (PHAMHRING SENGUL)
General Secretary Convenor
All Naga Students’ Association Manipur Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights
Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to:
1. Dr. P. Chidambaram, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi.
2. Mr. R.S. Pandey, Chief Interlocutor, Government of India,
3. Gurbachan Jagat Singh, His Excellency, Governor of Manipur, Imphal.
4. Mr. Neiphiu Rio, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Kohima, Nagaland.
(A. Ashohrii)
General Secretary
United Naga Council
Manipur women fighting economic blockade of their state BBC News
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An economic blockade of the northwest Indian state of Manipur by a tribal group from the neighbouring state has moved into its fifth week.
The group from Nagaland began the blockade in protest against Manipur state government's decision not to allow their leader to visit his birthplace, on the grounds that a visit from Thuingaleng Muivah would inflame ethnic tensions.
The blockade has led to hospitals running out of medicines, acute fuel shortages and food rationing.
As Sanjoy Majumder explains, Manipuri women are at the forefront of the many protests by local people against the situation.
Manipur seeks Church help to remove blockade Indian Express Samudra Gupta Kashyap
With efforts to move in supplies through National Highway 53 not yielding any result, the Manipur government on Monday sought the help of the Church in the state to reach out to its counterparts in Nagaland to find ways to lift the NH-39 blockade that has choked the state.
A nine-member delegation of the All Manipur Church Association left for Kohima on Monday at the instance of the state government with the specific agenda of seeking help of the Church bodies in Nagaland to reopen NH-39 that has remained blocked since May 6. “We hope that the civil society and the Church in Nagaland will convince the Naga Students’ Federation to lift the blockade on humanitarian grounds so that the common man does not have to starve in Manipur,” N Biren Singh, Sports Minister and spokesperson of the Congress-led SPF government, said.
While movement of all kinds of vehicles to Manipur along the NH-39 through Nagaland has remained shut from May 6, following a blockade announced by the NSF in protest against the Manipur government’s refusal of entry to NSCN(IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah, another blockade called by the All Manipur Naga Students’ Association (ANSAM) has blocked both NH-39 and NH-53 since April 11. The ANSAM has been opposing holding of election to the autonomous district councils in the hill districts of Manipur.
Biren Singh said medicine and essential commodities were being transported to Imphal from Guwahati by air. The rice, he said, will be sold in the open market in Imphal from Tuesday.
The Manipur government has continued its efforts to move supplies through NH-53 via Shillong (Meghalaya) and Silchar (Assam), apart from exploring possibilities of using NH-150 through Mizoram. “The government is trying to convince the groups blocking the NH-53 to at least allow movement of essential commodities,” Singh said.
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
MAY 18TH 2010
A public torch rally was organized this evening by the Tangkhul Action Committee (TAC) in Ukhrul Town. The rally was organized to reiterate the Naga people’s desire to welcome home their leader, Mr. Th. Muivah, Ato Kilonser of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim. The torch rally was also taken out to protest the Cabinet decision of the Government of Manipur preventing Mr. Th. Muivah from visiting Naga areas in Manipur. The expectation from the rally is that the Government of India will immediately intervene and prevail upon the Government of Manipur to change its position. A strong crowd of more than 25000 participated in the rally.
Preparations for welcoming home Mr. Th. Muivah is complete and the Naga people are eagerly awaiting his arrival in Ukhrul.
TENNOSON PHEIRAY
MEDIA INCHARGE
TANGKHUL ACTION COMMITTEE
CPI-M seeks central intervention in Manipur over Naga blockade Indo-Asian News Service, Hindustand times
Agartala, May 18, 2010 The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Tuesday demanded central intervention to end the ongoing crisis in Manipur arising out of the state government's decision not to allow the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his birthplace in the state.
"Immediate central intervention is required and the state and centre should jointly deal with the situation in Manipur," CPI-M central committee member Bijon Dhar told reporters here.
He said: "Peace talks between the centre and both factions of NSCN must continue. Any hasty step should not be taken to jeopardise the crucial peace process."
"The Congress and its ally Trinamool Congress have been demanding President's Rule in West Bengal. Why are they silent with regard to Manipur," the Left leader asked.
The CPI-M urged that all concerned should sit together to end the crisis which, according to the Left party, is severely affecting the common man.
The land-locked northeastern state of Manipur is reeling under unprecedented crisis of all essentials, baby food, life saving drugs and transport fuel following an indefinite economic blockade enforced by various Naga tribal groups since May 6 to protest the Manipur government's decision not to allow Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his birth place in Somdal village in Ukhrul district.
Mountainous Manipur depends on supplies from outside and trucks carrying essentials and other goods from the rest of India use the national highways passing through Nagaland. The Naga tribal groups put up blockades on both the highways, the lifelines of Manipur.
The Manipur government has banned the entry of Muivah to his birthplace, saying it could lead to ethnic unrest in the state.
The 75-year-old Muivah, a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur, was born in Somdal village, 100 km north of capital Imphal in Ukhrul district, and had last visited his birthplace in 1960.
Southern Nagas affirm rights; GoI urged to act morungexpress
Dimapur, May 16 (MExN): The frontal organizations representing the Nagas in the present State of Manipur has made the latest declaration that the “Nagas in south Nagaland (Nagas in present state of Manipur) are steadfast and committed towards peaceful political solution and the integration of all Naga areas” and as such urged the Government of India to demonstrate its sincerity and respect for the “Unique history and situation of the Nagas”.
In this regard, the declaration also stated that it will “sever all relationship with the Manipur State Government and all the dominant organizations and individuals who collude with it, until our history and situation are acknowledged and accorded due respect”. “We shall offer our all for the realization of an honourable political settlement and for the integration of all Naga areas whereby we will live as a people under one political roof, free from domination and exploitation”, stated a joint press declaration issued by Samson Remei President, United Naga Council; Grace Shatsang, President, Naga Women’s Union, Manipur; Adani David Mao, President, All Naga Students’ Association Manipur and Phamhring Sengul Convenor, Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Right.
It was informed that the declaration was adopted in the 15th May, 2010 Consultative Meeting of Naga Frontal Organisations, former parliamentarians, church leaders, intellectuals, professionals, academicians and public leaders which was held at Tahamzan (Senapati) under the aegis of the United Naga Council and the hospitality of the Naga Peoples’ Organisation. The Consultative meeting also declared that peaceful political solution and integration of all Naga areas through the removal of all artificial state boundaries is the only way to live with dignity and protect our existence as a people.
The declaration also pointed out that the “aspiration and commitment of the Nagas, divided by artificial states boundaries have been for all time for peaceful political approach to the unresolved political issue with India and Burma” and that towards this end, the Nagas have consistently expressed their objectives by initiating democratic political steps through the memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission(1929), declaration of independence (August 14, 1947), plebiscite(1951), and boycott of the Indian general election (1952 and 1957).
“While, the remedial initiative were peaceful, the concerned States had invariably opted for military solution leading to serious case of human rights violation and genocide of the Naga peoples under the pretext of Internal law and Order problem”, the declaration stated. It also termed as “the meticulously calculated military crackdown to undermine the rights of the Nagas by the Manipur State Government under the leadership of Ibobi Singh, with the unprovoked attack on the innocent Naga peace - marchers on the 6th May, 2010 at Mao Gate in Senapati district of present State of Manipur, killing two innocent students in cold blood, injuring hundreds and displacing thousands of Naga villagers.
The Naga civil societies as such condemned the Manipur state Cabinet’s policy to bar Mr. Th. Muivah, General Secretary of NSCN from visiting his native village and other Naga areas and the unilateral backtracking of the Government of India (GOI) from its commitment. IT also condemned the militarization and the brutal actions of the Manipur State Security Forces meted out to the Naga public.
The joint declaration also expressed appreciation to the Naga civil societies all over the Naga homeland, the conscientious individuals and civil societies from India and elsewhere for their solidarity and their commitment for the protection and respect of human rights. The declaration also appealed to all neighbouring tribal communities and other conscientious communities to take their own decisive political position that will ensure their freedom and their existence as peoples.
“We declare that we are resolute and will embark on a political journey to consolidate the Indo-Naga political dialogue that must culminate in an honourable and peaceful political solution that respects the inherent rights of the Nagas, which includes our right to live together under one political roof by the removal of all artificial states boundaries”, it stated while informing that “on this day, the 15th of May 2010, we declare our commitment to protect the rights and existence of the Nagas and that we shall initiate steps for the fulfillment of our objectives”.
