[Previous entry: "Villagers return home to Mao OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"] [Next entry: "60 days of blockade: Manipur's food, medicine crises deepen IANS IST"]

06/08/2010: "Arrest warrant on UNC and ANSAM President Manipur Youth"

Arrest warrant on UNC and ANSAM President Manipur Youth

After the PIL filed by one Mr. Joysana Meitie an advocate before Guwahati High Court Imphal Bench, in the hearing of Honourable High Court Double bench headed by the Honourable Justice Mr. Nandakumar Singh Meitei and Honourable Justice M. Binoy Meitei had directed in person to Manipur DGP Y.Joykumar Singh Meitei to arrest president ANSAM and declared as “wanted” and in subsequent to the High Court verdict the Manipur Chief Minister who also hold Home Minister post Mr. Ibobi Singh Meitei Order Manipur DGP Joykumar Meitei to file case against ANSAM and UNC President with Rs. 1 lakh as rewards under sections 171-C/43/440/120-B of IPC and 8-BNH Act 1956.registered under Sekmai and Patsoi Police station under Meitei Area.

The NYF is shocked and condemn the action of Ibobi and it is worth noting that adding more salt to the wound against the oppression on Tribal people specially Nagas after killing students, injuring hundreds of women, now Communal Government is after the established Traditional Naga customary body to wipe out or annihilate the tribal people systematically. And yet the Home secretary GK Pillai speaks about the Imphal valley humanitarian situation only. We know very well the media in Imphal valley will black out this truth however, we believe one day good sense will prevail upon them.

Respecting equally the sentiment of Meitei Community demand for 8 schedules (Language), 11 schedules for Panchayati Raj and 12 schedules Municipality Council of Indian constitution was never opposed nor objected by the tribal people rather we supported and they got it. However, the attitudes of Meitei Community has come with surprise opposing when it comes to the interest of tribal demand for 6th schedules was dismissed in-spite of successive government approval since 1995. Now Ibobi Singh and his cohort along with through chief Minister, cabinet Ministers, MLAs, UCM, AMUCO, NUPILAL, Colony Clubs, etc with available forces push through upon the tribal people the outdated “District Council Act” rejected since 1989 by the tribal people even to the extend of reducing the earlier power of local self-governance. Is this not shameful majority communal attitude? Is this the prize for supporting in your Meitei demand?

Upholding the values of democratic means through peaceful means approached by the Tribal people since 1980 has been trampled again and again. After twenty years they gave well crafted Anti tribal act as (District Council Act without the concern of people even up to the slicing existing village authority power/land & resources in the name of “reserved Forest” undermining the customs and traditions of tribal people. Even the intervention by the than Deputy Prime Minister of India Mr. A.K.Advani letter to Ibobi on denied of tribal rights under Article 371 (C) was put down to dustbin. The tribal appeal for people consensus on present controversial Act was thumb down once again by the 40 majority Meitei MLAs in the house of 60 members. Hundreds of memorandums to Prime Minister, Home Minister through Deputy Commissioner/Governor and directly meeting in persons by the Naga people as well as by the tribal through ATSUM (All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur) have been submitted till now.

Now is this democratic means not sufficient? How far does India want tribal people patience to continue? How many memoranda are required to qualify for GK.Pillai to speak the truth of situation instead of saying “patience is running out”? Does democratic means and patience of Naga people for peace deserved to be put under wanted list like a Criminal? What is the crime when Naga people ask for their justice? Colluding with the oppressor deviating from the truth to the visit of Ato kilonser Th. Muivah visit programmes amounts to demeaning the sincere commitment of honourable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for honourable solution to Indo-Naga peace process. Arresting Samson and David Choro will not solve the issue you will compound the level of flame already burning. Nagas have thousand and thousand of Samson and Choro.

We are sorry to say that Ibobi’s complete lack of sense of human essence that without any sense of remorse is harping on violent and threat perception as the only means. The existing mistrust within communities has become a means for Ibobi into glorifying communal situation. Any sensible person will have nothing to utter but only say Oh my God! Trying to destroy the established Tribal traditional body by targeting the custodian will be met with all means. We will defend our leader and our Body with any amount of human lives, because we lived with the values of our culture and rich custom that will liberate us with dignity and honour. Criminalising the established Naga traditional body is a curse and crime to us therefore we will defend, come what may.

M.Dosopuwa
Investigation & publicity wing.

Why We Say No To Muivah Athoupa Mangang * E Pao News
Muivah's proposed home visit after almost four decades is quiet dubious in nature. As history stands as witness, better sense always prevails on the people of Manipur and also its representatives the SPF government. We are keen to maintain communal harmony and peaceful co-existence and this has been our top priority.

Manipur Government never had the intention to bar Muivah from his home coming. But the larger question that has emerged is his amount of sincerity to his proposed visit. Had he ever approached in the right spirit his homecoming would have been felicitated with a rousing welcome. Yes .. Chidambaram the union Home Minister of India granted Muivah to visit his native village in Manipur and public meetings to be addressed.

Muivah's demand to carve out a major chunk of Manipur in his pursuit to form a greater Nagaland had been his main agenda and this has been opposed by the people of Manipur to the teeth. This may be pertinent to note that the then NDA Government entered into a formal ceasefire agreement with NSCN in 1997 where it was declared that the NSCN ceasefire would be extended without territorial limit.

In the aftermath of this infamous declaration a public uprising erupted. An irate mob in Manipur burnt down the Assembly House including properties worth cores and some 18 people lost their precious lives. This was one of the worst parts in the modern history of Manipur. The three worded phrase "without territorial limit" was a sinister design to break Manipur. This hidden agenda is known to all.

In the last four decades Muivah had not visited his home village. Manipur Government is hectically engaging in the Autonomous District Council Election which aims to safeguard the right of the people in the hills. However gun totting elements of the NSCN-IM who have been enjoying a lion share of the funds meant for the general public vehemently opposed to the Samaritan job of the Government.

Naga frontal organizations of NSCN IM, namely UNC United Naga Council and All Naga Students Association etc. in Manipur have been imposing indefinite economic blockade at the behest of Muivah to thwart the process of ADC Election. Manipur Government in the true spirit of the people's Government cannot afford to remain a mute spectator when the genuine rights of people have been deprived and benefits meant for the public are being siphoned off by some coterie of thugs to meet their selfish end.

Coincidentally Muivah is visiting his home town at this point of time. As per the schedule circulated from MHA it was clearly indicated that Muivah would address meetings at different hill districts in Manipur. We all know that this is nothing but the infamous proclamation of Greater Nagaland. Otherwise Why this sudden homesickness.. is a question to everybody's lip.

Manipur was a sovereign country which has a pride 2000 year's old history. If one refers "The Modern History of Manipur" authored by Lal Dena and "Manipur Past and Present" volume I to IV edited by Naoren Sanajaoba, one will be able to discover briefly the factual fact of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur. In the fluctuate fortune between Myanmar and Manipur, a part of history has been created known as " Seven years devastation".

When Manipur force retaliated the Burmese were compelled to flee Manipur. Manipur forces drove them away up to the embankment of Chin Wind river. Parts of the Saigang division in the present Myanmar and land that stretched as far as to the embankment of the Chin Win River was formally within the boundary of Manipur. Then came the Yandaboo treaty, in order to appease Burma Kabaw valley was transferred to Myanmar and Ukhrul and Chandel stood testimony to that witnessing the painful slice of her land and people to serve the interest of the political masters.

Manipur has reduced to a small state now. Manipur, no doubt offers for everyone needs but not for their greed. Manipur passed through innumerable ordeals during the past two millennia of its history. No other catastrophe had ever threatened the survival of the Manipuri nationality throughout the ages than the Burmese devastations of Manipur since 1756 to 1826.

We are not preparing for anything untoward now for we have survived through the blood and fire. We have had enough and we cannot succumb to any pressure at present. Not an inch of land will be parted from the existing boundary of Manipur. We are indigenous people but not necessarily that the land and people will be part of the Muivah's much fantasized concept the so called Greater Nagaland. Manipuri connotes all the native people living lawfully in Manipur and Manipuris are geographical expression.

The following is the text extract from the proclamation of Maharaja Bodhachandra on October 18, 1948 during the inauguration of the First Manipur State Assembly.
"All these times when Manipur was in the height of power, Hill and Valley was one; and this oneness defended Manipur against all invasions and thus, she could maintain her independence up to 1891, when the rest of India had already been conquered by the British. British conquest of this land resulted from the slackened unity between the Valley and Hills.

Now since the withdrawal of British Paramountcy after 56 years rule, we have reinforced the union of Hill and Valley; the best opportunities have reached us in order to work hand in hand towards achieving the common object of progress and national prosperity. The relation has become one of complete understanding and active sympathy; it must be so, for Manipur is one and the hopes and aspirations of Hill and Valley are identical."

"Read her history from 24 A.D. She had her dominion over a wide area extending as far as the southern portion of China in the North, the gold mines in the Sibsagar valley, the river Chindwin in the East and south, and Chandarpore (Cachar) in the West. Her present area is 8,650 square miles plus 7,000 square miles of Kabaw Valley, including 7,900 square miles of the hills. ......

Read the treaty of Yandaboo, dated the 9* January 1834 ratified between Maharaja Gambhir Singh and the Company. The treaty left us a good heritage, namely the Kabaw valley of 7,000 square miles for which we now get from Burma Rs. 6,270 as annual tribute which according to the spirits of the terms of the Agreement will cease when the area is reverted to our State".
(Proclamation of Maharaja Bodhachandra on October 18, 1948 during the inauguration of the First Manipur State Assembly)

There is no ambiguity of the boundary of Manipur, when she was merged into the Indian Union in 1949 as mentioned in the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution, 1950. Manipur has been 'a pre-existing state ' before the adoption of Indian Constitution. She merged with a definite boundary and as such the boundary cannot be altered without the consent of the entire people of Manipur.

I hope Muivah's home coming is not the return of the "prodigal son" but a visit to stake more claims which is not rightfully belonged to him. Let the good angel act upon him and transform him to be the crusader of the much needed theme of the hour "Peaceful co-existence". Margaret Atwood once said "The Eskimo has fifty-two names for snow because it is important to them; there ought to be as many for love." This is an important manual for living together.
PRESS STATEMENT
8TH June, 2010

The United Naga Council(UNC) and its constituent units, while holding a review of the ongoing Economic Blockade was shocked by the declaration of its President and the President of the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur(ANSAM) as “wanted” and fixing of rewards on them by the Government of Manipur. After outrightly rejecting the demands of the tribal people on the ADC election, the Government of Manipur is relentlessly trying to put into place district councils in the hill areas under the unwanted District Council(Hill Areas)Act, 2008 through a stage managed election process. Instead of addressing the material issue at hand, the Government of Manipur has chosen to issue arrest warrants to the Naga leaders. This brazen action has followed an invitation for talks on the issue of ADC election and economic blockade from the Government of Manipur in the form of a letter from the Chief Secretary through the DC, Senapati addressed to the President UNC. The information on the invitation was received at 2.30 PM of the 26th May, 2010 on the day of polling for the 1st phase of ADC elections, when any talk on the issue has become impertinent and this response came after a lapse of over 3 month when the demand for reviewing of the Act was submitted to the State Government.

While condemning the State Government’s design to criminalise the UNC for demanding justice for the tribal people, the Presidential Council of the UNC is constrained to issue an ultimatum of 5 days from the date of this Press Statement to the Manipur State Government to revoke the arrest warrant on its President and also withdraw the bounty announced in connection with the same, failing which the UNC will have no option but to intensify its agitation on all possible fronts.


Publicity wing
United Naga Council

Assam truckers hesitant to ply through Nagaland STAFF WRITER IST
Guwahati, June 8 (PTI) Private truck associations in Assam have expressed reservations in running their vehicles on National Highway 39 leading through Nagaland to Manipur, crippled by a blockade by Naga students.

"Although we sincerely want to carry essentials to the Manipur, safety concerns for out staff on trucks prevent us from plying vehicles through Nagaland," a spokesman of the association said here.

"The association has decided to refrain from plying vehicles on National Highway 39 due to the blockade by the Naga Students Federation (NSF) due to safety concerns," he said.

Meanwhile, the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU) today appealed to NSF to lift the blockade on 'humanitarian grounds' in the interest of the common people.

"We have appealed to NSF which is a part of the North East Students Organisation (NESO) to lift the blockade," AASU advisor and NESO chairman Samujjal Bhattacharya said.