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07/03/2010: "THE 3rd NAGA PEOPLES’ CONVENTION and Position Paper"

THE 3rd NAGA PEOPLES’ CONVENTION
1st July, 2010, Mini Indoor Studium, Tahamzam.

THEME: “TOWARDS SELF - GOVERNANCE”

ORDER OF PROGRAM


1. Registration of Delegates : 10:00 a.m.
2. Opening Hymn : “How Great Thou Art”
3. Invocation : L. Kokho, Pastor, Mao Baptist Church, Senapati Hq.
4. Welcome Note : General Secretary, UNC
“Life Pages”
5. Introduction : Vice President, UNC
6. Keynote Address : President, UNC
7. Presentation of Position Paper : Convenor, UNC-CC
“Glory Explosion”
8. Solidarity Messages
1. Convenor, Naga Parliamentarians’ Forum
2. Representative, resigned Naga MLAs.
3. Mr. V. Sword, Retd. Addl. Dy. Comptroller. Auditor General, GOI

“Life Pages”
4. President, NPO
5. President, CNPO
6. President, TNL
7. Convenor, ZIB

“Life Pages”
9. NPC Declaration : Speaker, UNC
10. Vote of thanks : President, Naga Women’s Union
11. Closing Hymn : “We Shall Overcome”
12. Benediction : C. M. Joy, Pastor, New Eden Prayer Centre, Senapati.
COMMUNITY MEAL :
Moderator : 1. Paul Leo, 2. Artax Shimray
Rapportuers : 1. L. Adani, 2. Chingya Luithui
Cc:

PRESS RELEASE
Senapati, 1st July 2010

The 3rd Naga Peoples’ Convention (NPC) called by the United Naga Council (UNC) as per Article 9 (ii) of its Constitution was held on 1st July 2010 at Tahamzam (Senapati). It is to be noted that the UNC is empowered to call such a Convention “to seek the directives of the Naga people on such matters affecting territorial interest or the political future or any other matter of grave importance to the Naga people” and decisions or resolutions taken during such Conventions “will be paramount and shall guide all policies and programmes of the Council on the matter(s) directed upon.” The Convention is open to all Naga public.

With “Towards Self-Governance” as the theme, the 3rd NPC was called against the backdrop of the continued and persistent denial of the rights of Nagas in the present state of Manipur and in the face of recent events engineered by the Government of Manipur (GoM) which has created a war-like situation in Naga areas.

More than 2000 Nagas from all walks of life and from all Naga areas packed the venue of the Convention. In his keynote address, the President of the UNC pointed out the extraordinary circumstances which compelled the convening of such a Convention. He pointed out that the recently imposed ADC election had been rejected by the Naga people and that the struggle for securing the rights of the people must be resolutely continued till this goal is attained. He also reiterated the Naga people’s support for the struggle of all communities for their right to self-determination, including the Meiteis, and in fighting for the recognition and respect of their identities and ownership over their lands, institutions and traditional practices to ensure the emergence of a sustainable and viable relationship among all communities.

Solidarity messages were also delivered by Mr. G. Vashum, representative of Naga Hoho; Mr. Mani Charenamei, Convener, Naga Parliamentarians’ Forum; Dr. Khashim Ruivah, representative of resigned Naga MLAs; Mr. Sword Vashum, Retd. Addl. Dy. Comptroller & Auditor General, GOI; Mr. M. Dili, President Naga Peoples Organisation, Senapati; Mr. S. T. Nunghlung, President, Chandel Naga Peoples Organisation; Mr. Ramthing Hungyo, Convener, Tangkhul Coordination Committee and Mr. Ningthoudai, Convener, Zeliangrong Interim Body. All the speakers pointed out the need for Nagas to come together and stand up for the realization of their rights.

The following declaration was adopted during the Convention.

“We, the Nagas in the present state of Manipur having established our position based upon the unmistakable fact that it is impossible to protect our right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and communal Government of Manipur (GoM), and that our history with it, has clearly confirmed the harsh reality that the GoM has never recognized and respected the identity and dignity of the Naga people, hereby declare on this day the following that -

1. The Nagas will sever all political ties with the communal Government of Manipur, and henceforth there shall be a total political non-cooperation movement against it.
2. The imposed ADC election is declared “null & void” and under no circumstances shall the district councils be allowed to function in the Naga areas.
3. Because of the severance of ties, the vacuum in governance and administration created thereby must be filled with an alternative arrangement by the Government of India in consultation with the Naga people at the earliest possible time.
4. The United Naga Council is hereby empowered to constitute a committee of members with expertise and experience, drawn from the Naga community, for pursuing the establishment of an alternative arrangement with clearly defined terms of reference.
5. The Government of India must exercise its political will to bring an honourable and acceptable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue at the earliest notwithstanding any attempts to sabotage this process.”

The principles of the said declaration would guide all future actions and policies of the UNC.
The Life Pages and Glory Explosion also made musical interventions in the convention.

Publicity Wing United Naga Council

POSITION PAPER OF THE UNITED NAGA COUNCIL
APPROVED IN THE NAGA PEOPLES’ CONVENTION HELD AT TAHAMZAN ON THE 1st JULY, 2010.

The present situation and the response of the Manipur State Government .

After a journey of more than 13 years the Indo-Naga peace process has steadily, albeit slowly, progressed to the stage where a mutually acceptable framework is to be worked out for consideration of the Nagas and the Government of India (GoI). All through the peace process, the territorial unification of Naga areas through the recognition and respect for the rights of Nagas to live together as one peoples under a single administrative unit has remained the foremost desire in the minds of the Nagas. The Nagas are of the unflinching belief that the unification of all Naga territories must be interwoven into the body fabric of the final negotiated settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

However, the communal Government of Manipur (GoM) and has virulently pursued a policy for derailment and sabotaging the advent of an acceptable and honourable settlement through the Indo-Naga Peace Process, which has brought peace in all parts of the Naga homeland, including those within the boundaries of present day state of Manipur. For the failed state of Manipur the Peace Process which seeks to secure the respect and recognition for the rights of the Nagas to live together as one people and be at Peace with the great Indian nation, Manipur included, has become a uniting force of abhorrence.

Out of Manipur’s total area of 22,327 sq. km., tribal areas comprise of 20,089 sq. km., a significant 90% of the state. Manipur’s tribal population of 9,83,074 accounts for 41% of the state’s total of 23,88,634. However, out of 60 seats in the Manipur Legislature, tribals have only 20 representatives translating to each tribal legislator representing an average electorate of 34,180 as opposed to the average of 25,575 only represented by the 40 representatives from the small Imphal Valley and the satellite sub-division of Jiribam at the Assam border (227 sq. km), which together is only 2,238 sq. km. in area representing barely 10% of the state’s total area.

This warped system of representation is the handy instrument used for the suppression of the tribal population of Manipur. With the brute majority of 40 representatives from Imphal Valley in a house of 60, successive Manipur state governments of different parties, individuals or groups, have over the years worked invariably in the interest of the dominant community of Imphal valley, undermining the rights and aspirations of tribals. The fate of the tribals have been thus chained to the whims and fancies of the dominant community and any democratic movement to secure the rights of tribals have either been drowned out by the noise of the majority or have been projected as unlawful and criminal and brutally put down with force.

Recent events engineered and planted in the Naga areas of the present state Manipur and the manner in which the GoM has responded to them creating a war-like situation in the entire Naga areas of the present State of Manipur are as follows:

a) The Autonomous District Council (ADC) election: The tribals have consistently demanded for the extension of the provisions of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India to the hill areas of Manipur since 1990. After agreeing to accede to the demand, the GoM, however, maliciously stonewalled the process by inserting a rider that the 6th Schedule would be extended after “local adjustments and amendments”. Instead of sincerely pursuing their commitment, after 20 long years the communal Manipur State Government came out with the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Act 2008, thoroughly doctored and stripped off of all the provisions that go into self governance and the rights of the hill people over their land and resources and removing the primacy of the traditional institutions of the tribals.

The voice of the Naga people which has been raised loud and clear was that the ADC election should not be imposed till such time the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (3rd Amendment) Act, 2008 was amended to secure the rights of the tribal people over their lands and the pre-eminence of tribal institutions which provides for democratic polity within their societies, and their right to self governance enshrined in the Indian constitution. A Select Committee on the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council, 2008 was instituted to circumvent the requirement of approval by the Hill Areas Committee as stipulated under Article 371-C of the Indian constitution. The Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee who was made a member of the Select Committee resigned from the Committee but the Committee went ahead with its recommendation and got the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Ordinance promulgated by the Governor on the pretext that the Assembly was not in session. This illegal manner in which the amendment was rushed through when for 20 long years it was delayed with manipulations and the manner in which the ADC elections under the “unwanted 2008 Act” was imposed in the face of strong protest contravenes the rights of the tribal people. The GoM clearly wants to legitimize the suppression and denial of the rights of the tribal. After repeated written submissions which evoked no response, the Nagas through the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) called for a 6 days economic blockade from 11th to 17th April, 2010 to register its protest against the decision of conducting the election. Instead of addressing the concerns of the tribals, and despite the widespread protests, the GoM decided to go ahead with the election and announced its schedule. Left with no option, ANSAM re-imposed the blockade indefinitely. The only response from the GoM was the deployment of more state forces in tribal areas.

b) Denial of entry to NSF officials: On 3rd of May, 2010 a team of the Naga Students’ Federation, the umbrella student body of all Naga tribes of India and Myanmar, led by its President was heading to Oinam Hill village, Senapati District for a preparatory meeting of their Federal Assembly slated for the 7th May, 2010. They were prevented from proceeding by Manipur State Armed Forces deployed at Mao Gate. It was an insult and an outright provocation to the Naga student community when they were disallowed to go even to their own lands. The NSF demanded an apology from the GoM pending which a total ban on Manipur vehicles was enforced in the entire Naga area.

c) The proposed visit of Mr. Th. Muivah: Since August 1997, the GoI and the NSCN, of which Mr. Muivah is the General Secretary, has been in a ceasefire pact and had been negotiating to bring about a peaceful and honorable solution to the Indo-Naga issue. On the 29th of April, 2010, Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, directed the state governments of Manipur, Nagaland and West Bengal to arrange “foolproof security” for Th. Muivah during his visit to Somdal, his native village, which is located within the state of Manipur.

As the Naga people prepared to welcome him, the GoM, in direct opposition to the directive of the GoI, took a cabinet decision on 30th April 2010 banning the entry of Mr. Muivah into Manipur citing the possibility of “social unrest” from his visit.

The Naga people’s movement is more than 60 years old and it is the wish of the Nagas that peace through the removal of artificial boundaries and recognition of the rights of the Nagas to live together as a people must be negotiated. This aspiration is the foundation of the Naga movement, and therefore denying Mr. Muivah, the chief negotiator for the Nagas, to visit his birthplace on a peace mission is a direct affront to the wish of the Naga people, and an open effort to sabotage the peace process from reaching its logical conclusion.

We ask how can a community, by virtue of being the dominant one, deny the same rights that they enjoy to another, including the right to live together as one people? The GoM, actively supported by some communal organizations and individuals is constantly sabotaging the struggle of the Naga people’s right to self determination when the Meiteis are also fighting for similar recognition and protection? The only explanation for this would be that the majority community of Manipur fear that the dominant position they have enjoyed and exploited to the hilt at the expense and detriment of the tribals would come to an end, and as such, the wish, desires and hopes of the Nagas are labeled as criminal and are suppressed with force and violence through the use of state machinery.

d) Peaceful Protest March and killings of 2 students by Manipur State Armed forces: The Mao Women’s Welfare Association under the aegis of the Naga Women’s Union, Manipur organized peaceful dharnas on the 4th and the 5th of May, 2010 at Mao Gate, Senapati District, (under the present administration of Manipur State) to protest against the Manipur state’s cabinet decision banning the entry of Mr Th. Muivah, to his native place. On the evening of 5th May, 2010, around 6.30 P.M., one Mr Ashihrii Puni, of Song Song village aged 52 years was brutally assaulted without any reason by the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), Manipur. Therefore, on the 6th of May, the general public of the area organized a peaceful procession on National Highway 39 to protest against the savage act of the IRB. While the procession was being taken out, the Manipur State Armed Forces, without any warnings, started firing tear gas and stick bombs on the peaceful protestors. Soon after, they started firing gunshots indiscriminately and in the process two students, Mr. Chakho and Mr. Loshou were shot dead while more than 100 persons, mostly women, sustained grievous bullet wounds and related injuries. The Manipur State Armed Forces also damaged many vehicles parked on the National Highway, broke windows, kicked open doors of houses, assaulted and arrested men folks. They further went on a rampage of looting and destruction of properties. Illegal excessive force was used to put fear and cow down the spirit of the people. Villagers fearing for their lives fled to neighbouring villages in Nagaland and more than 2000 of them were internally displaced.

It has become very clear that the Manipur Commandos/IRB/Manipur rifles were sent to Mao Gate, Ukhrul and Jessami to intentionally create the “social unrest” which the GoM has cited as the reason for banning Muivah’s visit. The war like situation was thus created by provoking, insulting and offending the sensibilities of the people. When the people protested and raised their voices, Manipur state forces shot them down, used excessive force and stripped them off their dignity and self-respect - this was their mission, executed to perfection.

In view of the war that was waged upon the innocent and unarmed Naga citizens at Mao by the Manipur State Government, the Naga Hoho on the 8th of May, 2010 issued a statement that “…henceforth, we derecognize any artificial boundary lines drawn across our ancestral lands in the so called Manipur State”.

e) Resignation of 7 Naga MLAs: The greatest message of protest in a democratic polity has been sent out by the Nagas through the 7 Naga Manipur Legislative Assembly members who tendered their resignation in the wake of the repeated refusal of the State Government to listen to the voice of the Naga people and also the violence perpetrated by Manipur State on unarmed Nagas at Mao Gate on the 6th May, 2010. That this has not caused a constitutional crisis as yet in the State of Manipur reflects how well co-ordinated the GoM is in sabotaging efforts of the Nagas to have their rights recognized and how determined they are to silence the voice of the Naga people.

f) Assault on participants of candle light rally at Taphou on 24th May, 2010: Naga villagers who were returning home after attending a candle light peace rally at Senapati Bazar in support of the Indo-Naga peace process were brutally assaulted by the IRBs posted at Taphou. The first group of Nagas, all from Ningthoupham village were asked whether they are Nagas and on answering in the affirmative they were repeatedly assaulted. Another group from Tumuyon Khullen village were halted and harassed alleging that they are NSCN cadres. Another two persons from Thonglang Akutpa village were also thrashed with rifle butts and barrel for not changing their Assam registered vehicle number to that of Manipur. An amount of Rs.110, one cigarette pack and one match box were forcibly taken from them.

g) Khumji Firing on 28th May, 2010: The Manipur State Armed Forces opened indiscriminate firings on innocent women and brutally assaulted villagers of Khumji village in reaction to an accident met by a fuel tanker on 28th May, 2010. The accident occurred when the fuel tanker heading towards Imphal from Silchar lost control on a turn at Khumji village and turned turtle on the road. Without investigating the cause of the accident, Manipur security forces coming up from Imphal escorting empty trucks heading for Jiribam, started firing indiscriminately on innocent bystanders and in the process Ms. Ester, and Mrs. Ariang Riamei sustained serious injuries. The commandos then barged into the house of Mr Robinson Kamei and severely assaulted him with rifles butts and kicks. 4 other innocent villagers were also beaten up severely for no reason.

This unprovoked brutality following closely on the heels of the 6th May Mao firing is again a telling testimony of the psychological conditions and mental programming of the Manipur State Armed Forces. Such elements are let loose to wreak havoc in Naga areas creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

h) Assault and firings at Ukhrul. On the evening 2nd June, 2010, the violence prone IRB and Commandos of Manipur accosted Naga civilian on the streets of Ukhrul and started raining blows, kicks and rifles butts on the excuse that curfew had been clamped in Ukhrul town, when in fact there was no such notification from the District Administration. The assault triggered off protests all over Ukhrul Town where again, tear gas and other weapons were used upon the public. In the melee, the Manipur State Armed Forces lost 16 guns but which were later traced by the public and returned to the Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul to demonstrate that Nagas genuinely want peace and not war.

Heavy militarization of Naga areas has become the campaign strategy of the GoM to address its insecurity on the issue of the rights of the Nagas to live together under a single administration. As in all other times, violent military action is employed to preserve the much touted “territorial integrity” of the present State of Manipur while the emotional bond or whatever is left of it is being heedlessly fissured to the point of no return.

i) Militarisation continues in Naga areas of Jessami and Liyai Khunou: On the pretext of preventing the entry of Mr. Muivah for his home visit, the GoM sent heavy contingents of its security forces to Jessami and Liyai Khunou, supposedly the likely routes to be taken by the latter on the 5th of June, 2010. The Manipur State Armed Forces forcibly occupied houses and used properties of the villagers. That the intrusion of the security forces is by itself the cause of law and order situation in the otherwise peaceful Naga areas and that the protection of life and property of its citizen should be a priority, is farthest from the considerations of the communal GoM.

j) Issue of Arrest warrant to Naga leaders: Instead of addressing the material issue at hand, the GoM chose to issue arrest warrants against Naga civil society leaders on the 7th June, 2010. This brazen action followed an invitation for talks on the issue of ADC election and economic blockade from the GoM in the form of a letter from the Chief Secretary, through the DC, Senapati addressed to the President UNC. The invitation was received at 2.30 PM of the 26th May, 2010, the day of the 1st Phase of polling for the ADC election when any talk on the issue had become impertinent. Further, this response came after a lapse of over 3 month of the demand for review of the Act. The criminalisation of Naga leaders for demanding justice for the tribal people is yet another testimony of its communal agenda.

k) Shooting of Abonmei Kaibi Henam at Makhan village: On June 13, Abonmei Kaibi Henam (33) of Makhan village was shot by a team of police commandos in civil dress, while he and his friends were on site seeing trip to a waterfall near Makhan village, Kanglatombi under Sapermaina police station of Senapati district. The police commandoes hurled abuses on the tribals with invectives, filled with communal overtones and after the cowardly act escaped from the spot. The culprit has since been arrested and identified as one Takhellambam Angou (30), son of T Mohendro of Kongpal Laishram Leikai in Imphal east district, a commando of the Manipur Police attached to Sekmai P.S. under Imphal West.

This is yet another glaring example in which the Manipur State Armed Forces have been proved to be carrying out a communal mission, where any Naga is considered an enemy to be targeted with bullets.

l) The absence of a popular government in Naga areas: Article 21 of United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government”.

Where a government ignores the will of the people and goes further seeking to suppress the will of the people, it becomes a tyranny. As such it loses legitimacy by which it pretends to govern.

An assessment of the chain of events in the immediate past provides a clear picture that the communal GoM and the valley based media have no other intention but to suppress the voice of the people. In any situation of such serious proportion, as depicted above, the representatives of a popular Government meets the affected people and try to address the expressed grievances. But the GoM has not taken any initiatives nor have any of its representatives come and met the families of those students who have been killed, the wounded and injured, nor the people who have been displaced and affected or made any sincere attempt to dialogue with the civil society. The State Government has willfully withdrawn itself even from their primary responsibilities to protect the lives and properties of the Naga citizens not to speak of being guided by the expressed opinion of the people.

The Media War by the valley based media

The rampant biased reporting in valley based media compels us to conclude that they have joined hands with the GoM in their communal campaign against the Nagas.
For instance, the Press Trust of India, whose Imphal office is manned by one Mr Tarapot, a Meitei, has fed lies to the national papers even to the extent of altering the genders of victims and citing the cause of death in the 6th May, 2010 shooting as from a stampede. Despite pointing this out, no corrigendum or apology has been made till date. Further, it was police brutality and not a media imagined communal confrontation that needed to be exposed. However, videos and pictures taken by valley based journalists that captured the inhuman brutality of the Manipur State Armed Forces have not been telecasted nor published in the media.

The media became active parties to the brutalities and rights violations when they indulged in intentional misrepresentation of news. Valley based media have concertedly blanked out the views and articles written by Nagas. Editorials of Imphal Valley based dailies doubly confirm their communal orientations by openly supporting the aggression and rights violations and justifying the violence committed by Manipur State Armed Forces against the Nagas. They actively propagate the projection of Nagas as people who revel in imposing bandhs on the highways and disturbing the peace of Manipur while conveniently avoiding the core issue of discrimination, the lack of democratic space for the Nagas and other tribals to express their grievances, and to secure their inherent rights to live together as a people.

The perception of the dominant community is the perception of the Manipur State Government

The disputed “glorious 2000 years” of Meitei history, which even Meitei historians have condemned as untenable, is being touted to forward the inviolability of the territorial integrity of the present state of Manipur. This patently false historical narrative is sought to be justified by conveniently ignoring the parallel historical narratives of the Nagas and other tribals which involves stories of inhuman suppression of generations of tribals by the Meiteis.

Meiteis project the Nagas as “expansionists”, and as “aggressors” who are holding the Meitei people to ransom and starving them to death. However, when the Meiteis deny the existence and identity of the Nagas in the present state of Manipur, and seeks to erase the history of others, they are definitely the real expansionists. To the Meiteis, Manipur means Imphal and “people of Manipur” means Meiteis alone, and the tribals living in the hills and the 90% of the state’s total area belonging to the tribals are mere appendages.

The economic blockade effects not only Imphal valley and the Meiteis but also the hill people and more so, as they do not enjoy the support of the State. Despite the hardship it was to cause to the public, the ongoing economic blockade was the only available resort in the given situation of the Nagas, for drawing the attention of the world and to convey that the Nagas are suffering and their “existence” and “identity” as a people have been denied. It is the voice that is intended to be heard above the loud slogans of peaceful co-existence, communal harmony and multiethnicity of Manipur, being drummed up from the Imphal valley and flaunted to hoodwink the world and perpetuate their hegemony over the tribals.

The position of the Naga people

On the 15th of May, 2010 the United Naga Council along with the frontal Naga Organisations - the Naga Women’s Union, Manipur; All Naga Students’ Association Manipur and the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Right have jointly declared thus –

“…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. We 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.”

As we reiterate this position, we also declare, in the same spirit, that we shall support the movement for self-determination of neighbouring communities, including the Meitei people, as fellow struggling peoples. It is the wish of the Naga people that the right of every community to their respective identities and ownership over their lands, institutions and traditional practices be respected, recognized and upheld by the others, so that sustainable and viable arrangement will emerge.

The position of the Nagas therefore is clear and resolute and is expressed by the following -

1. The Government of Manipur must
(a) Cease the militarization in Naga areas
(b) Withdraw its administration from the Naga areas.

2. The Government of India must recognize the fact that the Government of Manipur has failed to represent the Naga people with the denial of their constitutional and democratic rights, and that it is impossible for the Nagas to protect their right to life, land, traditional institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the Government of Manipur.

3. The Government of India must intervene with an alternative arrangement for protection of the Naga citizens and administration of the Naga areas in the present state of Manipur.

4. The Government of India must exercise its political will to bring an honourable and acceptable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue at the earliest withstanding any attempts to sabotage this process.

Kuknalim !

Sd/- Sd/-
(SAMSON REMEI) (GRACE SHATSANG)
President President
United Naga Council Naga Women’s Union, Manipur

Sd/- Sd/-
(ADANI DAVID CHORO) (PHAMHRING SENGUL)
President Convenor
All Naga Students’ Association Manipur Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights






SUPPORTING NOTE TO THE POSITION PAPER OF THE UNITED NAGA COUNCIL

The United Naga Council is the tribe based apex body of the Nagas in the present Manipur State, organized under the traditional system and practice of the Naga people, to uphold the solidarity and unity of the Naga people, to protect our land, our identity and our history, to preserve and promote our culture and traditional heritage and to secure all round growth of our people.

The Naga Peoples’ Convention is the forum convened by the United Naga Council to seek the directives of the Naga people on such matters affecting territorial interest or the political future or any other matter of grave importance to the Naga People. The decision/resolution of the Convention will be paramount and shall guide all policies and programmes of the Council on the matter(s) directed upon. For the purpose of such Conventions, the general public, leaders and representatives of every Naga village shall be duly invited.

Naga struggle for their rights, land and people.
1) Before the partial colonization of the Naga Country, the Nagas lived in Village States and were free from any external political interference and domination. With the coming of the British, boundaries were redrawn arbitrarily to suit their administrative convenience and also to keep the allies of the British in good humour. As a consequence, the Naga territories were placed in the different states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland in India and in Sagaing division of West Burma.
2) During the First World War in 1917-1918, Nagas rendered their service in the Labour Corps of the British force and went to France as British subjects. This journey across the land and seas crystallised the concept of Naga Nationalism. In 1918, the Naga Club was formed by the union of politically conscious Nagas laying the foundation for future Naga Politics.

3) The Naga Club submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission at Kohima on 10 January in 1929 demanding in clear terms that the Nagas should be left alone as before when the British leave India.

4) In 1930-31, the “Naga Raj” movement was launched by Haipou Jadonang, a Zeliangrong Naga and Rani-Gaidinliu, his cousin sister in the then Tamenglong sub-division to free the people from the yoke of the colonial rule. The former was hanged by the British in 1931 and subsequently Rani Gaidinliu was arrested and jailed.
5) The Nagas of Manipur were independent of the Manipur Raja before the advent of the British. Even after the British came, they were administered by the political department of the British Crown. The Manipur Raja and his darbar administered only the valley area till 15th August 1947.
6) As the departure of the British became imminent, Naga leaders, both in Manipur and in the then Naga Hills District of Assam began to seriously ponder over their political future. Thus the Naga National Council(NNC) was formed by the Naga people in February 1946 to fight for their rights, land and people.
7) Meanwhile, in September 1946, the Naga National League (NNL) was organized to consolidate the Nagas of Manipur in order to bring together the Naga people separated by colonial boundaries.
8) After 15th August 1947, when the paramountcy was transferred to the Maharaja of Manipur without the consent of the hill people, the NNL stated that they will not be part of Manipur since the latter had never conquered the Nagas. The Nagas further declared that it would be impossible for the Nagas to preserve their culture, tradition, customary laws and political practices should the Naga people and their land be split up and placed under different political administration and government. The NNL expressed their strong desire to merge with the Naga Hills District of Assam through the BOYCOTT of the preparation of electoral rolls in Naga areas in Manipur.
9) The “NO HOUSE TAX CAMPAIGN” was launched in 1948 when Maharaj Kumar Priyobrata Singh was the Chief Minister of Manipur where the Nagas in Manipur refused to pay the annual House Tax to the Government of Manipur and under the aegis of the NNL submitted their annual house tax to Charles Pawsey, D.C. of Naga Hills of Assam at Kohima. Though the campaign was forcibly suppressed resulting in the death of three volunteers and wounding of many, the seeds of political aspiration sown during that critical time never died. Having realized the futility of the non-violent movement to secure their inalienable right to live together with the rest of the Naga people, the Nagas of Manipur took to arms and became a part of the mainstream armed movement spearheaded by the NNC.
10) The first Indo-Naga Cease-fire which came into effect from Sept. 6th 1964 and lasted till 1967 was operational in the whole of Nagaland, and also in the areas inhabited by the Nagas, in Manipur, Cachar hills and the North-East Frontier Agency. The 1st Cease-Fire period saw 6 rounds of talks between the Nagas and the Government of India which could not proceed with concrete progress due to stalemate caused by the rigid position taken on “Sovereignty” and “Indian Constitution” respectively.
11) The inherent and organized expression of the desire of the Naga people to live together also continued as a civil movement of which the United Naga Integration Council movement of the 1970s has been well documented. On 4th Aug.1972, in the joint agreement signed between All India Congress Committee and Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on one side and United Naga Integration Council on the other side, the Congress Party stated that it does not oppose Naga integration movement nor considers the Naga integration movement as anti-party, anti-national, anti-state or an unconstitutional activity. The demand of the Naga people for integration of the contiguous Naga areas into one administrative unit also finds clear mention in the 9 Point Hydari Agreeement of 1947 and in the 16 Point Agreement of 1960. Over the years memorandum and representations demanding Naga integration have been persistently submitted and pursued by the Naga people.

12) On the other hand the armed conflict between India and the Nagas continued over the decades and has finally culminated in the second Indo-Naga Peace Process marked by the second Indo-Naga Cease-fire that came into effect on 1August, 1997, which today offers to bring about a lasting and honourable solution to the Naga issue which is about their land, the people and their rights.

13) The Naga Hoho, the apex tribe based organisation of all Nagas, irrespective of territorial boundaries passed the resolution on Naga Integration during its 6th Session at Dimapur on 11th & 12th March, 1999 as follows – “The Naga Hoho put it on record that it stands committed for integration of all Naga territories and its people under one political roof; and also it considers the present Nagaland state as a temporary measure pending final political settlement of the Naga peoples aspiration which shall be a bounden duty of the Naga Hoho to strive for.”

14) In the wake of the violent agitation in Imphal valley supported by the Manipur State Government, following the extension of Indo-Naga Cease-fire area coverage beyond territorial limits on 14th June 2001, the Naga people of Manipur under the aegis of the United Naga Council(UNC), held its special session of a Naga Peoples’ Convention(NPC), the apex decision making platform of the Nagas of Manipur on 8th and 9th August, 2001 at Tahamzam(Senapati) and declared "…that our identity and history have to be defended and preserved at all cost, and the firm political stand of the Nagas of Manipur is to uphold the resolution of the Naga people for integration of all Naga areas under one administration".

15) However, the State Government of Manipur, in brazen disregard to the sentiments of the Naga people conferred “martyrdom” to the 18 rioters who died in the violent agitation in which the Indian National flag and the State Assembly Secretariat was burnt and attempts were made to raze down the Raj Bhavan. That day of frenzy and arson was declared a State holiday and christened as “Integrity Day”. To make known our strong resentment over the attempts to glorify and legitimize the suppression of our rights with brute majority, an economic blockade of 52 days(19th June, 2005 to 11th August, 2005) was also put into force by the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur(ANSAM).

16) As desired by the Naga people of Manipur, another NPC was convened by the UNC on the 4th of November 2005 at Taphou village Tahamzam(Senapati), which reiterated the 8-9 August, 2001 Declaration. To further the realization of this declaration, the NPC also declared the launching of Non-cooperation and Civil disobedience movements against the Government of Manipur.

17) In the subsequent “Declaration and Memorandum” submitted to the Prime Minister of India on December 15, 2005 at New Delhi, the Chiefs/Chairmen/Headmen of Naga villages in the present state of Manipur stated in no uncertain terms “…that any honourable solution to the Naga peace process must begin with the unification of the Naga areas.”

18) In pursuance of the 4th November, 2005 NPC declaration, the Naga Chiefs/Village Authorities in Manipur have returned the red blankets to the State Government through the respective district administrations, as a symbol of rejection of the authority of the State Government. The names of villages, districts etc have been changed to indigenous names. Hill house tax for the year 2006 of all the Naga households in Manipur have not been paid to the Government of Manipur but have instead been collected under the aegis of the United Naga Council and submitted to the office of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 7th July, 2006.

19) When the dominant community imposed Manipuri language and the Meitei Mayek(script) as compulsory subject in the school syllabus, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) took up the issue and moved for affiliation of schools and colleges in the Naga areas of Manipur to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) and the Nagaland University (NU) to secure a common syllabus for a unified vision.

20) Nagas of Manipur have organized rallies, sent delegations to Delhi, submitted representations to the Government of India, and held press conferences to highlight our position and lobbied for support from Indian political leaders and also eminent members of the Indian civil societies. The Naga people have also had several consultative meetings and also presented the Naga case in various international fora. All forms of democratic means have been explored to bring the plight and situation of the Nagas to the notice of the world.

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